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MoorLink supplies Free Standing Riser tether components for the Marine Well Containment Company |
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 In May 2011, MoorLink was awarded a contract by Technip to supply 10 universal joints, pins and associated parts. The universal joints are rated for 809.5 mT and are included in the riser chain tether systems for the Marine Well Containment System (MWCS) Project.
The MWCS Project scope includes two Freestanding Riser Systems, designed to produce to two purpose-built Modular Capture Vessels, and for water depths ranging from 2,000 to 10,000 ft. These will be the deepest production riser systems built to date.
Technip will be delivering the two FSR systems to the Marine Well Containment Company (MWCC). MWCC is a non-profit, independent company committed to improving response capabilities for containing a deepwater well control incident in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico. The expanded containment system is being engineered to contain up to 100,000 barrels of liquid and 200 million cubic feet of gas per day. For more information, please visit www.marinewellcontainment.com.
The manufacturing processes used by Moorlink includes proof loading, Thermal Spray Aluminum (TSA) coatings, and a high focus on safety and quality as these components are considered critical components for the risers.
Moorlink successfully implemented Technip’s and MWCS’ safety and quality requirements, which included a 100 percent 3rd party surveillance and a high focus on personnel safety across the entire project. |
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Moorlink delivers the largest installation swivel to date |
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 Cranemaster takes delivery of a SWL (Safe Working Load) 700 mT low friction installation swivel manufactured by MoorLink.
MoorLink has delivered a SWL 700 mT low-friction installation swivel to Cranemaster. The low-friction installation swivel is the largest (in size) delivered to date by MoorLink.
With a total length of 1.8 meters new ground was broken in the manufacturing process. The swivel has a max installation depth of 3000 meters; MoorLink sees an increased market potential in large installation swivels as exploration depths increases.
With the latest delivery to Cranemaster MoorLink demonstrates its readiness to rise to the challenge of ultra-deepwater installations of the future. |
MoorLink is certified to ISO9001:2008 since September 2012. Auditing is done by DNV.
MoorLink’s focus is always on delivering the highest possible quality products to the demanding offshore industry. This is now further emphasized by an ISO9001:2008 approval issued by DNV.
By using an approved quality system the inherent quality of MoorLink products are even more underlined; there is also an increasing market demand to use only goods delivered by contractors approved to ISO 9001. As MoorLink already employed an efficient internal quality system, the implementation of ISO9001 was a relatively quick task. The ISO9001-implementation project had a total time-span of approximately one year.DNV was chosen as auditing body by MoorLink. DNV is very well regarded in the offshore industry for its high standards and large competence; a natural partner for MoorLink in the important process of delivering offshore mooring components to the highest possible standard.
A continuous improvement process is a core value in the ISO9001 system. The MoorLink development work strives to continuously enhance the functionality and performance of our products; in the article below an example on how the swivel material properties are being systematically investigated and optimized is described in more detail.
Another important aspect of our quality work is the implementation of “SMART” targets into our quality manual. By continuously monitoring and auditing chosen key quality parameters, the quality work process forms part of the daily work at MoorLink in a natural and efficient way.
MoorLink emphasizes safety as a key quality parameter, both for employees and for clients. A safe work environment is crucial when stakes are high, which typically is the case for oil and gas projects. The losses in lives, environment and costs can be high if one of the mooring components fails. The HSE aspects of the quality work thus forms an integral part of the MoorLink QA system. |
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Moorlink develops new steel |
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By Hans Aronsson, Moorlink materials specialist with 30+ years of specialized steel material experience.
MoorLink and its steel supply partners are continuously improving the steel material properties. There are ongoing projects to improve and optimize the material used in the mooring accessories. This article presents some of the areas of research being explored currently.
Background
The use of accessories is a demanding and critical task; not only for the designer, but also for the engineer specifying the steel material used when manufacturing this highly specialized equipment.
The certifying bodies – like DNV and ABS – are emphasizing material knowledge in their updated guidelines. Requirements for materials used in these kinds of applications are increasing, both in terms of engineering values but also in terms of process robustness and quality control. A further design parameter to take into account is the restrictions imposed by the physical size of the components, as heat treatment effects will be dependent on the exposed area and volume of the component being treated. It is thus of utmost importance for the manufacturer of offshore accessories to develop and utilize the steel material in the most efficient and optimal way.
MoorLink has since long practiced a close partnership with material suppliers to maximize and optimize the material properties for the use in mooring accessories.
Way forward
There are a number of ways standard grades can be improved and used to achieve improved properties well beyond the requirements in the standards. Some of the ways to improve the material used in the swivels from MoorLink are described below:
• Fine tuning the chemical analysis within the limits stipulated by the standard. It can be exemplified by increasing the alloy additions to increase the hardenability and fine grain treatment by micro alloying.
• The heat treatment can be performed in a number of ways. There
are options to increase both the
toughness and tensile properties
including quench techniques.
• The machining is also important for the properties. The sequences of machining and heat treatment can be optimized to give the best properties of the material used. This development also includes optimizing the shapes being machined.
MoorLink is currently actively looking into all of these development paths.
Bright material future
The development described briefly above is creating steel versions that outperform the standardized set of properties. This includes properties given in the national and international standards (as EN, ASTM) as well as accepted industry rules (as DNV, ABS). The end results are successful swivels like the 231M5 and the 177M5, both of which are certified to be included in R5 mooring systems to both DNV and ABS.
It is important that the product user and certifying bodies evaluate the improved materials in an open and unbiased manner. The standards and rules should not be seen as given once and for all; more as a set of common rules and
understandings for the industry workman-ship at a certain time. |
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New Middle Size 650 MT AHV Swivel |
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 After the large successes with the 510 MT (Type 210) and the larger 800 MT (Type 209) hexagonal short AHV swivel designs, a new intermediate size is ready for production.
The new design fills up a gap between the smaller and the larger and is targeted for medium sized vessels. It also provides the operators with a higher SWL due to the increased MBL. The first swivel will see the water during this summer and additional units are under production.
All the hexagonal swivels are designed to take high load over the stern roller and incorporating a smooth design, should it be loaded over the winch drum. |
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