Jungle transport through equatorial Guinea

Mammoet, has successfully completed the load-out and transport of heavy components for Marathon Oil’s Alba B3 compression platform. The Alba B3 platform is newly constructed for the Alba gas and condensate field located approximately 32 kilometers offshore from the capital Malabo in Equatorial Guinea. The components include a topside and jacket built in the Netherlands and a flare and bridge built in Equatorial Guinea.

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Mammoet safely performs delicate load-out operation and jungle transport for marathon oil’s alba gas field

The topside and jacket were manufactured in two different locations in the Netherlands by the Heerema Fabrication Group (HFG), a sister company of Heerema Marine Contractors (HMC). HFG did the engineering, procurement, installation and construction work (EPIC) for the Alba project. In the first port, Mammoet loaded the 5,800-ton topside, measuring 40 x 40 meters and 35 meters in height, over the bow-side of the barge onto the stern, requiring a careful ballasting procedure. The barge then sailed to the second port for load-out of the 2,600-ton jacket. Mammoet carefully controlled the ballasting operation to keep the partially loaded barge level and in line with the quayside, despite a tidal variation of up to five meters. HMC transported the barge from the Netherlands to Equatorial Guinea.

While the operation to transport the topside and jacket was underway Mammoet was in Equatorial Guinea picking up the 73-meter-tall flare and the 33-meter-long bridge. These components were manufactured by a local Equatoguinean subcontractor ECG on Bioko Island, where the country’s capital Malabo is located. Mammoet transported the flare and bridge on self-propelled modular transporters (SPMT). Most of the route from the construction site to the loading point was through the jungle. Mammoet surveyed the entire route and equipped the SPMTs with turntables to navigate narrow sections of road. Mammoet also advised ECG on necessary road improvements and movement of power cables along the route to ensure safe passage.

Arriving at the port of Malabo, the flare and bridge were loaded onto a barge by a roll-on operation. HMC transported the barge to its final destination in the Alba B3 field, approximately 32 kilometers offshore from Bioko Island. On site, the flare and bridge were brought together with the topside and jacket. All components were installed by HMC and their crane vessel and HFG is currently carrying out the hook-up and final commissioning.
Both ECG and Marathon Oil, the operator of the Alba B3 field, expressed their satisfaction with Mammoet’s ability to overcome challenges and keep a perfect safety record during the transport and load out.