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The Ettrick field is located in the outer Moray Firth, about 120km north-east of Aberdeen in blocks 20/2a and 20/3a in the UK sector of the North Sea. The field is operated by Nexen with an 80% working interest. Other co-venturers include Bow Valley Energy with 12% and Atlantic Petroleum with 8%. Discovered in 1981, Ettrick was appraised by seven wells between 1982 and 1985.

“The Ettrick field is located in the outer Moray Firth, 120km north-east of Aberdeen.”

FPSO

The development plan includes drilling three production wells tied back to a floating production, storage and offloading vessel. The group awarded Bluewater a contract for the production facilities and operations. Bluewater will design, supply and operate the FPSO including topsides and a disconnectable turret mooring system.

The FPSO is based on the newly built, Aframax-size FPSO hull Aoka Mizu, which is undergoing an extensive conversion programme for the project.

The Aoka Mizu has a length of 248.12m, a 42m moulded breadth and a 21.2m moulded depth. It has a 14.9m design draft and a deadweight of 105,000dwt. The vessel has a 7,985m² deck area, a 6,000m² topsides and a 8,000t deck payload.

ETTRICK PROCESS PLANT

The process plant has a 35,000bpd fluid capacity and a 30,000bpd crude production capacity. It has an 18-million-cubic-feet-a-day gas lift facility. Treating seawater for injection into the reservoir, mixed with produced water at a rate of 55,000bpd.

“The development plan includes drilling three production wells.”

Gas can be exported at 20 million cubic feet a day through a subsea pipeline system. It can offload oil at 5,200m³/h in volumes of 500,000 barrels to tandem moored shuttle tankers. The FPSO has crude storage capacities of 95,000m³ (600,000 barrels).

There are also 7,150m³ (45,000 barrels) slop tanks and 2,982m³ (18,000 barrels) of fuel oil.

The vessel is classified by Lloyd’s Register of shipping with the notation, +100AT, oil barge with descriptive notations Pt higher tensile steel, increased scantlings for longitudinal strength and fatigue for FPSO service in harsh environments, including Norwegian, Canadian and West of Shetland waters. Production from the field is expected to begin in early 2008.

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Hayward Tyler Group - a leading manufacturer of pumps and motors for the power generation and oil and gas industries - today announces the strengthening of its oil and gas division with the appointment of Darren Cowley as Oil and Gas Market Development Manager.

Darren, a mechanical engineering graduate, has over 20 years experience in the pump and valve industry. Darren joins from Knowsley SK, where he spent 5 years developing their market in Europe and Central Eastern Europe (Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan), worked on a number of projects including Kasahgan, Tengiz and Karachaganak and was responsible for the company’s biggest order of £2.5 million for the supply of equipment for the Akpo FPSO project ordered by Technip in Paris.

Mark Wood, Sales and Marketing Director at Hayward Tyler Group, comments: “We view Darren’s appointment as another step towards consolidating our position in the international oil and gas markets. His expertise and knowledge comes at a time when oil prices are reaching new highs, global demand is increasing and companies are pushing their exploration and drilling into more extreme environments.”

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The Gimboa field lies in block 4/05, approximately 85km off the Angola coast, in 700m (2,296ft) of water. The field is operated by Sonangol on behalf of Norsk Hydro, ACR (Angola Consulting Resources) and SOMOIL (Sociedade Petrolefira Angolana). Recoverable reserves have been put at 50 million barels of oil equivalent.

“The FPSO has a maximum oil production of 60,000bpd of oil and 60,000bpd of water.”

The Gimboa project is based on three production and four water injection subsea wells, which are clustered around a central manifold. This is tied back to a Floating Production, Storage and Offloading unit (FPSO).

Technip was awarded the contract, worth approximately $70m, for the engineering, procurement, fabrication, testing, installation and pre-commissioning of:

one production flowline and one water injection flexible flowline

one gas lift flexible pipe

one service umbilical

an associated flexible risers system

flexible well jumpers

The engineering will be carried out with the assistance of its operations and engineering centre in Luanda, while the umbilical plant, Angoflex, will manufacture of the umbilical and logistic support. The flexible lines will be manufactured by Flexi France in Le Trait (France). This contract also includes the installation of other subsea equipment, provided by Sonangol P&P. Offshore operations will be performed using a dynamically positioned vessel during the first half of 2008.

