Shell Offshore Inc. has contracted with
LoneStar Marine Shelters of Galveston, Texas, to fabricate the 607-ton, 76-bed auxiliary living quarters
for their Shell Mars “A” expansion.
The Mars ʺAʺ TLP, located in Mississippi Canyon Block 807,
within the Gulf of Mexico, is being expanded to provide additional living and
office space for their offshore personnel, LoneStar, says. The new USCG certified,
single lift, three level structure measures in at 72ʹ L x 40ʹ W x 45ʹ H.
Unlike traditional living quarters, this structure is
engineered around four ultra‐heavy plate girders designed to support a
temporary 230-ton offshore crane, which will be bolted on to the roof of the
building upon integration with the platform. This unique design feature,
LoneStar says, provides the Shell platform with exceptional operating
capabilities, as this is one of the largest cranes ever installed on an
offshore building structure.
EDG Consulting Engineers Inc., of Metairie, La., designed
the complex to meet Shell’s stringent operational and safety standards. The building’s
perimeter is constructed to meet a 0.65 bar blast rating, A‐60 and A‐0 fire
ratings, as well as high thermal and sound attenuation requirements.
The living quarters consist of staterooms, laundry facilities,
break room, electrical and communication rooms, conference room, offices, and
restrooms. A redundant chilled water HVAC system has been provided to control
for the Gulf of Mexico’s ambient temperature.
The completed structure will be rolled onto an ocean going
barge at LoneStar’s reinforced bulkhead using self‐propelled articulated
movers. The building will then be braced, welded, and secured to the receiving
barge, destined for the awaiting Mars A TLP on location in the Gulf of Mexico.
The transit to the Mars A TLP will occur in the third quarter of 2012.