FoundOcean Projects BLOG

Sunday 19th September

I flew out from London Heathrow and arrived in Stavanger, Norway, meeting five of the team who had flown from Aberdeen. We joined the vessel after a ridiculously expensive taxi ride from the airport. Greeted by our two colleagues who arrived two days earlier, we got settled in and started to explore the vessel, the Far Scorpion.The windy weather's meant that we're going to set up scaffolding and hang tarpauline around the mixer to reduce any cement dust flying around when the bags are split.

Monday 20th September

Departure day. Following a detailed safety meeting we set sail for the Valhall field. The sea state was slightly bumpy but not too uncomfortable and after I had rediscovered my sea legs the trip seemed to fly by – of course the ships’ entertainment facilities helped!

Tuesday 21st September

I awoke to the sun rising over the illuminated platforms of the Valhall field. The vessel was pirouetting as it completed its dynamic positioning (DP) trials before entering the work zone, giving a full panoramic view of the field out of my cabin porthole.

The go ahead was given to start grouting at 1400. The day shift were scrambled and made it on deck in no time. The hoses were slung across from the jacket and everything was connected up ready for grouting to start on leg A1. The grouting process went without a hitch and after I had handed over responsibilities to the night shift supervisor, John Paul, I sat on the upper deck of the vessel and looked out at the platforms lit up across the horizon.

The QP platform at Valhall	FoundOcean spread onboard Far Scorpion	FoundOcean technicians start mixing grout

Wednesday 22nd September

The day began with a hand-over meeting from John Paul; the team had already started to finish off the first leg. We continued with their good work and received returns at the top of the leg after a couple of hours. Leg A1 is complete.

Thursday 23rd September

Weather is still favourable as we started grouting the second Leg, B1. It took six hours of continuous grouting to complete the leg with the equipment and hoses washed out and crew off deck by 1600. We received information that the weather was taking a turn for the worse so the vessel decided to return to port rather than facing the reported 10m waves. I for one was glad!

Friday 24th September

I was woken up by the sea trying to throw me out of my bunk this morning. The sea’s really picked up over night and I’m relieved we sailed in to port.

Saturday 25th September

We’re still sat in port and weather reports aren’t looking favourable for the planned departure this evening. We decided to explore Stavanger and find a shop to stock up on essential supplies. Unfortunately the walk was about an hour further than I anticipated, but the mission was a success!

The grout mixer with scaffolding and tarp	Looking out to sea from the port	Looking inland from the vessel in port

Sunday 26th September

News arrives that the weather is looking better offshore and we leave the port at 1300. The mood is lifted amongst the crew who are anxious to get back out to site and finish off the last two legs. We’re due to arrive back on site early tomorrow morning and depending on conditions there, we’ll start grouting leg three of four.

Monday 27th September

Weather in the Valhall field is atrocious. There were a few green faces around (including my own). Not the weather to be grouting so everyone sought refuge in their bunks for the day.

Tuesday 28th September

A marked improvement in the weather. We moved in to the jacket and started grouting again. We finished the third leg by 1400 and moved on to the fourth and final leg after we had cleaned out the equipment, the end was in sight... At 2100, as we moved on to complete the last section we faced a blocked hose. With time running out we decided to call it a night and disconnect the hoses and continue again in the morning.

Wednesday 29th September

The last section of the leg was grouted this morning and we’re on our way back to port. Equipment has been made ready for demob in the morning. The ship was travelling at a fair rate of knots and we made it into Stavanger before midnight.

Thursday 30thSeptember

All the equipment was unloaded from the vessel this morning and after a couple of meetings with the client, the crew is demobilised too. The project was a success in grouting terms but owning to the unpredictability of the weather, took longer than anticipated.