Maari JV to undertake mooring upgrade

Maari JV to undertake mooring upgrade

Raroa’s mooring system to be upgraded

Upgrade will future-proof the FPSO

DOF wins contract for the work

Upgrade scheduled to begin in February 2016

The Maari joint venture is to undertake a full upgrade on the mooring system of the field’s floating production station, the Raroa.

Total investment in the system upgrade, including engineering, equipment and construction is estimated to be approximately NZ$60 million.

The work, expected to be carried out between February and April 2016, will future-proof the mooring system for the next decade.

The upgrade will involve inspection and work on all eight mooring lines, which are permanently anchored to the sea floor, 100m below the surface. They are attached to the vessel via an internal swivel, allowing the ship to rotate freely with the prevailing winds and currents.

Operator OMV New Zealand announced the upgrade today, and said that DOF SubseaAsia Pacific had been awarded the contract for the work following a competitive tender.

OMV Managing Director Peter Zeilinger said the mooring system will remain fully certified and operational throughout the works. Due diligence undertaken when the JV bought the Raroa showed the need for the upgrade.

“Maintenance was done on four of the lines in 2013, and further work was anticipated in 2-5 years. We’re taking advantage of a lower service price environment and synergies with other work to bring the upgrade forward.”

Mr Zeilinger also said the work had been timed to coincide with the annual maintenance shutdown. The vessel Skandi Hercules will be used to conduct the upgrade work. She had successfully carried out the earlier work on the Raroa’s mooring lines.

All the work to be carried out will be done in accordance with New Zealand regulations and international certification bodies.

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