Well Enhancer almost ready for the real work

April 2009 – The final touches are now being made to the Well Enhancer, a Well Intervention & Diving Support Vessel. This is a multi-functional vessel that can be used worldwide for maintenance work on underwater oil and gas wells down to depths of 600 metres. The vessel can be used to execute several types of job at the same time in the area of intervention, construction, inspection and maintenance. For this project, De Boer Staal supplied 2,000 tons of steel plating and Holland profiles, Grade A ship quality.

Oil and gas reserves are declining, so global demand for multi-functional vessels like the Well Enhancer is expanding. It is becoming ever more important to maintain the increasing number of oil and gas wells, and to keep production levels up to scratch. In addition, the number of new oil and gas fields in very deep seas is rising. There are not enough oil and gas platforms available, so specialist vessels are being deployed more and more. The major benefits of ships like the Well Enhancer are that they have lower operating costs, they are more flexible in use, and they can do several types of job at the same time in the area of intervention, construction, inspection and maintenance.Highly advanced systemsThe Well Enhancer was designed and built by IHC Krimpen Shipyard in Krimpen aan den IJssel on the basis of IHC Merwede's versatile Type-22 series. The vessel is 132 metres long and 22 metres wide, and it can accommodate a crew of 120. This design was further developed and adapted in close collaboration with the owner, Helix Energy Solutions Group. The vessel has an advanced multi-functional derrick and crane for maintenance and production work on underwater oil and gas wells down to depths of 600 metres. For diving, inspection, construction and installation work, the ship has a diving system for 18 people that can reach depths of 300 m, as well as two diving robots. It also has a helicopter landing pad. The owner will be using the ship in the North Sea near the Shetland Islands.