The shallow water derrick/laybarge GSP Bigfoot 1 has successfully installed a subsea pipeline for phase 2 of TPAO’s Akcakoca gas project in the Turkish Black Sea.

Owner Grup Servicii Petroliere recently completed an $85-million conversion program on the vessel at its yard in Constanta Sud – Agigea, followed by sea trials in the Black Sea earlier this year to test speed, maneuverability, and directional stability.

These trials were witnessed by representatives of ABS, which supervised the conversion process and issued the class certificate.

GSP Bigfoot 1 is now equipped with SAS pipelay equipment including a SAS 8-point pipelay mooring winch system including deck sheaves and fairleads. The 8x100mt electrical mooring winch system is integrated with the 120mt pipe tensioning system. The latter has the advantage of an optimized use of regenerate power reducing the overall power consumption of the vessel.

The new pipelaybarge can install pipelines with outer diameters of 6-32-in. (15.2-81 cm), and can accommodate a crew of up to 208. After completing its initial assignment in the Russian sector, a shallow water pipeline installation, the vessel will transfer to Akcakoca, where it will install a 7-km (4.3-mi) long, 12-in. diameter subsea pipeline.

It has also performed tie-ns to Akcakoca’s existing 12-in. (30.5-cm) offshore trunklines vie a wye-piece connection. Gas is transported through this system to an onshore plant at Cayazgi. GSP also undertook the pre-installation subsea survey.

The barge was supported in this program by two anchorhandler tug supply vessels the GSP Vega and Amber II. In addition, GSP is responsible for construction and installation of the phase 2 project’s steel jacket/dual-deck platform, which it claims will be the largest to date in the Black Sea.