It’s been a busy few months for TLA Subsea Ltd and while progress has been good, it has been slower than we would have liked. Notwithstanding this, we are now at a very exciting stage of the project and are going to commence build of the prototype Tensioner in earnest by the end of June.
The fabricated components have been delivered, namely the sub-base and the front and back plates, as well as the jack and the drive train components. All of these items have been trial assembled with little or no modifications required, which was very satisfying and seen as a major milestone.
All the ancillary components have been delivered and booked into stock, apart from the machined items and the ROV buckets which are to be delivered by the end of the month.
Due to the simple design and ease of handling we have taken the decision to assemble the prototype Tensioner at our own premises. To enable us to do so we have purchased handling equipment, including a mobile overhead gantry crane, a mobile hoist as well as chain hoists, slings and shackles, all of which have been certified or supplied by Don at Deeside Lifting & Inspection.
Our assembly procedures are in place, risk assessments completed, hand tools looked out, torque tools re-certified and we are all set to get started.
Other areas that are being progressed are;
- The design of our test jig, which will enable us to proof test the Tensioner as well as verify our calculations on carriage travel for a range of tether tensions against tether length and fleet angle is in final checking and drawings shall be issued shortly for manufacture.
- We are finalising how we shall undertake Performance Verification Testing of the Tensioner to simulate the loadings that will be seen during service.
- We are reviewing the design of the Swivot (that enables the tensioner to Swivel & Pivot and be recovered) to enable existing gravity bases to be used with the TLA Subsea Tensioner.
