Erickson's precision placement capability proved vital to maintain offshore fuel support for Nation's power generation facilities
Central Point, Oregon, USA - Vertech Offshore (http://www.vertech-offshore.com) contracted Erickson Air-Crane to employ the unique precision installation capability of the S-64 Aircrane to remove and replace the flare tip on a production platform in the South China Sea that supplies natural gas to power generation facilities that power the Luzon grid in the Republic of the Philippines. The platform, operated by Shell Exploration Philippines B.V. (www.malampaya.com), was shutdown for the flare tip change, but the down time held a sense of urgency as the pipeline only contained limited fuel to keep the power generation facilities operational.
Erickson Air-Crane brought in an S-64E, with a lift capacity of 10 tons (~9,000 kg) at sea level, to lift two large tool boxes onto the flare tip support arm, outstretched from the platform. The Aircrane was then used to remove the unserviceable flare tip, lift the new flare tip into place, and remove both tool boxes in 2 hours of flight time.
Erickson Air-Crane Vice President of Aerial Operations, David Horton said the Aircrane is just the right tool to accomplish this vital and time-critical task: "The flare tip on this platform was a flange make bolted at 45 degrees. To place it quickly and safely, you need the precision and control of a flying crane. Fortunately, that is exactly the aircraft we offer."
In addition to precision heavy lift construction, the Erickson Aircrane also plays a critical role in wildland and urban interface fire suppression. Currently four Erickson Aircranes helitankers are working hard battling the catastrophic wildfires in California as one of the most important assets employed by the U.S. Forest Service, California Department of Forestry, and tribal governments in saving lives and property. The Aircrane Helitankers are making precise drops of water, foam mix, and retardant at key tactical areas on the fires across the state.
Erickson Air-crane owns and operates a fleet of seventeen S-64 Aircrane helicopters world wide and has operated in sixteen countries since 1971. With a lift capacity of up to 25,000 pounds (11,340g), the Aircrane is unsurpassed in performance of Firefighting and Civil Protection, Hydromulch Application, Timber Harvesting, and Electrical Transmission Line Construction. Erickson Air-Crane is a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) certified Repair and Overhaul Depot.
Erickson's worldwide fleet of S-64 Aircranes are supported and maintained from the administrative and manufacturing headquarters located in Central Point, Oregon, USA
Do you have 1,177 Tons (1196 metric Tons) of oil rig and support equipment that requires a fast, efficient, and environmentally sound demobilization from a remote jungle site in the middle of a national park? Mobil Corporation did and called on Erickson Air-Crane for two Aircranes to accomplish the demobilization of rig #200 owned by Parker Drilling Co. The rig was located at the Candamo wellsite approximately 140 nautical miles East of Cuzco in the Tambopata National Reserve.
The drill site was 2 acres in size and was judged to be at high risk for soil erosion. Mobil ecosystem biologists and "Green Team" members were present throughout the entire drilling and demobilization and brought in hundreds of mahogany seedlings to reforest the area after the rig was moved. It seemed that all eyes were on the Mobil site and any intrusion into the jungle ecosystem as small as a watermelon seed was realized and/or eliminated according to "Zero Residual Effect" policies laid out by Mobil Corporation. The nearby river, Rio Tambopata, was home to the endangered Giant River Otter. Mobil and Erickson Air-Crane combined efforts to plan alternate flight paths for the Aircranes that would achievethe greatest efficiency while posing the least threat to the endangered Otter.
The task for the Aircranes involved airlifting the 1,100 tons of drilling equipment in sections to 2 staging areas located on existing road systems. The sections would then be trucked out and shipped to the next destination. Challhuamayo, located 23.5 Nautical miles from the Candamo well site, served an intermediate staging area for the drill rig sections and also for the Aircranes and flight crew. Arika, a little farther away at 30 Nautical miles, served as the primary staging area and living quarters for the crew once the portable housing units were brought out of Candamo.
The lifts began March 27th with N6962AC pulling over 135,000 lbs.(60,750 k) in one day. N164AC arrived to add extra strength to the effort on April 2nd. The average weight per load carried by both Aircranes was 13,700 lbs.(6,165 k) and ranged from the high-tech Dowell-Schlumberger well testing equipment to "Porta-Camp" portable housing for the crew. Dowell equipment such as the cement tank, recirculator units, and hydraulic units weighed in as single trips of 16,500 lbs, (7,425 k) while a Parker blowout preventer (BOP) combined with a tool basket provided an efficient load at 17,500 lbs. (7,875 k) The average weight per load of Parker equipment, excluding the Portacamps, was 15,500 lbs. (6,975 k). The average time per trip was 42 minutes with both Aircranes averaging speeds of 90 knots.
