29.09.2008

Offshore Spider

A Unic 706 Spider crane has been transported to the Pearl 2 gas platform, some 40 miles offshore from Qatar.
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A compact spider crane is ideal for the congested platform deck

Temporary decks have been installed on the Pearl 2 jacket to facilitate drilling and completing wells for the Pearl GTL (Gas to Liquids) project, currently under development by Qatar Petroleum and Shell.

The Spider crane has been brought in to assist with steelwork construction which will expand the decks to provide support for flare booms, heat suppression piping and supply boat landing areas. It will also be used for general lifting purposes, including deck ‘housekeeping’.

Due to the current intensive drilling programme, the deck operations need to be carried out without disrupting operations. The Unic 706 was selected for this task due to its flexibility, rated load capacity and the point loading limitations imposed on the decks.
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The 706 sits on its lifting skid

Graeme Riley, managing director of Unic Cranes Europe, said: “The offshore oil and gas industry is emerging as a significant market for us. Unic mini cranes could have been designed with the offshore environment in mind and as awareness builds we are seeing increasing take-up for all types of maintenance and installation work. The size and flexibility of the machines is obviously key, Platforms are congested with pipework and superstructure, but mini cranes can get to places that the existing craneage cannot reach.”