T12 Engineering has reached a key milestone on a major subsea project after its gravity-based subsea structure (GBS), designed for an independent Norwegian oil and gas operator, entered the fabrication stage.
The 60-tonne subsea structure, which has a footprint of 59m², will support mission-critical equipment in the Norwegian Sea once installed offshore later this year.
Fabrication is being carried out by a Tees Valley company as part of T12 Engineering’s commitment to working with the regional supply chain and supporting North East manufacturing capability.
The project is being delivered by the Teesside-headquartered engineering consultancy under an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) scope. T12 Engineering operates from offices on Teesside as well as in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Oslo, allowing the business to support clients across the UK and Norway’s offshore energy sector.
Originally engineered as a modular system, the gravity-based structure was designed so it could be transported by road in standard shipping containers, providing a cost-effective logistics solution. The modular approach also allows the structure to be reused or adapted for a range of subsea applications in the future.
However, for this specific project the structure will be shipped to Norway as a fully assembled unit ahead of its planned installation in the Norwegian Sea this summer.
During the concept and detailed design phases, T12 Engineering worked closely with the fabrication team to optimise manufacturability, improve material efficiency and control costs, while maintaining the structural integrity required for subsea deployment.
Graham Melroy, director at T12 Engineering, said: “Reaching the fabrication stage is an important milestone for the project and reflects the close collaboration between our engineering team and the regional supply chain.
“The North East has a well-established capability in offshore engineering and fabrication, and working with regional specialists allows us to deliver complex subsea structures to the quality standards required for deployment in demanding environments.”
Once fabrication is complete, the structure will be delivered in line with the operator’s internal quality assurance and HSE requirements, alongside relevant international standards including those set by DNV and NORSOK.
T12 Engineering will also provide a comprehensive documentation and smart data package to ensure full traceability throughout the design, fabrication and testing stages.
