The world’s longest pipeline at sea 

Leif Solberg was project director for Langeled.

(Photo: StatoilHydro)

The sea is flat and the weather spectacular. But few are thinking about that. The crew of the world’s largest crane vessel, Thialf, is in the process of securing the chains around the huge pipes. At last the bolts sit as they are supposed to.

On the support ships, and up on the platform, the tension is almost tangible. Then the engines roar, the chains tighten and the pipes begin to lift off the deck.
 
The operation takes four days. A bundle of risers has to be lifted up over the platform and secured along the jacket. Project director Leif Solberg and his team have meticulously planned the entire operation.

They have considered numerous alternatives to the crane vessel as the installation of risers on Sleipner is one of the milestones in the Langeled project. And one of the most demanding operations.
 
Huge efforts will be expended in the course of a few days. Heavy pipes must be lifted, swung and submerged. Next, they have to be assembled on the platform. Everything has to fit with millimeter precision.
 
All this has to happen whilst the platform is in full production. All movements, whether large or small, are carefully reviewed. All operations are carefully co-ordinated. Leif Solberg and his colleagues are well aware of most of the things that can go wrong, and have implemented a number of measures so that the heavy lifts will place the pipes gently alongside the Sleipner riser platform. And they do.

The tie-up goes smoothly too. Safe and sound. Entirely according to plan. People ashore and at sea breathe a sigh of relief. Now they can all sleep soundly again at night. For the lift was carried out without a single injury.
 
Maritime engineer Leif Solberg is an experienced project manager. Since Veslefrikk in 1987, many major projects have followed. He has also worked with pipes before. During the construction of Zeepipe, from Sleipner to Zeebrügge, he was the assistant project manager.

The complex project involved the coating and laying of pipes, as well as building the terminal – useful experience for the Ormen Lange pipeline.
 
The project management in Langeled has been awarded to Statoil, where Leif Solberg has several years’ experience. Solberg’s team was composed of people from both Statoil and Hydro – a combination, he explains, that has worked superbly.