For Statoil’s Valemon project, Mercon was awarded the construction of a new and massive Living Quarter. Accommodation specialist Hertel, contracted Mercon to build the steel construction for this eight storey high building which can harbour 40 offshore workers in single cabins.
Mercon will build the complete steel construction for the accommodation modules and will install the heli deck. The complete structure will weigh around 645 tonnes and is 35 metres high.
Hertel will carry out the outfitting of the bed cabins, kitchens, recreational area, medical centre and control room at Mercon’s yard in Gorinchem.
The Valemon project is a new development of Statoil on the Norwegian continental shelf. The production platform – which will be built by Samsung Heavy Industries – will separate gas, condensate and water and will have facilities for partial processing and export.
Hertel and Mercon joined forces before on offshore projects. For most projects up to now, Hertel worked as subcontractor for Mercon for the outfitting of living quarters. This time, it’s the other way round whereby Mercon works under the wings of Hertel.
Mercon together with KWS Infra, successfully replaced the vehicle deck and locking device of the Schellingwoude bascule bridge on 17 and 18 March last. The lifting mechanism of the bridge was maintained.
This is the first replacement in a series of eight replacements and refurbishments of eight steel arch bridges which form part of the KARGO project. KARGO which means ‘’Kunstwerken Amsterdam Rijnkanaal Groot Onderhoud’’ is a € 90 mln project awarded to Mercon and KWS in 2010 by the Dutch Ministry of Transport, Public Works and Water Management.
Mercon and KWS won the KARGO project as they offered the smartest and most cost effective approach towards replacement and refurbishment with minimal hinder for water and road traffic.
In June, the Schellingwoude arch bridge will be completely renewed. At this moment, the final preparations are being caried out at Mercon’s yard in Gorinchem. Next, this new arch bridge measuring 107 metres and weighing approximately 1000 tonnes – including asphalt and road furniture – will be transported over sea to its final destination in Amsterdam.
Video courtesy of Dutch Ministry of Transport, Public Works and Water Management (Rijkswaterstaat).
End of March, Mercon completed the build and installation of a new demi water tank for Odfjell. A week ahead of planning, the construction of the tank was already finalized. According to plan, the tank was shipped from Mercon’s Gorinchem yard to Odfjell Terminals Rotterdam and installed in a single day.
Just before Christmas, Mercon started with the basic and detailed design of demi water tank no. 110 which will be used for storing demineralised water. Mid January the preparations for the project took off and the actual construction started at the end of that month.
Mercon applied the 24/7 safety system to this project, which was successfully used before for a project with Shell concerning the construction of a bitumen storage tank. This project started half a year earlier than the Odfjell demi water tank and finished January this year.
The goal of the 24/7 safety system is to change the behaviour of people and to improve the safety culture. The programme addresses three key topics:
* create the right behaviour suitable for the particular job
* improve the interventions skills of the management
* how to deal with feedback after an intervention.
The 24/7 safety system is different from other safety programs as it also addresses the positive behaviour of the workforce. Management and workforce strive together to achieve continuous improvement.
As Mercon is also Odfjell’s maintenance contractor, different divisions of Mercon were involved in the project. The project team which was responsible for the overall construction and installation worked smoothly together with Mercon’s fabrication department in Gorinchem and Mercon’s maintenance crew stationed at the Odfjell terminal. The drip ring at the bottom of the tank was welded by the maintenance crew as one of the final steps towards the completion of the tank.
The project was delivered on time and without any safety incidents.
Visit us at stand C4-C39 in Copenhagen and learn more about EMI – Eco Metmast Installation.
This eco-friendly and economical way of installing metmasts offshore, is a product launched by Mercon an ALE. We will be happy to explain all advantages during your visit at our stand.
Visit us at stand 132, 133, 152, 153!
Our team will be glad to inform you about the latest maintenance concepts
and our 24/7 safety system. We received excellent feedback on this from our customers!
And of course we have Nespresso & finger food on our stand!
During the EWEA conference this week in Amsterdam, Mercon and ALE will introduce a new concept for installing offshore metmasts named EMI, for Eco Metmast Installation.
Mercon and ALE have decided to team up to introduce EMI. Willem Griffioen, Managing Director at Mercon feels the two companies are the right combination. “Mercon is a renowned construction company with a long history in building offshore platforms. ALE, on the other hand, is a global heavy lift and transportation company. Expertise in complementary activities, thus.”“Mercon and ALE have already worked successfully together on ffshore projects before”, Griffioen adds.”
Eco-friendly technology
With the EMI method, no piles need to driven for fixing the foundation to the seabed. This makes the installation very eco-friendly. The structure is being transported horizontally on a barge and upended to vertical position by a special frame. Next, the structure is lowered to the sea bottom where pumps are used to suck the lower part of the structure into the sea floor. This suction anchor technology keeps the structure at its place and nhances asy installation and decommissioning of the metmast. The EMI method is suitable for a variety of soil conditions such as sand and clay.
Economical solution
Besides innovative and eco friendly technology, the concept is also very economical. Kees Kompier, Executive Director at ALE explains: “The EMI installation method is much quicker and cheaper than the current more onventional ways. First of all, an expensive installation vessel is not needed anymore; a standard barge equipped with the upending frame will do. Secondly, no pile driving equipment is needed on board which also saves osts.’’
