Active Heave Compensation Winch System for Oceaneering

Client: Oceaneering

Project: BP Block 31, Angola

Scope of work: 12 Tonne SWL Drum Winch, 600kW Electric Hydraulic Power Unit and Active Heave Compensation Control System

Project details

ACE Winches designed and manufactured its first Active Heave Compensation (AHC) Winch System for Oceaneering for deepwater use, offshore Angola. In 2011, the equipment package was commissioned on board the vessel, the Russell Tide, which is undertaking work for BP in Block 31.

The winch is rated at 12 tonnes at up to 2,500m water depth and is supplied with 4,000 metres of 30 mm diameter of low rotation wire rope. The winch was designed and certified to DNV 2.22 - Lifting Appliances and is capable of operating at speeds in excess of 100 metres per minute to achieve the Active Heave Compensation.

The AHC Winch System is designed to ensure the constant deployment or retrieval of the winch hook load and to eliminate or reduce its movement related to external movements of the winch assembly. The system uses a Motion Reference Unit (MRU) to sense movements of the vessel, caused by wave action, relative to the seabed. Active Heave Compensation Winch systems filter out the effect of wave movement, which allows for more accurate data readings, increased equipment safety and reduced weather-related down times. AHC Winch systems prevent unwanted undulation or heavy sea movement causing sudden slack or pull on cables, resulting in safe controlled deployment and retrieval of loads.