The Bayu Undan Drilling Production and Processing (DPP) platform was successfully set-down on the pre-installed substructure, Timor Sea, on the afternoon of 30 August 2003. At just over 14,000 tonnes installed weight this was the second heaviest open sea float over in history.
The installation was performed using the Blue Marlin heavy lift vessel configured in float over mode, utilising the deck support structure and associated installation spread that had previously been used for the CUQ installation.
The docking of the vessel commenced in the morning on a rising tide, and once the DPP was in position over the substructure, a combination of rapid ballasting and the falling tide enabled initial touch and subsequent load transfer from the vessel to the substructure to be achieved.
Further ballasting and hydraulic retraction of the deck support units on the Blue Marlin enabled the vessel to be withdrawn without impact with the DPP or substructure bracing.
Of particular merit was the remote management and removal of clashes with the existing field infrastructure which consisted of infield pipeline, export pipeline, substructures, the CUQ Deck, interconnecting bridge and flare bridge, which allowed the float over and set down to be performed in an uninterrupted fashion.
