Deepwater pipelines in Gomex

15 Mar 2006

Subsea focus gives Corus the advantage.

As oil and gas finds beyond the Gulf of Mexico’s continental shelf get deeper and tie backs to existing inshore infrastructure in shallower water get longer, the higher costs associated with line repair and replacement become a front of mind consideration for production companies. In these circumstances, at depths of 2,000 metres and beyond, line pipe performance and reliability becomes a critical cost factor. In these conditions, with much to offer, Corus comes into its own.

Since supplying line pipe for Exxon Mobil’s ‘Diana’ project, Corus has developed a leading position in the deepwater market. Following the development of the North Sea fields off the coast of Britain, the Corus Hartlepool mill has built up an impressive track record supplying deepwater projects around the world. The Corus mill manufactures DSAW pipe between 16” and 42” diameter in wall thicknesses up to 2” thick – the majority of other DSAW mills’ production range does not begin until 20”-24” OD.

With these credentials and the on-the-spot support of Corus International Americas’ Houston office, a growing proportion of the Corus mill’s output - notably in the 16, 18 and 20 inch range - is being channelled to sub sea production in the Gulf of Mexico. Projects since 2001 have included two Coflexip projects for Williams - the Nansen Boombang (now Banjo Seahawk) an 18 inch, 69 km reeled pipeline to a depth of 6000 feet and the Devil’s Tower where 153 km of 18inch OD pipe with 28.6mm wall thickness was laid – the largest diameter and heaviest wall DSAW ever reeled in the world.

Technical difficulties experienced because of the stresses involved when reeling a pipe onto a bobbin were overcome by the ovality achieved in the Corus pipe which compensated for pressures on the sea bed and resulted in the pipe being completely round when laid.

Other contracts in 2003 included 119 km, for Marco Polo - a combination of 18 and 20 inch lines, one gas and one oil and 125km of 18 inch pipe for Phoenix- both of which were Enterprise projects. 

Corus is currently manufacturing two projects for Williams in water depths up to 6000 feet, Tahiti and Blindfaith, totalling over 165kms.

A growing porportion of Corus mill's output is being channelled to subsea production in the Gulf of Mexico.