Future Production is proud to have delivered a new Future Production Pipe Shuttle Machine (PSM) on Equinor`s rig Heidrun TLP. The machine, tailor made to Heidrun TLP, provides Odfjell drilling with an autonomous setup which greatly increases both operations overhead (efficiency) and HSE, reducing hands-on operations on the drill floor.
This essential part of the Pipe Handling System can deliver up to 5 tubulars per run. Once the PSM has been run along pipe deck and further up to drill floor, it stops at an inclination of nearly 40 degrees. From there, drill pipes, drill collars or casing joints in a variety of dimensions are fed from the integrated magazine to drill floor and picked up by the elevator. You can see the PSM system in action at the Future Production facilities here.
The unique magazine feeding system can deliver tubulars sideways without protectors, thereby eliminating the need for personnel on drill floor for protector removal. The machine also handles Riser Joints, bottom hole assemblies and other drilling assemblies.
In May 2022, Future Production began installation of the new Pipe Shuttle Machine on Equinor`s rig Heidrun TLP.
The supplier, Future Production, landed the contract in 2020, and after comprehensive full-scale testing, including training of all crew members, the machine was delivered, installed, and commissioned in a joint collaborative between Future Production, Archer Engineering, Odfjell Drilling and Equinor.
At the end of June 2022, the installation was complete, and the machine was ready for operation.
Now, in February 2024, after 20 months of operation, Odfjell Drilling says that it has been a very successful project. The system is part of daily operations of the Heidrun Rig, with very positive feedback from its operator and its personnel.
When reviewing the history log for the machine only a few expected run-in adjustments have been done as well as replacement of a few expected wear parts.
Future Production, established in 1999, provides a broad variety of equipment and is continuously improving and developing new tailor-made equipment for the offshore and renewable industry.