UK-based Subsea 7 is on target to open its new pipeline fabrication spoolbase in Port Isabel, Texas, USA, in June.
Construction on the buildings and quayside is on schedule and nearing completion. Welding on the facility's first project, a 58km pipeline for Marathon's Droshky development, will begin in early June with an opening ceremony for the base planned for late July.
The spoolbase, located in Brownsville, Texas is 1.5km in length. It will enable Subsea 7 to offer an enhanced deepwater rigid pipelay service to clients in the North American region.
The spoolbase will fabricate and store oil and gas pipelines of up to 20" (50.8cm) in diameter in lengths of up to 1.2km for spooling onto reeled pipelay vessels.
The facility will be equipped to weld any steel line pipe material from traditional carbon steel to exotic material solutions. In addition, the base will be able to complete the fabrication of plastic-lined pipelines, pipe-in-pipe systems and steel catenary risers.
"With the predicted volumes of oil and gas production in the North American region being delivered through subsea facilities, our ability to fabricate and install high quality pipelines locally will be an important competitive edge for Subsea 7," said Ian Cobban, Vice President – North America for Subsea 7.
