Fagioli and RINA ensure smooth topside fitting

International heavy lift and transport specialist Fagioli supported the lifting and installation of the huge topsides for the Hebron oil platform off Newfoundland, Canada. It partnered with RINA Services to provide specialist verification services to ensure the project ran smoothly.

A substantial portion of the topside has been integrated, including the living quarter module, being installed using a heavy lifting barge. Due to the height and weight of the module (more than 4,000 tonnes), the assessment of the barge stability and the weather induced motions was critical to the success of this phase of the project. RINA Services carried out detailed technical analysis to verify design, structure and stability.

Dino Cervetto, director technical services at RINA Services, said, “Because of the height of the structure any small movement of the barge would be greatly amplified at the top of the module. Ensuring stability was necessary for successful transportation and installation. This involved advanced technical analysis.”

Andrea Massera, chief engineering officer at Fagioli, added, “One of the major challenges of the project was verifying that the prevailing conditions would allow the installation operation to be carried out successfully and safely. Too much movement of the barge and the corresponding module would have made the process impossible.”

Cervetto concluded, “The size of the utilities process module for Hebron and the operation for the installation of the Living Quarter presented many logistical challenges. RINA Services was delighted to be selected by Fagioli. The project was a huge success for us and is a great example of the technical competence RINA Services is able to offer in this area.”