AFCONS creates record in Indian Oil & Gas industry

AFCONS Infrastructure Limited (AFCONS) achieved a new milestone on January 15, by executing a float-over installation of the HRD Process Platform, for ONGC, in the west coast of India.

Float-over operation is a new concept which is being recently used in ONGC projects wherein an offshore vessel or a cargo barge which is carrying the heavy topside is made to enter the slot created between jacket legs and stab the complete topside on the jacket legs.

With this phenomenal achievement, the Shapoorji Pallonji Group Company became the first Indian EPC contractor to install a process platform under float-over technology on time. This was only the second float-over operation to be carried out in India.

In offshore oil and gas industry worldwide, most topsides are installed via conventional method of lifting. So far, only 27 topsides have been installed across the world using the float-over technique. AFCONS, the leader in a consortium comprising Technip, France and THHE, Malaysia, became the first Indian contractor to adopt the technology and successfully execute it. The design and installation was handled by Technip.

The HRD project has clocked six million Safe Man Hours without any Loss Time Incident till date.

The HRD topside was constructed in Vietnam, with loading out on the planned date. It was transported on a float-over barge to Heera Field, Indian offshore by sea all the way from Vietnam.

Parallelly, during this time, the jacket was being installed and prepared to receive the topside. On Jan 15, the HRD topside was mated with the jacket making the Process Platform a single structure. The entire operation was complete in 34hrs from preparations to complete installation.

It was a phenomenal event where a structure of 8,300 MT got installed in a single attempt.

AFCONS could pull it off with the help of Dockwise team, who were subcontractors and owners of the float-over barge. They also did the ballast operation for the complete float-over.

AFCONS is known for operational excellence. In its spirit of finishing projects on time or before schedule, AFCONS managed this feat on the 150th year of the Shapoorji Pallonji Group.

Source : Equity Bulls

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