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Launched in October 2009, the state-of-the-art Leighton Eclipse set the record as part of its prestigious Pipeline Replacement Project 2 (PRP-2) for India's Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) which commenced in November 2009.  This is the second season of work that Leighton has performed under the PRP project. Eclipse will return to the field for pipe-lay and other activities as part of Leighton’s third season on the project in 2010-11.

Leighton also set a record for the Mumbai High field this season in the area of flexible pipeline installation, successfully laying 2400 metres in a single day.

The PRP project is valued at USD 750 million and consists of laying over 220 kilometres of 6-inch to 24-inch pipelines in the Mumbai High field, both rigid and flexible, along with pipeline crossings, risers, topsides modifications and testing and pre-commissioning activities. At the time of award, the project was the largest contract ever awarded by ONGC and Leighton is executing the works on a full EPC basis.

Leighton International Offshore Oil and Gas CEO Russell Waugh said the new record highlighted the expertise and skill of the business.

“These are tremendous achievements and demonstrate very clearly both the capabilities of Leighton people and equipment,” he said.

“Mumbai High is a very congested field. The sort of lay rates achieved this season on PRP would be highly regarded under any circumstances, but when understood in the context of the field constraints they are all the more remarkable.

“What is also most pleasing is that all these results have been achieved while maintaining the highest standards of safety and quality, the former represented by almost 3 million manhours having been worked without any lost time due to injury.”

The Leighton Eclipse pipe-lay barge, is the largest and newest in the Leighton fleet. The vessel accommodates 260 personnel and is capable of laying pipes of 6- inch to 60-inch in diameter and working in water depths ranging from less than five metres to more than 150 metres. It complements Leighton’s Stealth and Mynx barges, both of which have also been working in India this season.

Following the successful completion of the pipe-lay works, the Leighton Eclipse is now focused on completing pipeline riser installations. Eclipse is scheduled to install 14 risers ranging from 6-inch to 24-inch this season.