Allseas delivers Southeast Gateway Pipeline in southeast Mexico ahead of schedule

Allseas have completed the pipelayscope for the Southeast Gateway pipeline project in southeast Mexico ahead of schedule, helping the project to stay on track to achieve its commercial in-service date by mid-2025.

The Southeast Gateway pipeline, a strategic collaboration between TC Energy and Mexico’s state utility CFE, will deliver reliable and affordable energy to Mexico’s growing southeast region.

Allseas scope involved the installation of the 700-kilometre, 36-inch natural gas pipeline for their client, TC Energy. The company delivered the pipeline in 11 months. That included the complex nearshore scope and pre-commissioning of the entire system.

Several vessels were deployed. Solitaire laid most of the pipeline, with Lorelay and Tog Mor providing support. Pioneering Spirit installed the outstanding nearshore section at Coatzacoalcos, without a stinger. Instead, the hanging stinger transition frame served as a ‘mini’ stinger, a solution tailored to the shallow water depth.

“The Southeast Gateway Pipeline Project, with much credit due to the performance of the collective Allseas/TC Energy team, is a classic example of how large scale offshore pipelay ventures are delivered safely, environmentally compliant, and on plan”, said Mike Bagale, TC Energy’s Vice President of Mexico Projects.

Driving efficiency and innovation

TC Energy worked with Allseas to advance the validation of their Automated Ultrasonic Testing system Dolphin, giving Allseas a platform to showcase this inspection technology. Allseas inspected more than 57,000 welds. Dolphin’s fast, reliable and efficient inspection cycles set a new long overdue standard for the high production pipeline construction girth weld inspection, Allseas said.

Allseas already has experience in pipelaying in Mexico, having installed the Sur de Texas-Tuxpan pipeline in 2017. Source/Images: Allseas