When N164AC left Candamo with the last load, all that was left at the wellsite was two "Backhoe" earthmovers, plenty of shovels, and hundreds of Mahogany seedlings. Mobil's "Green Team" would stay behind for three months and work to bring the site back as a functioning section of a balanced ecosystem.
It began with the discovery of a potential for crude oil deep in the eastern jungles of Peru. Pangea Energy International Ltd. found the area while engaging a new, state-of-the-art, 3D seismic geophysical technology. The area was known as Shahuinto, in the heart of the jungle, more than 210 Miles (350 Kilometers) Northeast of Lima.
The challenge was then to get a 1,180 tons of drill rig, supplies and testing equipment over 64 miles (103 Kilometers) of jungle landscape to the remote Shahuinto drill site. It was to be the second longest distance ever attempted using the helicopter as a means of transport. Pangea turned to Erickson Air-Crane, the manufacturer and world's largest operator of standard transport category S-64 Aircrane helicopters.
Erickson Air-Crane is based out of Central Point, Oregon and has been operating Aircranes worldwide for decades performing various operations including oil rig support, high volume aerial timber harvesting, heavy lift construction, and aerial firefighting. Erickson has owned and operated Aircrane helicopters since 1971.
Pangea contracted Erickson Air-Crane for mobilization and demobilization of Rig #145, owned and operated by Parker Drilling Co. The mobilization consisted of 3 phases involving the transport of support materials as well as the actual drill rig itself.
The first phase started in the first week of May 1998 and consisted of the airlift and assembly of two D-6 earth movers at the jungle site. The two bulldozers began the next day carving out 90,000 square feet (8100 sq. meters) of jungle needed for the Parker drill rig, living quarters for the workers, and miscellaneous support materials.
The next phase of the operation took place on 25th of September and involved using the Aircrane to transport cement and mud along with casings needed during the drilling process. All equipment and materials during this phase were transported from a staging area 31 miles (58 kilometers) northwest in the nearby town of Nohoya. At about the same time, Parker drill rig # 145 was being barged up the Ucayali River to the staging area at Nueva Italia.
The third and most comprehensive phase of the operation began on October 12th. The Parker drill rig and support equipment had arrived at the staging area at Nueva Italia. The transport distance from the riverside staging area to Shahuinto was 64 miles (103 kilometers) and would be the longest of the operation and second longest in the history of helicopter mobilization.
The lifts began with transport and reassembly of a D-5 bulldozer and a Mantis land crane, which would be used to assemble the parts of the drill rig when transported to the site. The Mantis crane alone weighed 28.4 tons (25.8 metric tons) and was accomplished in 5 lifts. 27 portable housing units were brought in to provide office space for the managers and living space for the crew.>/p>
After the jungle site was properly prepared with the arrival of the necessary support materials, engines, and equipment, the Aircranes flew the 1,100 tons (978 metric tons) of drill rig equipment over the 64 mile (103 kilometer) distance to the Shahuinto drilling area. Among the last lifts were the 21 sections that comprised the Dowell-Schlumberger well testing equipment weighing over 255,000 lbs (116 metric tons). All totaled, both helicopters accomplished the mobilization in 200 lifts. The derrick was raised on October 30th and drilling started on November 5th.
When drilling was completed and the rig disassembled, Erickson load masters designed and planned the optimal load configurations that would take the most advantage of the Aircrane lift capacity. Rig # 145 would travel the 64 miles (103 kilometers) back to Nueva Italia where barges would take it back down the Ucuyali River. Two Erickson S-64E helicopters began lifting out the rig equipment in the morning of December 19 th . Both Aircranes operated like a clockwork mechanism. One helicopter would be transporting equipment to Nueva Italia while the other would pass by, headed for another pickup at Shahuinto. The average load weight was over 13,000 lbs. (5,850 kg) as both helicopters flew back and forth over the 64 miles (103 kilometers) of jungle between the two sites.
After 17 days, all that remained at Shahuinto was an earthmover contracted by Pangea to clean up the site and remove all leftover materials that might prove harmful to the surrounding environment. Both Aircranes moved over 835 tons (757 Metric Tons) of drill rig and equipment with a combined flight time of 163 flight hours. The average time per lift was 1.2 hours, which was spent traveling over the jungle from Shahuinto to Nueva Italia.