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Ezra’s Subsea Services division, EMAS AMC has completed the first two of three Noble Energy-operated subsea tieback projects in the US Gulf of Mexico.

The scope of work included project management, fabrication and installation of 8-inch steel catenary risers and 40 miles (64 km) of 8-inch and 12-inch Pipe-in-Pipe (PIP) for the Big Bend and Dantzler field development projects in 7,000 feet (2,100 m) of water depth.

It also included the design, fabrication and installation of eight subsea structures weighing up to 100 tonnes each. All project management activities were performed at EMAS’ office in Houston, with pipeline production and structures fabrication at the EMAS Marine Base (EMB) in Ingleside, Texas.

Since May 2015, Lewek Constellation has conducted more than 30 heavy lifts between 900 and 2,200 tonnes transferring rigid pipe reels, many of them in open water locations, for the Big Bend and Dantzler projects. This technology of multiple, transportable reels combined with heavy lift capability reduces the transit time and eliminates the need for direct spooling by the installation vessel, keeping the vessel in pipe-lay mode throughout the entire project, the company explained.

“We are extremely proud of our achievements on these two field developments,” said Lionel Lee, Ezra Group CEO and Managing Director, “We are proud to announce a record for what we understand is the heaviest Pipe in Pipe (PIP) system ever deployed in the world using the reeling methodology, whilst proving the viability of our offshore reel-transfer technology in open waters. Our game-changing vessel used in combination with our unique transportable reel delivery system will offer clients more efficient pipe-lay options in ultra-deep water when compared to more traditional methods.”

Lewek Constellation and Lewek Connector are now mobilised to lay the pipeline and umbilicals on the Noble Energy-operated Gunflint development project.