The 3 vertical leg braced jacket was designed for rig installation. This jacket was designed to be installed over the top of an existing drilled and suspended well, which was then re-completed and tied back to the topsides. The jacket acts as a drilling template with 30” conductors driven and grouted into the three (3) 36” legs and doubling as structural piles. In this case the jacket accommodated up to 4 wells, but similar tripod designs readily accommodate up to 6 wells.

Installing the Kambuna wellhead platform

The jacket was transported with the lower half suspended out over the end of the transport barge.  Once at location, the jacket was upended with the aid of a tailing winch to the vertical position. 

The barge upending method was used to install the Kambuna jacket

Once vertical, stabilizing rigging and lift rigging were attached and the TTS lifted clear of the barge using the Transocean GSF 136 jack-up drilling rig.

Once on the seabed, the lift rigging was removed and the jacket was held in position by the stabilisation rigging. Three (3) 30” conductors were then driven and grouted into the jacket legs.

The 150 tonne topsides were not available in time for a rig installation due to a long lead time, and were installed separately.

The completed Kambuna wellhead platform

Kambuna Wellhead Platform Data

Water Depth                  36 m

Jacket Weight                175 t

Topsides Weight             150 t

Well Slots                      4

Legs                              3 no. vertical 36”

Conductor Piles              3 no. 30” x 1”