FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 2014
ALE complete world’s heaviest load-out at 47,830t
ALE has completed another world record with the load-out of the 47,830t Arkutun Dagi
topside. This weight, which was the combination of the 42,695t topside positioned on a
5,135t load-out support frame is the heaviest to be loaded-out in the world.
The topside will be located in the Arkutun Dagi field off the east coast of Russia; the
development is expected to be the largest oil and gas production platform in Russia where
the first oil is scheduled to be produced within the next 12 months.
ALE’s full scope of work included the stand jack pulling, high capacity modular ballast
system and precision 3D barge monitoring. In addition to this, ALE also supplied the full
engineering scope and supervision of the overall load-out. Due to the record weight, the
working tolerances of the barge were much smaller than during a conventional load-out.
The high capacity modular ballast system is adapted for each barge - the bespoke system
for this project included 2400 Cu M / Hr ballast pumps. This enabled the ballast pump and
power pack operation to be completed from one central control by using a computerised
PLC control. The computer system provides, tank sounding, flow rates, tidal monitoring and
HPU control. This innovative system also allows the flow distribution for the barge to be
controlled with a click of a mouse.
Russ Jones General Manager for ALE - Offshore Services stated “Working on such a
prestigious project really shows how ALE are leading the way with technology. When you
are working to such tight tolerances, technology and experience really are the key to
success. The precision barge level monitoring system was developed in-house and gives
you the comfort factor when you are out there working in the project, knowing the accuracy
and reliability of the system allows ALE to push the boundaries and make such projects
possible'.
This load-out was the final stage of the project that saw ALE complete the heaviest jack-up
in the world. The topside, then weighing 42,780t due to additional steelwork, was jacked to a
height of 24 metres. This jack-up operation was a first of a kind project for ALE’s Mega Jack
system. To complete this stage of the project, the Mega Jack was configured in four sets of
towers each made of a combination of three singular towers; this gave each of the four
towers capacity of 15,000te and an overall jacking capacity of 60,000te. The Mega Jack is a
completely computerised and stroke controlled system operated via a control room; it took
only 11 hours to complete the lift.
Kees Kompier Executive Director at ALE said: “This pioneering project is a great
achievement for ALE. It clearly demonstrates the strength of ALE’s global capabilities that
we are able to jack-up a weight of 42,780t to a height of 24 metres in 11 hours and then
load-out a final weight of 47,830t. These are statistics that the industry haven’t been able to
witness before and shows that we are now making the impossible possible”
NOTES TO EDITORS
Founded in 1983 by Roger Harries, ALE delivers a highly tailored, end-to-end service
covering every aspect of the handling, transportation and installation of heavy, indivisible
loads, including lifting, transporting, installing, ballasting, jacking and weighing.
ALE delivers strategic heavy-lift services to a wide range of sectors, including civil, oil and
gas, energy, nuclear, offshore, renewables, petrochemical, ports, marine, minerals and
metals and mining.
Innovation leaders in the industry ALE has a dedicated Research and Development facility
who continually work to offer better solutions to client’s requirements. The team have
developed a specialist range of equipment which make up our Innovation Series range,
these pieces of equipment are what set us apart from the rest, the series includes the AL.SK
fleet – the worlds heaviest land based cranes, the Mega Jack system – capable of jacking
weights that have never before been lifted and the Hydro Deck – a pontoon type vessel to
revolutionise the way in which project modules are loaded in where extreme tidal variations
are common.
ALE is headquartered in the UK and has more than 30 offices across Europe, the Far East,
Africa, America, South America, the Middle East and Australia. It is fully compliant with
international standards of safety and excellence, including Quality standard ISO 9001:2008,
Environmental standard ISO 14001:2004, and Health and Safety Standard OHSAS
18001:2007. ALE is also registered and qualified in the Achilles Norway and Link-up
systems, and is a member of both the British Safety Council and the British Standards
Institution.
Further information can be found on the ALE website at www.ale-heavylift.com
MEDIA CONTACT
Kim Godfrey
Global Marketing Manager
Email: [email protected]
Tel: +44 (0) 1889 272 540
Web: www.ale-heavylift.com