Q4000
Encyclopedia
Q4000 is a unique multi-purpose oil field construction and intervention vessel commissioned in 1999 by Cal Dive International, and was built at the Keppel AmFELS
shipyard in Brownsville, Texas
. She was delivered in 2002 within the $180 million budget, and operates under the flag of the United States. She is operated by Helix Energy Solutions Group. SDP/McClure developed and owns the design of the Q4000.
Q4000 also has a unique column-stabilized semi-submersible
design that combines dynamically positioned
station-keeping with a large deck space, significant deck load capacity and a high transit speed of 12 knots. The vessel provides a stable platform for a wide variety of tasks, including subsea completion, decommissioning and coiled tubing deployment, and she is specifically designed for oil well intervention and construction in depths of up to 3048 meters of water.
. The vessel was used to position the large containment dome and also to attempt the "top kill
" in which large quantities of drilling mud were pumped down the Q4000 drilling pipe into the failed Deepwater Horizon blowout preventer
valve (BOP) in an attempt to stop the flow of oil. Both attempts failed to stop the oil leaking from the well. After removal of the failed riser and drill pipe on the Horizon BOP, a capping stack sealed the top of the well on July 15, 2010, stopping the flow of oil into the Gulf of Mexico. The Q4000 was used in a successful static kill procedure, where mud, followed by cement, was pumped into the well, sealing the leak at the source. The Horizon BOP was secured on the deck of the Q4000 around 10:20pm on September 4, 2010. The failed Horizon BOP was collected as key evidence into the investigation of the causes of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill.
Keppel Corporation
The Keppel Group of Companies includes Keppel Offshore & Marine, Keppel Integrated Engineering, Keppel Energy, Keppel Telecommunications & Transportation and Keppel Land, among others....
shipyard in Brownsville, Texas
Brownsville, Texas
Brownsville is a city in the southernmost tip of the state of Texas, in the United States. It is located on the northern bank of the Rio Grande, directly north and across the border from Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico. Brownsville is the 16th largest city in the state of Texas with a population of...
. She was delivered in 2002 within the $180 million budget, and operates under the flag of the United States. She is operated by Helix Energy Solutions Group. SDP/McClure developed and owns the design of the Q4000.
Q4000 also has a unique column-stabilized semi-submersible
Semi-submersible
A semi-submersible is a specialised marine vessel with good stability and seakeeping characteristics. The semi-submersible vessel design is commonly used in a number of specific offshore roles such as for offshore drilling rigs, safety vessels, oil production platforms and heavy lift cranes.The...
design that combines dynamically positioned
Dynamic positioning
Dynamic positioning is a computer controlled system to automatically maintain a vessel's position and heading by using its own propellers and thrusters...
station-keeping with a large deck space, significant deck load capacity and a high transit speed of 12 knots. The vessel provides a stable platform for a wide variety of tasks, including subsea completion, decommissioning and coiled tubing deployment, and she is specifically designed for oil well intervention and construction in depths of up to 3048 meters of water.
Specifications
The design of the Q4000 includes the following features:- Dynamic positioning with 6 azimuthing thrusters
- A multi-purpose HuismanHuismanHuisman is a surname of Dutch origin, meaning houseman. The name refers to:*Duncan Huisman , Dutch race car driver*Hellen Huisman , Dutch voice actor*Henny Huisman , Dutch television presenter...
designed three-sided tower capable of fulfilling all traditional derrick roles - Two HuismanHuismanHuisman is a surname of Dutch origin, meaning houseman. The name refers to:*Duncan Huisman , Dutch race car driver*Hellen Huisman , Dutch voice actor*Henny Huisman , Dutch television presenter...
cranes with lifting capacities of 160 and 360 Tonnes - Seabed access to 3048 meters
- An 11.9 meter x 6.4 meter moonpool
- A 7 3/8 inch intervention riser system (The vessel was refitted with a slimbore drilling capability in 2008).
- A 3048 meter heavy weather ROV system
- An overall deck capacity of 4,000 Tonnes
Deepwater Horizon spill response
Q4000 is currently in the Gulf of Mexico participating in the response to the Deepwater Horizon oil spillDeepwater Horizon oil spill
The Deepwater Horizon oil spill is an oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico which flowed unabated for three months in 2010, and continues to leak fresh oil. It is the largest accidental marine oil spill in the history of the petroleum industry...
. The vessel was used to position the large containment dome and also to attempt the "top kill
Top kill
A top kill is a procedure used as a means of regaining control over an oil well that is experiencing an uncontrolled eruption of crude oil or natural gas . The process involves pumping heavyweight drilling mud into the well...
" in which large quantities of drilling mud were pumped down the Q4000 drilling pipe into the failed Deepwater Horizon blowout preventer
Blowout preventer
A blowout preventer is a large, specialized valve used to seal, control and monitor oil and gas wells. Blowout preventers were developed to cope with extreme erratic pressures and uncontrolled flow emanating from a well reservoir during drilling. Kicks can lead to a potentially catastrophic...
valve (BOP) in an attempt to stop the flow of oil. Both attempts failed to stop the oil leaking from the well. After removal of the failed riser and drill pipe on the Horizon BOP, a capping stack sealed the top of the well on July 15, 2010, stopping the flow of oil into the Gulf of Mexico. The Q4000 was used in a successful static kill procedure, where mud, followed by cement, was pumped into the well, sealing the leak at the source. The Horizon BOP was secured on the deck of the Q4000 around 10:20pm on September 4, 2010. The failed Horizon BOP was collected as key evidence into the investigation of the causes of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill.
External links
- Q4000 current position at VesselTracker