Saipem S.p.A. reported Monday that it will establish a spool-base – a facility that allows long lengths of pipe to be welded together before reeling them onto a pipelay vessel – on Greenwood Island in Pascagoula, Miss.

The new spool-base will support pipelay activities for offshore oil and gas development projects, with a particular focus on the U.S. Gulf of Mexico (GOM), Saipem noted in a written statement emailed to Rigzone.

“The spool-based supports Saipem’s growth in the deep water field development sector as well as consolidating the importance of our activities in the Gulf of Mexico area, with a locally based approach and resident assets,” Saipem America Inc. President and CEO Giorgio Martelli stated.

The facility – located in a dedicated area within the facilities of ST Engineering Halter Marine & Offshore, Inc. under a long-term agreement – will support the Saipem Constellation pipelay vessel, the company stated. The newest addition to Saipem’s fleet, the vessel facilitates installation of rigid and flexible pipes in ultra-deep water and heavy lifts of up to 3,000 tons, added the firm.

According to Saipem, the spool-base will include advanced welding machines, non-destructive testing (NDT) facilities and field joint coating (FJC) systems. Moreover, the company noted the spool-base will be able to handle complex projects such as pipe-in-pipe and high-density polyethylene (HDPE) liners. The firm also stated the Saipem Constellation can lift fully loaded reels on-board, stalk (join pipes into long strings) and spool (wind stalks onto reels) separately from vessel loading operations, optimizing vessel and installation schedules.

“We are pleased to be working with Saipem America on this exciting development within our facility in Pascagoula,” Lim Nian Hua, president and CEO of ST Engineering Halter Marine & Offshore stated. “Saipem’s spool-base operations complement  our regular activities of drill rig upgrades and ship repairs. This collaboration will leverage the capabilities of both parties to provide high standards of support to our customers operating in the Gulf of Mexico.”

Saipem did not specify when the new spool-base will begin operations.

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