THE Helix Energy Solutions floating production unit, Helix Producer I (HPI), has arrived in the US Gulf of Mexico following major modifications at a shipyard in Greece to continue preparations for installation in the company’s Phoenix deepwater field in Green Canyon blocks 236 and 237 in Q1 2010.
The ship is currently at the Kiewit Shipyard in Corpus Christi, Texas, for installation and commissioning of topside production facilities. The package will be capable of handling up to 45,000 barrels per day of oil.
Helix Producer I will be the first ship-shaped production vessel to operate in the Gulf of Mexico and so represents a considerable breakthrough with the US authorities. Moreover, it is autonomous as it can move under its own power. It will utilise a disconnectable transfer system, allowing the vessel to quickly decouple from subsea infrastructures in the event of a weather-related emergency.
Hin Chiu, marine capital projects VP at Helix, said: “The Helix Producer I design concept offers distinct advantages over moored production facilities. Because it is a DP (dynamically positioned) vessel, the HPI can evade weather events such as hurricanes, whereas platforms or moored FPSOs must endure the storms.”
The vessel will undergo offshore commissioning, disconnectable transfer system testing and sea trials in the Gulf of Mexico when the installation of production topside modules is complete.
Helix unit Energy Resource Technology GOM operates Green Canyon blocks 236 and 237 with a 70% interest. Sojitz holds the remaining 30%.