Allseas Deploys MDLSpread for Cable Lay

MDL spread has completed a shallow-water installation in the Dutch North Sea with Allseas. An MDL 6-tonne flex-lay tensioner was used alongside a modular reel drive system for deploying of a 126mm JDR umbilical in 35m water depth offshore the Netherlands.

The MDL TTS-2/35 Series Tensioner is a side-loading 2-track system for SURF, cable and wire rope handling. Like the rest of the MDL TTS tensioner fleet, it features the Failsafe Grip System, ensuring maintained hold of the product even in case of critical failure or power loss on the vessel.

The tensioner can handle products up to 550mm diameter and accepts the line by lifting of the top track, allowing up to 600mm opening. This keeps the equipment compact, as there is no additional space required for track pivoting to receive the product, as is the case with top-loading tensioners.

Besides pipelay, the system has been previously deployed for wire rope inspection, as well as transpooling of coiled tubing, as part of solutions engineered by MDL’s in-house PM&E team.

Ernst-Jan Poot, Allseas Project Manager, commented:
“For the MV Oceanic conversion from a survey to an umbilical installation vessel, Allseas could not be better helped than with the people from MDL, making the installation of the P11 Unity umbilical for Dana Petroleum Netherlands a great success.”

Dave Gardiner, MDL VP Global, said:
“This has been our first project with Allseas and we’re pleased to conclude it with such positive feedback.

“This scope allowed us to demonstrate the benefits of our smaller tensioners for application in shallower waters when handling smaller-diameter products, such as cables. The compact design does not compromise on safety, ensuring controlled constant tension to protect the product, whether it's cable, rope, MEG line or SURF.

“This makes our systems ideal also for onshore deployment, particularly for manufacturers of flexibles to transpool long lengths of product from production facilities onto storage or installation reels.

“I look forward to supporting Allseas on more projects in the future, and to assisting other clients with efficient handling of their flexible products with our extensive equipment fleet and in-house engineering expertise.”