THE GORGON LNG PROJECT ‘MISS HANNAH’

The crane built to survive a perfect storm

OIL & GAS

AUSTRALIA

PROJECT OVERVIEW

The region of the north west coast of Australia is known for its cyclonic weather. So, when we were asked to put the world’s largest capacity tower crane on a tug-towed barge delivering freight to a remote location 906 nautical miles away, we knew we were in for a challenge. What we didn’t expect to engineer was a world-first solution that would challenge how companies like Chervon look at craneage logistics and construction solutions for large resources projects around the world.

Client

CHEVRON

Project

THE GORGON LNG PROJECT – ‘MISS HANNAH’

Location

PERTH-BARROW ISLAND WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Sector

OIL & GAS

Date

2012 – 2017

Cranes

6 x M2480D

THE CHALLENGE

When the Chevron wanted to put a heavy lift crane on a super barge and tow it up the one of the most remote and wild coastlines in the world, we had to develop a cyclone-proof solution that didn’t impede on the cargo-carrying capacity of the barge and could transition from sea transit and lashing mode to operating and lifting mode within four hours of arrival at port.

OUR SOLUTION

The solution allowed maximum deck space for cargo with the crane able to operate without restriction 14 metres above the barge deck instead of at deck level using a crawler crane. As the ultimate test, it survived a big storm at sea and returned to port unscathed.

THE RESULT

The Chevron-operated Gorgon Project being constructed on Barrow Island, a Class A Nature Reserve located approximately 60kms of the north west coast of Australia.

A solution was developed to transport the required freight to build this mega-project, which ranged from processing equipment weighing more than 1,000 tonnes to construction vehicles and general freight and containers.

The challenge was to provide cranage that didn’t impede on the cargo-carrying capacity of the barge, could change from sea transit and lashing mode to operating and lifting mode within four hours from arriving at port, and withstand the extreme sea conditions.

We engineered a solution to place an M2480D on the barge – with the confidence it could have the capacity to survive the cyclonic region.

Self-propelled modular transporter systems were used to load the 1,000 tonne M2480D tower crane onto the Barrow Island-bound super barge.

Fully loaded with cargo, the barge safely made her maiden voyage to Barrow Island.

On a later return voyage, the AMC Henderson port was closed due to a storm. Despite it being the worst storm the Captain had experienced in his 40-year career, the barge and the M2480D crane returned safely to port unscathed.

18 months later, the SMPT trailer solution we used to load the M2480D was employed at the LNG Plant to move tower cranes around the construction site.

LET'S TALK ABOUT HOW WE COULD ADD VALUE TO YOUR PROJECT

We work with our clients to find a craneage solution that works – no matter how big or complex the job is. If the right crane doesn’t already exist, we’ll build one to suit the needs of your project.