New concept but proven technology
EMI is a new concept in offshore wind but already a proven technology in the offshore Oil & Gas industry. Developed by Mercon and ALE in 2010 and that same year awarded with a project by Shell UK and NAM. In September 2011, a first Riser Access Tower was installed using the EMI principle. Next to lower costs of installation, Shell and NAM choose this installation concept also because of the ease of installation and possibility of relocation. For this project, Engineering company KCI took care of the basic engineering and detailed design. Mercon and ALE will again work with KCI for the complete engineering of EMI.
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About EMI
For more information, please contact:
EMI
Krinkelwinkel 6-8
4202 LN Gorinchem
PO Box 254
4200 AG Gorinchem
The Netherlands
Mercon launches a new product during the EWEA Offshore Wind in Amsterdam on
29/30 November and 1 December, together with partner ALE.
Visit our stand and learn all about our new innovation EMI – for Eco Metmast
Installation. EMI is an eco-friendly and economical way to install metmasts
offshore.
With the EMI method, no piles need to be hammered for fixing the foundation
to the seabed. This makes the installation very friendly to sealife. Metmast and
foundation are installed in one single operation. Suction anchor technology
keeps the structure at its place and enhances easy installation and
decommissioning of the metmast.
The EMI installation method is much quicker and cheaper than the current more
conventional ways. An expensive installation vessel is not needed anymore.
Moreover no hammering is necessary which also saves costs.
How smart logistics reduced the project time to half
Today, Mercon finished the testing of 15 newly built storage tanks at the
Vopak terminal in Vlaardingen, where vegetable oils and biofuels are stored. The tanks were installed end of May in only six days time during a 24/7 operation. In these six days also the pipe bridges and walkways were installed.
In fact, the complete project duration was decreased substantially compared
to a similar previous project.
Vopak issued a tender requesting to build nine smaller tanks (diam. 12.48,
height 26m) off site and to build the remaining six larger tank (diam. 17.48,
height 26m) on site. The 15 tanks have a total capacity together of
approximately 66,000 cubic meters. The nine smaller tanks had to be equipped
with a dome roof whereas the six larger tanks needed to be provided with a cone
roof.
In its proposal, Mercon – with partner Peinemann – offered to build all tanks
off site. In this way the building of the foundations for the tanks could start
at the Vopak site while Mercon simultaneously began with the construction of the
tanks at the yard in Dordrecht. Mercon especially arranged this yard for the
Vopak project as it own two yards were fully engaged with other projects.
Leading to a considerable reduction of the project duration, this approach
appealed to Vopak upon which they granted the project to Mercon.
Mercon‘s Managing Director Willem Griffioen is particularly proud that the
tanks were completely prefabricated (including spiral heating, preservation and
insulation), transported and installed in only eight months time. ”All piping
bridges and walkways were prefabricated as well on the Dordrecht yard in this
short time frame. At peak days the Mercon workforce of welders, painters and
other craftsmen amounted to over 150 people. For our customer Vopak it was an
advantage to not have all these people at their site.”
Ralf van der Meij, Project Manager at Mercon adds that despite the short lead
time, this project is also special because of the high technological features.
“For the insulation of the nine dome roofs and six cone roofs, a special and
robust insulation system has been applied according to the latest CINI
standards.”
The Mercon team will be happy to tell you all about the recent and successful installation of the Riser Access Tower for NAM and the thoughts behind this innovative concept.
Besides this, we would also be proud to explain, how Mercon built the GDF-SUEZ topside in record time this year.
The topside, jacket and piles for GDF SUEZ’ gas production wellhead protection platform G16a-B left the Rotterdam harbour earlier today. The platform is on its way to block G16, 80km north of Dutch Island Terschelling where installation will start in approximately two days time.
On May 26th, load out of the 1250 tonnes topside took place at Mercon’s yard in Gorinchem. It then went on its trip to the Rotterdam harbour, on the way picking up the 950 tonnes jacket (subcontracted by Mercon to Nami in Ridderkerk).
“The topside has been built in only eight months time which is quite an impressive achievement” says Ruud Zoon, Managing Director of GDF SUEZ E&P Nederland B.V. “This is a result of good co-operation within the joint GDF SUEZ & Mercon project team and resulted in the successful realization of this project.”
As GDF SUEZ wished to install the platform this summer, the short fabrication time was a firm requirement and made the complete project a real challenge.
Willem Griffioen, Managing Director at Mercon explains: “Building such a platform usually takes between 12 to 14 months. In this case we only had eight months time. While Mercon already started building the platform, the power module for the cellar, mezzanine and main decks was still to be supplied and integrated in the platform which was another of the challenges we faced. The very high preservation requirements made the project moreover a truly exciting venture.”
Once the platform is installed, it will be connected to GDF SUEZ’ G17d-AP platform by means of a 14” pipeline and a 2” piggy-back pipeline.
For Statoil’s Valemon project, Mercon was awarded the construction of a new and massive Living Quarter. Accommodation specialist Hertel, contracted Mercon to build the steel construction for this eight storey high building which can harbour 40 offshore workers in single cabins.
Visit us at stand 11471 in hall 11
How smart logistics reduced the project time to half
