What is a jacket pile gripper and how does it secure the pile?

Secure the jacket, retain the levelled position and offer stability

Levelling a jacket foundation into the correct position and creating a grouted connection to keep it secure is a vital part of offshore jacket installation for platforms and wind turbines.

Utilising the Jacket Pile Grippers (JPG) enables you to secure the jacket, retain the levelled position and offer stability during grouting operations, which results in improved grout connection quality and a reduction in cost.

After activation of the grippers the structure can be temporarily abandoned for circumstances such as bad weather, which reduces risk during installation.

2015 JPG in jacket

Operating Jacket Pile Gripper

The Jacket Pile Gripper has an extensive track record in the Offshore wind and Offshore Oil & Gas market. It is mostly used to secure the jackets from the outside, but can also grip skirt pile offshore arrangements from the inside (internally in a skirt sleeve or bucket arrangement) with the Inside-out Jacket Pile Gripper.

The Jacket Pile Grippers can be operated from surface or with the subsea redundancy control. By operating the Jacket Pile Grippers from the surface, you are able to secure the structure from the surface without any subsea intervention, however if the need arises you are still able to operate the Jacket Pile Grippers subsea from the ROV interface panels or via a subsea hydraulic distribution manifold.

Our Jacket Pile Gripper provides stability and control throughout the offshore jacket installation process. It securely holds the jacket in place during adverse weather conditions or temporary abandonment, maintains its elevated position after levelling, and ensures high stability during grouting. The system is operated from the surface with redundant subsea control, with options for fully subsea operation and multiple hydraulic circuits.

2015 JPGs in jacket

Holding capacities, pile diameters and gripping specifications

  • 50t – 3800t holding capacities, however they can be tailored to your requirements
  • Pile diameters are limitless
  • Hydraulically operated gripping system with optional backup hydraulic
  • Optional diaphragms and grout wipers can be included on request
  • Inclusion of pile stabbing catcher cone structures can be designed and included on request
  • Hydraulically operated gripping system with optional backup hydraulic
  • Integrated jacket installation system on request
  • Early Age Cycling certification in accordance with DNV-ST-0126 upon request
  • Levelling, grouting and redundancy options

    The Jacket Pile Gripper has several optional functionalities to improve the installation process.

    For example, the JPG can be completely subsea controlled, multiple hydraulic circuits can be applied to allow for redundancy and the combination with rubber diaphragms and grout wipers can be made to assist in the grouting operations.

    In addition, we can add a levelling system to the Jacket Pile Gripper to increase the installation operations. In this way, you won’t need other levelling tools to level the jacket.

    • Extensive track record
    • Several redundancy options possible
    • Back-up operation via ROV is standard
    • Resistant to shock loads during pile driving
    • Levelling capability available
    • Reduces costs and increases safety

    As part of IQIP’s jacket handling equipment range, the Jacket Pile Gripper works alongside levelling and lifting tools for a complete installation spread.

    2006 Jacket Pile Gripper
    Looking for the right equipment? Ask our experts!