LDD, a brand in marine energy and infrastructure services company Acteon, provided grouting services for a contractor as part of developing a gas field offshore Argentina. LDD is part of Acteon’s Marine Foundations business line.
The contractor was responsible for the transporting and installing the wellhead platform consisting of a four-legged jacket foundation structure and topside.
Due to challenging ground conditions, the platform’s jacket foundation required a drilled and grouted pile installation solution. A driven pile was installed 18 m below the seabed level, followed by drilling a hole through the pile to a depth of 36 m below the seabed, and finally, an insert pile was installed. LDD provided equipment and personnel to support the installation of grouted connections between the insert piles and seabed, insert piles and driven piles and driven piles and jacket legs.
The equipment provided by LDD included a grout mixer, high-pressure triplex pumps, cement storage facilities and grout density monitoring equipment.
(Image credit: LDD)
Due to the project’s remote location, LDD created a bespoke solution to minimize operational risks. A comprehensive backup grout production system was established on the vessel, ensuring the capability to continue grout installation in case of any breakdowns in the primary production system.
The foundation design required a Portland cement-based grout. Before the project mobilization, samples of the cement sourced locally from Argentina were shipped to Cork, Ireland for laboratory testing to check its suitability and develop mix designs to satisfy the design specifications.
“The project emphasizes our commitment to delivering exceptional grouting services in a challenging remote offshore environment. Working with the contractor to provide a complete backup system onboard the vessel to minimize disruptions reflects our dedication to excellence in supporting the platform installation operation. We are delighted to have contributed our expertise to the success of this significant offshore development,” says Stephen Rourke, Operations Manager (Grouting), LDD.
