Remedial launches first ESV

Remedial Offshore recently marked the launch of its first Elevating Support Vessel (ESV) when it was skidded onto a quayside barge at the COSCO Nantong Shipyard. The innovative ESV design is optimized for well intervention in water depths to 325 feet (100 metres). Each self-propelled ESV unit (two are under construction) combines capabilities of a jack-up platform, an ocean-going vessel, a work-over drilling rig, heavy-lift cranes and an offshore accommodations platform in a single package.

Launching the vessel onto the barge allows its three 3,500-HP thrusters to be installed and further commissioning work to continue prior to moving the unit downstream to another COSCO shipyard where the remaining sections of its 425-foot (130-metre) legs can be installed. These are the last steps before the vessel enters sea trials for an expected March 2009 delivery.

The ESV concept offers offshore oil & gas operators a unique way to combine the capabilities of jack-up rigs with the self-contained efficiencies of ocean-going vessels and improves the logistics and economics of conducting remedial work offshore.

Each ESV unit uses an industry-first design that allows elevated operations up to 75 ft (22 m) away from the well structure, neutralizing concern over existing leg footing contours (“spud can holes”) on the sea floor.

The vessels provide 14,000 ft2 (1,300 m2) available deck area for equipment rig-up, plus a high-capacity pedestal crane (280 tonnes) mounted on a moveable structure. With structure stand-off and longitudinal travel, the ESV main crane can place 100 tonne loads at 158 ft (48 m) from the vessel’s transom. The 227 tonne modular electric “doubles” work-over package is fully deployable (in either tender-assist or cantilever-supported mode) within three crane lifts for faster rig-up.