As one of the world’s largest providers of products and services to the energy industry, Halliburton relies on well-maintained equipment to ensure a leading edge in the market. Experienced operators working offshore in West Africa depend on the cost-effective technology delivered by Halliburton’s marine stimulation vessels. Operating out of Angola, Halliburton’s vessels have been successfully used to complete a number of stimulation, sand control, and remedial well treatments. One of the company’s recent additions, the Stim Star Angola, has arrived in the Port of Cape Town for scheduled repair work, to be undertaken by DCD MARINE. “The choice of DCD MARINE as a service provider was based on the previously successfully completed project undertaken by the company on Halliburton’s Stim Star vessel during 2012,” says Gerry Klos, General Manager of DCD MARINE.

“A number of factors resulted in our selection of DCD MARINE as a supplier of choice,” says Mike Armour, Business Segment Manager for Halliburton. The Stim Star project, undertaken for Halliburton in 2012, entailed 5 000 stainless x-rayed steel welds, all of which were undertaken with a 100% success rate. In addition, not a single HSE (Health, Safety and Environment) incident occurred during the 66 000 man hours worked.” Armour cites close proximity to Halliburton’s Angola base as a major reason for selecting the port of Cape Town. “In addition, DCD MARINE has a multitude of maritime suppliers and vendors that they utilise in the area, resulting in fast turnaround times.”

The Stim Star Angola arrived in the Port of Cape Town in mid-January 2013 and will spend three weeks alongside A-Berth and three weeks in the nearby Sturrock Dry Dock, before returning to the West Coast of Africa. “DCD MARINE’s scope of work for the project involves class inspections of the rudders and tail shafts including renewal of the seals; pipework, including antifouling pipe line, bilge suction line, cooler pipe lines, bulk system pipe work, generator cooling lines and diesel lines. In addition, we will undertake installation of new anodes, renewal of stainless steel chemical lines, corrosive liquid tank lids, and associated pressure relief devices. Finally, DCD MARINE will undertake the blasting and coating of the hull, painting of various areas and tank work,” explains DCD MARINE Senior Project Manager, Denver Arendse.

The Stim Star Angola meets or exceeds the requirement of SOLAS (Safety of Life at Sea) and other regulatory bodies. “DCD MARINE took careful cognisance of the importance of providing Halliburton with a fast turnaround time on the vessel, while guaranteeing that safety and quality is not compromised,” points out Arendse. “The most pressing challenge expected on the project is ensuring that the design drawings match the actual pipes onboard. DCD MARINE will overcome this challenge by implementing a systematic programme of constantly liaising with the project team from Halliburton,” Arendse adds.

“In order to provide Halliburton with DCD MARINE’s unequivocal service guarantee, we will employ a number of reputable subcontractors on the project. We expect that at its peak, the project will employ approximately 120 personnel, including subcontractors,” says Arendse. “DCD MARINE is responsible for ensuring that client vessels are repaired and upgraded to stringent marine regulations. We have accumulated a wealth of experience in offshore oil and gas vessel maintenance work. Our efforts on the Stim Star Angola are another example of our ability to customise solutions to suit client requirements in a timeous and quality-driven manner,” Klos concludes.