LR 13000 ready to work
24 December 2012Mammoet has assembled the world's largest production crane, the 3,000t Liebherr LR 13000, at BP's Whiting refinery in Indiana, USA.
The Whiting refinery dates back to 1889, before the birth of the automobile. It is the sixth largest in the USA, and the second largest in BP's refinining system. Currently, BP is investing several billion dollars in the site, in order to allow it to process heavier crudes.
The Whiting Refinery Modernization Project ('WRMP') increases the refinery heavy oil processing capability by reconfiguring the largest of 3 crude distillation units and adding new coking capacity and processing units.
BP is installing 380 miles of pipe, 1,200 pieces of major equipment, 600 shop-fabricated modules, and 50,000USt of steel.
Construction at the site began in May 2008; as of September 2012, construction was 70% complete, with the expanded site due to come into operation in the second half of 2013.
Mammoet was brought in to provide lifting services at the site. The LR 13000 was shipped to the Port of Indiana from Westdorpe, Netherlands, in 190 pieces and unloaded in August, before being trucked to the Whiting site over six weeks.
The pictures here show the LR 13000 in early October, shortly after being set up.
The machine will be set to work with 78m main boom and a 72m luffing jib, using the Superlift derrick attachment.
Also on site are four Manitowocs. In the main picture, from left, are a Manitowoc 999 with Maxer attachment stowed; a Manitowoc 2250 with straight boom boomed up; a Manitowoc 18000 with straight boom boomed down; and another Manitowoc 999 with Maxer attachment stowed.
