MDL Third-generation Reel Drive System, operated by the company’s expert offshore personnel, was used to deploy a 13” gas lift riser from an 11.4m reel which was mobilised on the back of an Anchor Handler Vessel.

The tie-in connected the beach with a Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) facility, located 12km off the coast of Tema, in the Greater Accra Region in the Eastern part of Ghana.

The terminal – first of its kind in sub-Saharan Africa – is expected to help Ghana meet its growing domestic energy demand and reduce the country’s dependency on foreign imports.

Directly prior to the project, the MDL RDS had been used for a pipeline replacement at a Nigerian terminal, mobilised onboard a barge. Following routine post-project maintenance, the system now remains in the region, available for future scopes.

Michael Blease-Shepley, MDL VP Africa, said:

“I am extremely pleased to see our technology deployed on back-to-back projects, supporting important developments in West Africa’s power generation. It is a great feeling to know that we can contribute with our specialist services towards the region’s pursuit of energy self-sufficiency.”

“It’s no surprise that with the ongoing pandemic this project faced numerous challenges: constantly changing personnel logistics requirements and the limited availability of materials and consumables – including a last-minute vessel change. We were able to overcome these efficiently, thanks to close co-operation with our client and our expert team on the ground who could assist with their extensive flex-lay knowledge and years of global experience.

“As we continue to develop our presence in this region, I look forward to supporting further milestone developments that will help West Africa’s energy sector grow from strength to strength.”