News

Sparrows awarded MSA from TAQA Bratani

Sparrows Engineering and Operations UK3 Department based in Aberdeen, has been awarded a substantial MSA from TAQA Bratani to supply project engineering, detailed design and offshore implementation services for the replacement of the Cormorant Alpha East NCK crane. 
 
TAQA Bratani UK Ltd is a relatively new client for Sparrows having acquired the North Cormorant, Eider, Tern and Cormorant Alpha from Shell in December 2008. This is the first direct contract award for Sparrows in the UK with TAQA.
 
The project has stemmed from recommendations made by Sparrows during a late life study of all TAQA’s pedestal mounted cranes in the North Sea. Leading on from this, we were asked to carry out a feasibility study for replacement of the 35 year old NCK cranes to ensure that methods for changing the East crane were achievable.
 
A FEED study (Front End Engineering & Design) was then compiled to evaluate the most economic methods for changing the crane. This resulted in the selection of a Sparrows owned Bucyrus Erie MK60 crane to be mounted on the drilling derrick skid beams to assist with the change-out.
 
Detailed design started in September and is in an advanced stage, with implementation currently planned for Q2 2011 which will allow change out of safety critical valves and re-activation of the drill floor on the Cormorant Alpha.
 
Sparrows have also supported the selection of the replacement crane, a 40Te SWL Kenz Figee DHC 40/3000, due for delivery in mid March 2011.
 
The management and selection of this crane has been especially challenging due to the limitations of the existing NCK Eiger P110 friction clutch cranes. These are restricted to 11.4Te SWL off-board lift which has meant careful consideration to how the crane package is supplied and re-built offshore.