Solutions
Projects on Craneless Platforms
An offshore platform in the South China Sea required the lifting and installation of a heavy Knock-Out-Pot (KOP) and its associated structure. The equipment needed to be transferred directly from a supply vessel onto the platform deck. With the KOP's combined weight standing at 8.41 metric tons, the platform’s existing infrastructure faced significant spatial and capacity limitations, requiring a specialized modular solution.
-
Location: South China Sea
-
Application: Lifting Solution for Well Intervention
-
Key Challenges: Severe space constraints on the platform deck and heavy weight limits for available rigging gear.
-
Services Provided: On-Demand Crane Rental (TC15 Stiff Leg), Modular Crane Operators, Detailed Lift Planning, and Engineering Preparation.
-
Primary Benefits: Cost-effective, high-efficiency lifting solution that maximized deck space safety.
Core Engineering Challenges
The client’s platform lacked a built-in crane capable of lifting the 8.41 MT payload from a supply vessel. While bringing in a heavy temporary crane or a large liftboat could overcome the weight issue, deck space limitations and high mobilization costs made those options unfeasible.
The operation required a compact, portable-modular crane with a high lifting capacity-to-footprint ratio that could be assembled directly on the deck without overburdening platform space.
Methodology & Execution Steps
Thunder Cranes selected the TC15 Stiff Leg portable-modular crane as the most efficient tool for the job. The team executed the project through a systematic process:
-
Engineering Survey & Design: Technicians conducted a site visit to measure platform load paths, assess tie-down locations, and produce a detailed lift plan tailored to the platform’s footprint.
-
Modular Assembly: The TC15 components were transferred to the deck and assembled using lightweight modular tie-downs, minimizing interference with existing deck equipment.
-
Load Testing: Rigorous load testing was conducted on-site to verify structural integrity before initiating heavy lifts.
-
Execution of Lift: The TC15 lifted the 8.41 MT KOP unit from the supply vessel, transferred it cleanly over the platform edge, and placed it onto the installation deck.
-
Dismantling & Demobilization: Upon successful placement, the TC15 was rigged down, repacked, and demobilized without causing platform downtime.
Timeline & Outcome
-
Day 1: Mobilization, setup of tie-downs, and rigging up of the TC15.
-
Day 2: Crane load testing, execution of the KOP lift, and immediate rig down.
-
Day 3: Final demobilization of crane equipment from the platform.
By utilizing the TC15 Stiff Leg crane, Thunder Cranes safely completed the KOP installation within a brief 3-day window, delivering a safe and cost-effective alternative to heavy lift vessels.
