Aibel Thailand, which is building the Main Support Frame (MSF) module for Johan Sverdrup’s P2 process platform, said it has completion of the first deck at the company’s yard in Laem Chabang.
In November, the project reached a major milestone when the first section of the module was lifted into place on the grillage, safely and on schedule. Weighing 987.5 tonnes, this is the heaviest lift ever performed by Aibel Thailand, and also the heaviest onshore lift of a section in Aibel’s history.
The deck covers an area the size of a football pitch, and is the first of four similar deliverables in the P2 project. The deck itself weighs a total of 2,000 metric tons, while the total weight of the entire MSF module when it is ready to depart will be 14,100 metric tons.
“The team here in Thailand has put in an incredible effort,” says Harald Revheim, the construction manager for Johan Sverdrup P2 in Thailand. “The work has been performed without any serious injuries, and its quality is very good. We have been especially impressed by the critical work carried out for the metallisation of deck 1. This is a solid beginning for the delivery of the complete MSF module in February 2021, and a good example of what we are able to achieve here at Aibel Thailand, in close partnership with our customer Equinor,” says Revheim.
Suriya Phojit is the construction manager for the MSF module and does not deny that it can be challenging to manage a team consisting of hundreds of employees from different backgrounds and cultures.
“Right from the start of the project, we were aware of the need for open dialogue, and we encouraged the employees to share their experiences. The more we talk to each other, the better we understand each other, so we put a lot of effort into encouraging and motivating everyone to work as part of a team,” says Phojit. “I am immensely proud of the effort the employees have put into the project so far and I’m convinced that the MSF module for JSP2 will reach the highest standard we have ever achieved. It is important we now maintain this excellent trend, and keep the focus on team work, safety, quality and good planning, because there will be many challenging tasks to face in the next 12 months before the structure sails to Norway,” says Phojit.
At Aibel’s office in Asker, the project is forging ahead, with staff working to completing the major design work.
“The team has now produced about 40,000 drawings from an estimated 55,000, so the bulk of the work is in the bag and the focus is on maintaining our tempo and quality until the final IFC drawing in late March,” said Berit Gjellan, Engineering Manager for Johan Sverdrup Phase 2.
“We have enjoyed really excellent cooperation with engineering in Thailand and Singapore and with manufacturing and procurement, where we have jointly managed to priorities and adapt the deliverables. The downsizing of the supplier market since Sverdrup phase 1 has led to long lead times, especially in pipes and valves. Despite this, the delivery situation has been handled without notable delays thanks to clear prioritisation from the team in Thailand,” Gjellan said.
“Equinor is very pleased with what is starting to take shape during construction in Thailand,” said André Henning Aspevik, Equinor Site Manager for the P2 project. “Aibel has established a good safety standard on their yards. This is, and will always be, our number one priority: Always home safely. In addition, we see that the quality of what is being delivered is very good. It is especially gratifying to see how the teams from Aibel and Equinor are working together under the slogan 'P2 – Performing 2gether'. Between the disciplines, there is a keen focus on learning and capturing experiences from previous projects, and we see a willingness to always look for improvements and opportunities.”
The installation of equipment on the deck is also well under way. The HVAC facility has been fitted on the first deck and the installation of pipe spools is also on track.
Nick Routledge, general manager of Aibel Thailand, said, “The exciting thing now is that we are entering a phase of multidisciplinary coordination, with a number of trades working in parallel. Consequently, we are heavily focused on planning, and the project organization and basic organization from Aibel and Equinor respectively are working closely together in our 'One Team' implementation model. We think as one team and leverage our strengths. Our task now is to continue this good work in order to deliver the MSF flare stack and bridge safely, to the right quality and on time.”
The project has a value of NOK 10 billion ($1.1 billion) and will, at its peak, engage around 3,500 employees. P2 includes the construction of a total of three platform modules - the MSF (main structure frame), the UPM (utility process module) and the HVDC (converter module), which will all be connected to each other upon completion.
The MSF module will be transported by sea from Thailand to Norway in February 2021. The two other modules will be built and completed at the yard in Haugesund and Spain, and are scheduled to be transported to the Johan Sverdrup field in January 2022.