(April 2nd, 2015, Shanghai) After having successfully accomplished the pipe-laying trial for the CNOOC Offshore Pipe-laying Project, which was performed during mid-to-late March 2015, Hilong has received the approval document for official operations. This shows that everything goes well with Hilong’s CNOOC Offshore Pipe-laying Project. 

During mid-to-late March, Hilong employed the “Hilong 106” pipe-laying derrick barge to carry out trial laying in the sea area outside Zhoushan. Eighty-five pieces of pipes, which added up to 1,036 metres, were successfully laid under water after such processes as grinding, beveling, preheating, degaussing, line-up, welding, inspection and field joint coating. Also the rehearsals of both abandonment and collection of pipelines were performed in the trial.

The major equipment employed in this pipe-laying trial include world-class welding machines, tensioners, an AR winch and testing devices. The technicians and engineers of the relevant units of Hilong’s pipeline business also participated in the trial laying, providing technical and service support in respect of pipelines.

Senior executives from the CNOOC headquarters, CNOOC Shanghai as well as Sinopec inspected the trial laying site and attended the evaluation meeting on March 29th. They highly complemented Hilong on the result of the pipe-laying trial and project preparation. The General Manager of the Engineering Department of CNOOC, signed and issued on spot a document which approved of official laying.

Shawn Xiao, Vice President of Hilong and General Manager of Hilong Petroleum Offshore Engineering Co., Ltd., said, “We have encountered unfriendly sea conditions during the trial laying period; however, due to our sufficient and forward looking preparation, along with a well-trained technical team as well as the world-leading pipe laying equipment, our trial laying work has been orderly and efficiently carried out, with a satisfying result. This has laid a strong foundation for the subsequent official operations.”

(Hilong’s Note: Currently “Hilong 106” has commenced the official laying of pipelines for the CNOOC Pipe-laying Project.)