FPSO

The contract to provide and manage the FPSO was awarded to Saipem in a six-year $570m contract with a five-year extension option. Delivery to the Gimboa field, is scheduled for early 2008.

Saipem are converting an oil tanker T/T Magdelaine into the FPSO Gimboa. The FPSO has 1.8 million barrels of oil storage and a production capacity of 60,000bpd.

The tanker was built by IHI in Kure, Japan, in 1977, and is being converted in Dubai DryDocks. The hull has an overall length of 337m, a 54.5m breadth and a 27m moulded depth. Its loaded draught is 21m and it has a deadweight of 273,777t. It is powered by steam turbines boilers with an output of 87,000kg/hr which gives the vessel a transit speed of 10kt (14kt before conversion). Power is by two steam turbine-driven generators with an output of 14MW each.

The FPSO Gimboa has 100 berths and an operating crew of 50. The mooring is carried out by a 12-leg spread system consisting of polyester / chain anchored by suction piles.

GIMBOA CONTRACTORS

Saipem subcontracted the fabrication company Lamprell to build six topside process modules in a $30.3m deal. In addition to the main contract this included an option for the fabrication of the piperack worth another $8.7m. These modules are for lift and flash gas compression, high and low-pressure separation, plus a chemical injection skid a processing manifold and equipment room.

“The Gimboa field lies in block 4/05, approximately 85km off the Angola coast, in 700m (2,296ft) of water.”

VWS Westgarth supplied the sulphate removal package. Its scope consists of a water injection plant in a single lift module arrangement comprising seawater coarse strainers, chlorination unit, dual media fine filtration, guard cartridge filters, HP feed pumps, sulphate removal membrane system, fresh water membrane system, vacuum deaerator, water injection pumps, chemical cleaning system, chemical dosing systems, control valves and instrumentation, fresh water distribution systems and module lighting, fire and gas detection and fire-fighting systems.

PROCESSING FACILITIES

The processing facilities give the FPSO a maximum oil production of 60,000bpd of oil and 60,000bpd of water. Maximum gas production is 36.8 million cubic feet a day

There is a low and high-pressure ignition-type continuous gas flare of 1.49 million cubic metres a day but that can be raised to a maximum of 87 3.14 million cubic metres a day in emergency. The gas compression facilities are rated at 20 million scfd. The tanker can store 1,800,000 barrels of crude in the tanks. There are also slop tanks able to hold 108,000 barrels.

Offshore operations will be performed by one of the group’s dynamically positioned vessels during the first half of 2008.

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Key applications for the oil-and gas industry include: methanol/ethanol injection, chemical injection packages, H2S and CO2 re-injection, condensate forwarding or re-injection and glycol injection.

LEWA pumps and systems is the world leader in metering pumps according to API and many other specifications, for plunger, diaphragm, process pumps as well as skids, packages and systems, and provides the widest range of pressures, flow rates and materials covering the toughest applications in the oil and gas industry, on and offshore, up and downstream.

Lewa’s key products include metering pumps, process diaphragm pumps, odorizing
systems, solar-, electric motor-, and air/gas driven chemical injection packages, large to
small on-/off-shore packages, CO2/H2S re-injection units, custom made high pressure
diaphragm pumps and condition monitoring systems for a variety of industries.

These products are supplied to key industries, such as:

Oil and gas (upstream and downstream)

Chemicals and petrochemicals

Pharmaceuticals and personal care

Foods and beverages

Plastics processes

Cleaning and detergents

Specials (such as gas odorizing)

LEWA’s core expertise includes:

International project management

Worldwide on-site presence

First class service and spare part distribution

Pre and after-sales services

FULL PROCESS SOLUTION PROVIDER

No need to switch to other, non-proven equipment - once the flows and pressures get higher. Over 50 years of sound, practical and proven experience in the oil and gas industry, LEWA can provide the complete range.

