Plans for a cryogenic ethylene jetty were initiated as part of Shell’s new US$3 billion petrochemical cracker complex in Pulau Bukom, Singapore.
With the construction of this offshore facility, refrigerated ethylene can be loaded to and discharged from ethylene carriers, thus allowing Bukom to transform from an oil refinery into an integrated oil and petrochemical hub.
Scarcity of shoreline around the island meant that the jetty have to be constructed in a no anchorage area flanked by subsea services. Detailed assessment of the site constraints was made prior to construction. With the usage of temporary staging platforms, piling can be performed without dropping of anchors. To enhance operational safety, a series of fender piles proposed further allows mooring of marine vessels while providing demarcation to prevent trespassing of vessel into the subsea services area.
Amid challenging soil conditions and other site constraints such as swift current, the jetty which comprises of a jetty head, an approachway, two breasting dolphins and four mooring dolphins were constructed in the short span of 10 months. Well thought out construction methodology such as modular precast concrete decks for jetty head and approachway reduced onsite construction time and further provided early access for mechanical and electrical works to be performed concurrently with the civil marine works. Lightweight of the modular precast decks also meant that installation can be performed with relatively small capacity crane barge which further injected cost savings to the project.
Every project will be completed one way or the other in a matter of time. To complete one ahead of schedule, within budget and without any safety glitch is a testament of HSL’s commitment towards delivering a top notch project. With the jetty completion, it positioned Shell’s Bukom refinery well into the future as a major oil-chemical manufacturing site.