In March of 2005, a MENCK MHU 500T hydraulic hammer fitted with MENCK’s patented MUP underwater power pack was used to install the anchor piles for Kerr-McGee’s 'Constitution' truss SPAR in the Gulf of Mexico. Nine piles 84” in diameter were installed to a design penetration of 214 feet.
Heerema Marine Contractors was contracted by Technip Offshore, the spar’s designer and fabricator, to perform the installation in Green Canyon Block 680 at a water depth of 1565 meters, nearly 1 mile below the Gulf’s surface. Using the “Balder” installation barge, Heerema broke the previous MENCK record of 1420 meters set a year earlier by Saipem, Inc. when they installed the Magnolia TLP operated by Conoco-Phillips using the MENCK deepwater system.
Unlike other types of anchoring, driven piles are not dependent on particular soil types to be effective. Therefore it is MENCK’s intent to provide equipment to meet any demand required by the industry. MENCK’s current equipment is capable of operating in water depths of over 7,000 feet and preparations are underway to extend to depths of 10,000 feet and beyond.
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