Economical
When all associated costs are included, abrasive water-jet cutting is very competitive with explosive cutting, even on small tripod jackets. On the basis of subcontract cost alone, explosive cutting appears less expensive, but in the Gulf of Mexico (U.S. waters), the cost of the required regulatory compliance observers increase the cost substantially. The risk of delays due to the presence of marine mammals and the inability to detonate at night can increase the cost of explosive cutting even more.

Powerful cutting action
Oil States MCS abrasive-jet cutting uses a high-energy jet of water-borne abrasive particles to cut even the hardest steel alloys quickly and safely. Not only can we cut hard alloys, we can cut through multiple layers of material, including conductor and multi-string well tubulars, with or without cemented annuli. Our cutting systems have been used to sever well tubulars below the mudline for retrieval after well abandonment.

Remote operation to 1500 ft or more
Oil States MCS abrasive water-jet cutting can be used for severing platform or template pilings and for cutting jacket braces below the water line. The Oil States MCS system is the only one capable of working effectively at depths of 1500 feet and beyond, because the abrasive/ water slurry is mixed at the surface and pumped through a single hose to the cutting nozzle.

Confirmation of cutting progress and completion
Oil States MCS has developed systems that eliminate guesswork during cutting operations. Position of the cutting nozzle is tracked in real time and displayed at the surface. And, for pile-cutting operations, the position indication is augmented by an acoustic monitoring system that confirms successful cutting. Hard copies of the surface plots can be provided on request.

Clean cuts simplify salvage
On piles, explosive cutting always flares the severed piles, which can complicate loading the salvaged structure on the transport barge and make it difficult to remove the piles from the jacket legs. In contrast, abrasive water-jet cutting produces clean, even cuts, so it is easy to extract piles through the jacket legs and prepare the structure for transportation to shore.

Compact spreads for easy mobilization
An abrasive-jet cutting system can be mobilized quickly and is easy to set up and operate on-site. Each system comprises a compact, skid-mounted mixing and control unit that combines abrasive with water, pumps, hoses, a manipulator/nozzle cutting assembly with launch frame, and a control cabin. Because hose length between the mixing unit and cutting nozzle is essentially unlimited, the mixing unit and pump can be placed in any suitable location.

Cutting manipulators for all applications
Oil States MCS has internal manipulators for cutting tubulars from 6 inches to 84 inches OD. The robust and reliable manipulators are designed and built by Oil States MCS and incorporate numerous proprietary features that prevent downtime by protecting the operating mechanisms from contamination by sand or debris. Flexible, tracked manipulators, installed externally, are used for cutting structural components.

Launch frames facilitate manipulator deployment
For pile or conductor cutting, the internal manipulator assembly is deployed from its launch frame, which is positioned over the pile or conductor. The self-contained launch frame has two winches: one to lower and retrieve the manipulator assembly and one for the umbilical. Once the manipulator is in position, centralizer arms are extended, the mixing unit and pump are started, and cutting begins. An electronic and acoustic sensing system tracks cutting progress and confirms a successful cut. When the cut is completed, the pump is stopped, the centralizers are retracted, and the manipulator is retrieved for redeployment.

Technologically advanced systems
The equipment used by Oil States MCS has been refined through years of testing and application. Oil States MCS has performed extensive testing to verify the optimum combinations of abrasives, pressures, flow rates, cutting nozzle size and stand-off, and cutting rate for all types of offshore applications.

Years of success
Oil States MCS abrasive water-jet cutting has compiled an impressive record of success. It has been used to salvage more than 100 platform jackets.

Strong commitment of equipment and manpower
Oil States MCS is committed to providing timely, reliable salvage support to the offshore oil industry. We currently have ready-to-mobilize spreads in the Gulf of Mexico, North Sea, and Southeast Asia.