DIAPHRAGM METERING PUMPS- LEWA ECOFLOW

LEWA ecoflow provides the highest reliability. Featuring a wealth of standardised assemblies, LEWA’s ecoflow range of diaphragm metering pumps can be customized for practically every pumping application.

Ecoflow metering pumps incorporate the LEWA-Diaphragm Protection System (DPS) that perfectly complements the range’s proven modular design and offers safe control of the diaphragm movement during operation.

In addition to modular, standardised diaphragm metering pumps, LEWA can also deliver specialised solutions to meet the customer’s requirements.

PROCESS DIAPHRAGM PUMPS

LEWA continues to set new standards for process diaphragm pump technology in high-pressure process engineering. With a pressure range of up to 1,200bar, our process diaphragm pumps can quickly and safely transfer critical, toxic and inflammable fluids in a wide variety of operating conditions.

LEWA PACKAGE ENGINEERING

The company delivers engineering and on-site commissioning services for metering and mixing applications, and supplies both proven standard packages and metering packages, tailor-made for specific applications. Competence from one source with a minimum of interfaces and consistent component selection minimizes the risk due to our functional warranty.

LEWA’s metering solutions and odorizing systems are delivered with modern electronics that enable both open and closed loop control and monitoring. LEWA meets all requirements for new systems or upgrades from proportional control up to PLC-operated systems.

LEWA CMS (CONDITION MONITORING SYSTEM)

To ensure continuous operation and avoid costly and time-consuming emergency shut downs, a condition monitoring system, LEWA CMS, offers the most economic solution.

With LEWA CMS, pump life-cycle cost is lowered by reducing machine downtime, accomplished by progressing from preventive to condition-oriented maintenance and further reducing the risk of unexpected pump breakdowns and loss of production.

BEST SOLUTION AND TECHNOLOGY FOR THE CUSTOMER’S BENEFIT

LEWA’s definition of customer benefit includes more than just technical features and high standards for quality. Other important features include our after-sales capabilities, first-class service, a worldwide on-site presence and international project management. Customers are offered competent and comprehensive consulting. The process, the system approach and, in particular, economics are always the focal point.

To support our claim of being the market leader, we can name many outstanding and technically extremely demanding applications (environmentally and application-wise).

West Africa, South America, the Gulf of Mexico - high-pressure chemical injection (non-lubricating chemicals such as methanol, ethanol). Abrasive catalysts, bentonite - the Middle East, the North Sea, CO2 /H2S reinjection in Canada, and many other locations.

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ESAB’s commitment to the offshore segment is as old as the company itself. In the field of welding consumables, ESAB has a comprehensive range for all welding processes and applications. These include welding electrodes, welding wires and welding fluxes for mild steels, low-alloyed steels, stainless steels, special alloys and aluminium. Welding wires include both solid and cored wires for MIG/MAG welding as well as wires and fluxes for submerged arc-welding.

Company founder Oscar Kjellberg invented the flux-coated MMA electrode to solve a specific problem related to ship and boiler repair. This provided a technological lead that ESAB has never relinquished. Today, we are the market leaders in most shipbuilding and offshore-related welding and cutting solutions. This position is maintained through local presence and technical support in almost every country where offshore fabrication takes place or offshore installations are to be found.

Building large complex structures for the oil and gas industry, including offshore modules and jackets, means that savings in consumables and productivity can make a huge difference to overall project costs.

WELDING ELECTRODES

Specifically for the offshore industry, ESAB has a range of electrodes and cored wires for low-alloy steels, producing low-hydrogen weld-metal with good impact values down to minus 60%, and good corrosion-resistance in saltwater environments.

Along with this, come innovative solutions such as Esab’s Vacpac™, the vacuum aluminium foil wrapping of welding electrodes, ensuring a virtually unlimited shelf life, and eliminating the need for re-baking.

