By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, July 9 -- Total SA subsidiary Total Austral SA has been delayed again in its development of Carina and Aries fields 50 miles off Southern Argentina in the South Atlantic Ocean, following weather-related damage to the J. Ray McDermott SA-operated DB60 laybarge, formerly the ETPM 1601.
The 10,237 ton vessel was installing pipe in June as part of a contract for 62 miles of chemical injection pipelines and flowlines to transport natural gas production from the fields to shore—in what would have been the most southerly pipeline installation ever completed—when harsh seas broke the pipe and damaged the vessel's stinger, the contractor said.
McDermott declared Force Majeure and suspended operations pending assessment of damages and determination of the length of the delay.
The fields originally were scheduled to start production in the second quarter of this year, but the project has faced a number of delays, including some related to Argentina's economic situation.
McDermott's contract, reported in November 2000, was for design and installation of two platforms and the related pipelines, which most recently were slated for completion this fall.
