Decom Engineering's new TRACS-16 cut and lift subsea tool

Decom Engineering has devised a new “cut and lift” technology that helped the company secure its largest contract to date

To meet client requirements, Decom designed and manufactured in-house the TRACS-16, a twin recovery and cutting system, which can cut and recover pipelines up to 20m in length and up to 16” diameter.

Currently, the cutting specialist is engaged on a £1.5 million, 120-day campaign offshore Western Australia and has deployed TRACS-16 on a workscope involving the cutting of up to 15km os subsea flowline.

The new tool's initial performance recorded cycle times of less than nine minutes, with individual cuts averaging four minutes and 30 seconds, achieving 38 cuts per blade.

The TRACS-16 is an advanced combined lifting beam and cutting tool that is crane-deployable, capable of recovering pipe sections and returning them to a vessel deck, or relocating them to a subsea basket. 

It has a Safe Working Load of 16Te and is equipped with a one-pipe grab at each end of the lifting beam, which can be relocated on the beam to accommodate different lengths. This also includes ROV grab bars at both ends and near the hot stab panel to ensure easy positioning and stabilisation by the ROV.

The quick-connect system enables seamless attachment and detachment of Decom’s C1-16 Chopsaw, which comes with a 1040mm blade capable of making precise cuts through pipes up to 16” in diameter. The system can also quickly and safely change blades in under five minutes on deck.

Nick McNally, Decom Engineering managing director, said, “We devised TRACS-16 for an existing client, which is a global marine and subsea services provider, and based on the successful outcome of this campaign, we plan to roll out the technology to other international clients. As the main cutting contractor on the successful Phase 1 of this project in early 2025, we worked rigorously with our end client to take the lessons learnt and come back with this improved method to save vessel time and ultimately on project costs.

“The initial results on TRACS-16’s inaugural outing offshore Australia are very encouraging, and this level of efficiency is exactly how we help operators minimise vessel time and keep complex decommissioning projects on track. This all-in-one modular system combines cutting, lifting and recovery of pipelines and flowlines,  and replaces the need for two or three separate tools on the seabed. It is fully customisable and delivers maximum efficiency and significant time and cost savings in offshore operations.”

Decom has also stated that reduced vessel time, operational costs, and improved safety were major drivers in the design of TRACS-16, which can be operated by ROV or a topside power control package. The tool is also suitable for both rigid and flexible pipelines and risers, as well as single- and bundled-pipelines. 

McNally added, “TRACS-16 means clients engaged in subsea infrastructure decommissioning can cut and recover with confidence. It strengthens our portfolio of versatile cutting tools and adds a new lifting option to our service offering, maintaining our tradition of responding to clients' needs with innovative and cost-effective solutions.”