SPMT in 7,500 tonne deck move by ALE

ALE in the UK completed the site move and load out of an offshore petrochemical industry deck weighing 7,500 tonnes.

The production sweetening (PS) deck and bridge were part of the Buzzard Field Development Project in Hartlepool. The 7,500 tonne deck was 60 metres by 36 metres by 42 metres. A 500 tonne bridge, 80 metres long, connected the new deck to the existing Buzzard structure.

For the site move 320 lines of self propelled modular transporter (SPMT) were assembled in a separate area adjacent to the site. After the axles were inserted, the module was circled through 90 degrees for the main construction skid beams to be removed. The module was then driven forward about 1 kilometre to the load out site on the quay.

A conflict between the build stool location and the barge grillage location meant that the SPMT had to be inserted and removed to ensure correct positioning on the quayside. As the module was driven onto the barge it was ballasted before being positioned prior to sea fastening for transport.

Installation in the Buzzard field offshore was 35 miles from Peterhead in Scotland. It was the second unit ALE has loaded out for the Buzzard field. First was the QU deck with a total load out weight of 11,300 tonnes in 2006.