Manifold Recovery

The Challenge

The existing recovery concept used a substantial fabricated support frame beneath the manifold to transfer loads into the vessel deck.

While structurally workable, the arrangement introduced a significant amount of fabricated steelwork and additional installation effort on the vessel.

The project also relied on a more complex rigging arrangement using specialist Dyneema slings, increasing both procurement cost and lead time.

With the recovery campaign approaching, the revised project team required a simpler solution that could be engineered and delivered within a tight programme while maintaining the required structural and lifting performance.

The Solution

Elgenio reviewed the existing recovery arrangement and developed a much simpler seafastening concept based on using the manifold's own mudmats as the primary bearing points on the vessel deck.

This removed the need for the large fabricated support frame. Horizontal restraint was instead provided using simple local deck-mounted cleats and shear stops.

The revised arrangement substantially reduced fabricated steelwork, simplified vessel integration and reduced the amount of installation work required during mobilisation.

The recovery analysis was also re-developed in OrcaFlex to confirm the governing lifting loads and dynamic response of the manifold during recovery.

The rigging arrangement was redesigned around readily available conventional slings, removing the requirement for specialist Dyneema components and reducing both procurement cost and lead time.