In the field of welding Equipment, ESAB’s proven technology and reliability have made them “first choice” for a large number of international fabricators and repairers. As an example, our LHF range of welding rectifiers is built with galvanised bodies and components designed to withstand the most extreme offshore welding environment.

PLASMA CUTTING

In cutting, ESAB has developed a strong range of machines to meet the high specification applications that deliver better cut quality, higher cutting speeds, lower operating costs and integration into automated production methods. This range of machines is based around oxy-fuel cutting, plasma cutting and laser cutting technologies and reflects ESAB’s 65 years of experience in the cutting industry.

ESAB has been involved in well-known pipelines such as Transmed and the deep water offshore project Blue Stream, supplying a full package of consumables, power sources, cutting machines, automation and accessories, always coming along with consultancy and useful technical field-assistance.

ARC-WELDING EQUIPMENT, CONSUMABLES AND CUTTING

ESAB, through its world-wide network of manufacturing plants, sales and distribution facilities and well trained staff, is able to offer cost-effective ‘global solutions to local customers’ - large and small alike.

Key to this is its ability to provide total solutions including arc-welding equipment, consumables and cutting. ESAB’s brand, which has been developed over more than 100 years, reassures customers of its expertise, reliability, responsiveness and long-term commitment.

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Key applications for the oil-and gas industry include: methanol/ethanol injection, chemical injection packages, H2S and CO2 re-injection, condensate forwarding or re-injection and glycol injection.

LEWA pumps and systems is the world leader in metering pumps according to API and many other specifications, for plunger, diaphragm, process pumps as well as skids, packages and systems, and provides the widest range of pressures, flow rates and materials covering the toughest applications in the oil and gas industry, on and offshore, up and downstream.

Lewa’s key products include metering pumps, process diaphragm pumps, odorizing
systems, solar-, electric motor-, and air/gas driven chemical injection packages, large to
small on-/off-shore packages, CO2/H2S re-injection units, custom made high pressure
diaphragm pumps and condition monitoring systems for a variety of industries.

These products are supplied to key industries, such as:

Oil and gas (upstream and downstream)

Chemicals and petrochemicals

Pharmaceuticals and personal care

Foods and beverages

Plastics processes

Cleaning and detergents

Specials (such as gas odorizing)

LEWA’s core expertise includes:

International project management

Worldwide on-site presence

First class service and spare part distribution

Pre and after-sales services

FULL PROCESS SOLUTION PROVIDER

No need to switch to other, non-proven equipment - once the flows and pressures get higher. Over 50 years of sound, practical and proven experience in the oil and gas industry, LEWA can provide the complete range.

DIAPHRAGM METERING PUMPS- LEWA ECOFLOW

LEWA ecoflow provides the highest reliability. Featuring a wealth of standardised assemblies, LEWA’s ecoflow range of diaphragm metering pumps can be customized for practically every pumping application.

Ecoflow metering pumps incorporate the LEWA-Diaphragm Protection System (DPS) that perfectly complements the range’s proven modular design and offers safe control of the diaphragm movement during operation.

In addition to modular, standardised diaphragm metering pumps, LEWA can also deliver specialised solutions to meet the customer’s requirements.

PROCESS DIAPHRAGM PUMPS

LEWA continues to set new standards for process diaphragm pump technology in high-pressure process engineering. With a pressure range of up to 1,200bar, our process diaphragm pumps can quickly and safely transfer critical, toxic and inflammable fluids in a wide variety of operating conditions.

LEWA PACKAGE ENGINEERING

The company delivers engineering and on-site commissioning services for metering and mixing applications, and supplies both proven standard packages and metering packages, tailor-made for specific applications. Competence from one source with a minimum of interfaces and consistent component selection minimizes the risk due to our functional warranty.

LEWA’s metering solutions and odorizing systems are delivered with modern electronics that enable both open and closed loop control and monitoring. LEWA meets all requirements for new systems or upgrades from proportional control up to PLC-operated systems.

