WAUKESHA, WI--(Marketwired - August 15, 2016) - When a near-shore natural gas platform in New Zealand needed to be refurbished on a tight time frame, New Zealand contractor WorleyParsons found the perfect solution on the other side of the world -- in Safway's QuikDeck.
After 10 years of safely delivering up to 40 percent of New Zealand's natural gas supply annually, the Shell-operated Pohokura field in the North Island of the country, needed an offshore refurbishment. This included painting the entire platform and legs situated in 115 feet of water -- safely -- while not impacting the environment, maintaining a secure energy supply and adhering to a tight 100-day schedule.
One of WorleyParsons New Zealand's designers, Harold Balicao, had heard inklings of a new modular suspended access product provided by an American company called Safway. "Our engineers talked to their engineers, and it was apparent to us that we could safely solve one of their bigger problems," said Safway's Jerry Dolly, manager of Safway's Bridge and Special Product Division, which is responsible for the QuikDeck line.
QuikDeck, built around safety, is a modular access system that provides a continuous rigid, flat surface suspended by chains. It has been described as a "factory floor in the air" -- deal for the Pohokura job. Although it took a lot of review and analysis, this dialogue was "the beginning of a journey that ended with finding the perfect solution, backed up by a great engineering team and product," said Steve Walton, the project engineer with WorleyParsons New Zealand, a branch of the Australian engineering giant.
"The engineering teams from both our companies worked well together using the Navis and AutoCAD software. The use of these made it very easy for the WorleyParsons structural team to update and share the 3D model with our construction team and contractors," Walton said.
Shell New Zealand's Maintenance, Engineering and Project Delivery Manager Kerry Willimanson was pleased with the outcome. "Nothing is more important to us than safety and looking after our beautiful New Zealand coastline. We are delighted the Pohokura offshore campaign caused zero harm to people and the environment. The innovative Safway technology played a key role in our environmental management."
The $50 million Pohokura project was completed on time and on budget, while maintaining a constant energy supply to keep New Zealand's economy ticking.
