01 June 2011
ESAB Falcon sets sail for pipe laying duties
An ESAB Falcon FXA 3000 cutting system has taken to the seas as part of the equipment on of the world's largest semi-submersible crane and pipe-laying vessels, the Saipem 7000.
The vessel has the capacity to handle the entire range of offshore construction developments worldwide. It can lay pipes in water depths greater than 2,000 m and has a massive lifting capacity of over 14,000 tonnes.
Owned by world leading oil and gas industry contractor Saipem, the 198 m long Saipem 7000 will employ the Falcon FXA 3000 cutting system primarily for pipe-laying and rig installations.
It has a 2.5 m by 6.0 m cutting area and is equipped with both an automated Cooljet BIE 220A gas cutting torch, and an ESP 150 plasma cutting system.
The Falcon is being used mainly for automated cutting of mild steel 8-100 mm thick as well as stainless steel from 5-20 mm.
Plasma cutting is employed for thicknesses up to 25 mm, while for greater thicknesses, oxy-acetylene cutting is used. This dual cutting process capability ensures high quality cutting results across the full material thickness range.
The other major benefits of the Falcon in this application are its compact dimensions, easy loading, with its low rail on the outboard side, and ease of use. It can also be dismantled and relocated relatively easily.
Author
Andrew Allcock
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