LEWA CMS (CONDITION MONITORING SYSTEM)

To ensure continuous operation and avoid costly and time-consuming emergency shut downs, a condition monitoring system, LEWA CMS, offers the most economic solution.

With LEWA CMS, pump life-cycle cost is lowered by reducing machine downtime, accomplished by progressing from preventive to condition-oriented maintenance and further reducing the risk of unexpected pump breakdowns and loss of production.

BEST SOLUTION AND TECHNOLOGY FOR THE CUSTOMER’S BENEFIT

LEWA’s definition of customer benefit includes more than just technical features and high standards for quality. Other important features include our after-sales capabilities, first-class service, a worldwide on-site presence and international project management. Customers are offered competent and comprehensive consulting. The process, the system approach and, in particular, economics are always the focal point.

To support our claim of being the market leader, we can name many outstanding and technically extremely demanding applications (environmentally and application-wise).

West Africa, South America, the Gulf of Mexico - high-pressure chemical injection (non-lubricating chemicals such as methanol, ethanol). Abrasive catalysts, bentonite - the Middle East, the North Sea, CO2 /H2S reinjection in Canada, and many other locations.

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URACA is one of the leading manufacturers of high-pressure plunger pumps and high-pressure cleaning units in the world. 

Our product range includes process and industrial pumps, diaphragm process pumps as well as test pumps. The comprehensive high-pressure water technology includes sewer cleaning pumps, accessories such as spray guns and nozzles, as well as
high-pressure pumps and automated systems.

HIGH-PRESSURE PLUNGER PUMPS

URACA high pressure and ultra-high pressure plunger pumps are outstanding in their compact design and flexible applications. Based on the industrial process pump design, the pumps are relatively unsusceptible to small particles in the tap water, even
at high pressures.

URACA’s high-pressure plunger pumps are used for operating pressures of up to 3,000bar / 43,500psi. URACA’s plunger pumps and units have motor ratings of up to 1,500kW / 2,000HP.

URACA products are used in various fields of industry, particularly in the chemical, petrochemical and heavy industry.

HIGH-PRESSURE CLEANING TOOLS

URACA’s pumps are used in high-pressure cleaning. For getting optimal results with the high-pressure water jet technique, URACA develops and sells high-pressure cleaning tools and devices for all kinds of applications.

HYDRODYNAMIC CLEANING

URACA has fully automated systems for the hydrodynamic cleaning of individual parts as well as custom-built cleaning systems. URACA’s hydrodynamic cleaning works on most diverse parts as well as in the internal cleaning of autoclaves, spray towers,
tanks and containers.

TANK-CLEANING HEADS

For cleaning vessels inside, URACA offers tank-cleaning heads. These tank heads allow economic cleaning of autoclaves and spray towers because they are positioned in a variety of locations.

URACA TECHNOLOGY CENTER

URACA Technology Centre offers the advantage of prior cleaning tests defining the parameters of the work piece. Moreover customers can place a job order with URACA until delivery of the ordered machine.

URACA SERVCE CENTRE

In case of emergency, quick and reliable assistance is offered by the URACA Service Centre Personnel. Special service cars facilitate fast and flexible operation at site:

Training / courses

Commissioning and start-up

Modernisation

Spare parts

Repairs (at our premises and at site)

Maintenance work

Customer support

Expert guidance by URACA’s trained staff

Test runs

Demonstrations

Rental equipment

URACA’s customers benefit from the service centre through in the following ways:

Fast assistance through competent personnel in case of problems

Short plant stand-stills

URACA’S CUSTOMER SERVICE

URACA’s service personnel offer quick and reliable assistance for routine maintenance and emergencies. Original spare parts and optimal consultation secure a smooth operation of any plant. URACA’s technicians ensure a fast and flexible service at
site. The company offers complete custom-built solutions.

Quality management has been certified according to the worldwide valid quality standard DIN EN ISO 9001:2000. Further certificates are made out according to KTA 1401, GOST and AD-Merkblatt HP 0.

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Simtronics ASA has today received confirmation from Aker Kvaerner Stord AS for the second expansion of the GJØA Semi EPCH project. The expansion order has a value in excess of NOK5.1m.

