Oceaneering International designed and manufactured an umbilical system with specialized installation tools for the BHP Billiton Macedon gas development project off Western Australia.

Online since September 2013, Macedon connects subsea wells with a new-build natural gas plant near Onslow, Australia. The project specifications brought a lengthy subsea umbilical to a trench along a beach, through thick sand dunes, under a river, across wetlands and finally to the onshore plant.

An inline joint installation tool facilitated alignment of the connectors to join multiple umbilical sections in the remote area where soil weight bearing restrictions were critical.

Onshore, the umbilical had to include internal protection from electrical cable-eating termites. Offshore, the umbilical had to pass thorough a stretch prone to Teredo worms (shipworms) that burrow into ship hulls and also electrical cables.

The synergy of the solutions for the Macedon project was proven through design reviews and third party verification. Step by step resolution of the challenges faced demonstrates the teamwork evident in the final product.