.: Suction Pile Installation

Suction piles are the predominant mooring and foundation system used for deepwater oil and gas development projects worldwide.  They have shown to be effective and easy to install.

 

.: Introduction

The Suction Pile will start off suspended a short distance above the sea floor with its valves open.  There are four makers, pre-installed, to help guide the pile to its destination.  These will be used to insure proper placement of the Suction Pile.  The level meter on the Suction Pile will be used to confirm a level landing.  Once landed, the valves of the Suction Pile must be closed and a bore stab will be inserted to apply suction and drill the Suction Pile into the bathymetry.  The bore stab is held by a receptacle on the Rigmaster manipulator.

.: Procedure

1.  Lower the Suction Pile into position by selecting the “VMAX-suctionpile” cable. (Found on Control Tab in the Instructor GUI).
2.  Observe the pile as it lans to assure is in the correct location.
3.  Provide adequate slack to keep the pile on the sea floor in spite of any rough seas.
4.  Pilot the ROV towards the Suction Pile.
5.  Using a manipulator, close the valves on the pile (B) (See reference picture)
        a.  The two valve stems nearest the center of the pile cannot be used.
6.  Insert the bore stab into the receptacle (A) (See reference picture)
7.  Once the bore stab is inserted, activate the suction.
8.  While the suction is activated, you must pay out the cable holding the suction pile.
9.  Observe the Suction Pile descend.
        a.  Cease suction if the pile does not remain leve.
        b.  Maintain adequate but not excessive slack in the cable.
10. Lower the Suction Pile until the white horizontal line is roughly level with the sea floor.
11. Remove the bore stab when Suction Pile installation is complete.

.: Control Scheme


Action


Control System


Manifold


Valve


Control

Desktop /
Debug

Pump Control

XLS and XL

2

10

A – Apply Suction
B – Apply Pressure

 

XLX

3

12

Pay-Out to Suction Pile

XLS and XL

2

1

A – Pay-Out
B – Stop

 

XLX

3

3

Pay-In from Suction Pile

XLS and XL

2

1

A – Pay-In

B – Stop

 

XLX

3

4

.: Notes to Remember

1.  The middle position on the Pump Control action is used to Stop the suction or pressure.
2.  When Paying In or Out from the Suction Pile you can hold the control for faster response.
3.  The Pump Control will only function when the bore stab is in place and both valves on the Suction Pile are closed.
4.  The instructor’s “Overlay” view has a flag that is shown named “Overslack”.  If this value becomes true, the trainee has allowed to much cable to be payed out.

.: Reference Pictures

 

 















 

© Copyright VMAX Technologies, Inc. 2009, All rights reserved.