The total confirmed order for supply of a complete active fire fighting solution for the GJØA Semi EPCH project is now in excess of NOK32.4m.

The project will be delivered during the 1H 2008.

The work will be executed by the Simtronics ASA subsidiary - Water Mist Engineering AS. The initial order for this project was announced on 4 June 2007.

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LEADING lifeboat and davit manufacturer Schat-Harding has put in place a key new facility in its global service network with the acquisition of Panama Maritime Support Inc. The Panama-based independent lifeboat service company will form the basis of an expanded service facility able to provide Original Equipment Manufacturer lifeboat and davit service to all vessels trading to Central and South America.

Gary Joseph, president of Schat-Harding Americas, says, “Our new Panama-based service station will provide owners with a major new resource, covering not only Schat-Harding brands but boats and davits of the many other manufacturers for which Panama Maritime Support is authorised. We will expand the new base with more engineers and equipment and link it to our SHIELD database and spares network. During 2008 we will station a CleanHull machine and crew there. Ships will be able to get full and safe lifeboat service and an environmentally friendly hull clean, at a key transit location.”

The Panama facility will be expanded to provide Spanish speaking coverage of the whole of Latin America, with engineers trained initially at Schat-Harding’s school in Norway, and from 2008, at the new school which is being established at Schat-Harding’s Americas headquarters in New Iberia, Louisiana.

Schat-Harding’s owned and authorised service network now covers 60 countries and deploys over 350 people to ensure LSA systems are correctly serviced. In addition to the many Schat-Harding brands, Schat-Harding’s network now holds authorisations from over 25 other current lifeboat and davit original manufacturers, enabling it to provide Original Equipment Manufacturer service in line with IMO requirements to vessels with multi-brand and mixed equipment.

Schat-Harding group is the global market leader in marine life-saving systems - lifeboats, davits and winches, all integrated in a total safety solution from the design of a vessel to the end of its lifetime. Ship owners, ship operators, offshore operators and shipyards operating everywhere are its clients. Brands owned by Schat-Harding include Watercraft, Viking Marine, Waterman, Fiskars, Davit-Company, MASECO, Watercraft America, William Mills Marine, Schat, Harding, Mulder & Rijke and the Beiyang Boatbuilding Co. Authorisations are held to service over 25 other brands. The group is also engaged in environmentally friendly underwater cleaning and inspections of ships’ hulls using CleanHull, a unique ROV technology. Schat-Harding is a member of Norway’s Umoe group.

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The Cheshire-based engineering consultancy and managed contractor service provider, ASTEC Services, has opened a second office in Aberdeen, from where a newly-appointed business manager will provide a hands-on service to the offshore industry.

This major move by ASTEC follows the company’s first appearance at Offshore Europe 2007, which further strengthened its position within the oil and gas industry.

Derek Penny, who gained a physics degree at Glasgow University and an MBA at Dundee, joins the ASTEC business team from the Imes Group with more than 20 years’ experience in both the global upstream and downstream oil and gas industries. Derek has also held director and senior management positions with ‘blue chip’ companies such as Shell, Tyco and ABB.

Derek’s spent his formative years in engineering, manufacturing, R&D, strategic business development and engineered solutions’ provision, all of which make him well-equipped to meet the needs of ASTEC clients by supplying the most highly skilled engineers.

Andy Thompson, ASTEC managing director, said: “Opening an Aberdeen office was the next logical step in taking our offshore business forward both within the UK and overseas. This, combined with Derek’s appointment, will make our services local and immediate.

“Given his successful track record, we are delighted to have Derek on board and confident that he will be instrumental in ASTEC becoming a more significant player among the larger and more established oil and gas industry companies.”

Derek said: “ASTEC is well respected within safety and engineering services and consultancy and I welcome the challenge of growing the business at a time when demand for competent personnel outstrips supply. It is good to be part of the solution to successful people placement and development, changing the key engineers’ work/lifestyle balance in the process and delivering improved asset performance for clients.”

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