Cecon - an offshore and subsea contractor
Specialized subsea lay vessels and methods
As the worlds search for hydrocarbons continues at increasing depths, the necessity for more sophisticated pipe laying vessels and techniques has never been greater.
Video presentation at YouTube:
Cecon pipe laying
Pipe laying methods include the standard S-lay in which flexible pipe are laid from the barge forming an S shape, and a more recent pipe laying method, the J-lay, which allows for a more vertical drop and is, therefore, the method of choice for laying pipe in deeper waters.
Welding technology
Whether installing a new pipeline, tying into an existing pipeline system, or repairing an existing structure, two primary connection methods are used - welding and mechanical bolt on hot tap tees.
Cecon represent a range of new pipeline and riser designs, pipe lay equipment, subsea vessels and on deck handling systems and construction tooling.
The rough conditions with seawater
Although recent pipeline materials are far surpassing the track records of their predecessors with respect to longevity, all are susceptible to corrosion. This is due, in part, to the chemical composition of seawater and the pipeline itself, the pressure of the material pumped through it, and the natural wear and tear of the sub-bottom environment.
While a certain level of corrosion is unavoidable, a variety of technologies are being utilized to slow the degenerative process, including pipeline coatings, cathode protection methods and pipeline burial.
Effective coating materials will resist marine and plant life, feature a high electrical resistivity ideally suited to complementary cathode protection, have a virtually negligible water absorption factor, and
be suited to operating conditions between -30 and 95 degrees C (up to 115 degrees C in subsea conditions under a concrete weight coating).
New frontiers in deep and arctic waters
Emerging technologies in the field of subsea pipeline surveying and installation are allowing todays oil and gas producers to tap reserves which only recently were thought too remote and too deep to conquer.
As oil & gas companies challenge new frontiers in pursuit of valuable hydrocarbons, exploration and production technologies will continue to advance - providing a pipeline into the near future and beyond.
