New Foundation Installation System Developed

Conquest Offshore, together with deugro Denmark A/S, has developed a highly efficient installation system for monopiles and transition pieces, supported by the engineering knowledge and experience of Temporary Works Design (TWD) and Barge Master.

Parties have combined their experience and in depth knowledge of floating installation, offshore skidding, upending, pile handling and motion compensated tools and came up with a revolutionary new concept.

A newly designed and time effective skidding system makes a full deck load on the 136 meter barge possible. The ability to upend monopiles (from deck and floating) and the use of a specially designed motion compensated pile gripper provide the means for floating installation.

During hammering hydraulic cylinders actively compensate the motions of the barge to ensure the right inclination of the pile.

Conventionally, monopiles are installed by jack-up units with higher day rates and less deck space than floating barges. By taking advantage of the large deck space on the barge we can reduce the time and costs needed for transportation of monopiles and transition pieces and use the barge as floating storage – which altogether means that efficient floating installation has a much more competitive day rate.

On top of this, the floating installation concept is completely independent of the soil conditions and water depth.

Image: Conquest Offshore