Hydrocarbons Technology

Hydrocarbons Technology http://www.hydrocarbons-technology.com/ News and commentary for the Hydrocarbons Technology community. Fri, 09 May 2008 17:18:09 GMT Fri, 09 May 2008 17:18:09 GMT SPG Media RSS Generator 2.00 en-us http://www.hydrocarbons-technology.com/ SPG MEDIA LIMITED http://www.hydrocarbons-technology.com/images/logo.gif

This is formatted XML site feed. It is intended to be viewed in an RSS or Atom Newsreader or syndicated to another site.
Please visit the SPG Media News Feeds for more info.
(http://feeds.spgmedia.com)

http://www.hydrocarbons-technology.com/contractors/pipes/geg/press2.html Thu, 24 Apr 2008 15:59:39 GMT http://www.hydrocarbons-technology.com/contractors/pipes/geg/press2.html Greene's Tom Sawyer to Attend OTC '08 Greene's Energy Group Vice President of Marketing and Sales Tom Sawyer will be attending The Offshore Technology Conference 2008 (OTC '08). Taking place from the 5-8 May at Reliant Center in Houston, Texas, OTC '08 is the premier offshore sector event for industry professionals, service providers and suppliers alike. The conference's agenda will include a showcase of the latest technological innovations within the offshore industry, and explore the economic, social and political aspects of resource development and environmental protection. Greene's Energy Group is a leading provider of oilfield, pipeline and construction services and rental equipment to companies involved in the exploration, production, transportation and processing of oil and natural gas. http://www.hydrocarbons-technology.com/contractors/pipeline/h_rosen/press7.html Mon, 21 Apr 2008 16:35:28 GMT http://www.hydrocarbons-technology.com/contractors/pipeline/h_rosen/press7.html Advanced Technologies for Pipeline Security There is a substantial market for pipeline security technology in both oil-producing and oil-consuming regions in the world. Depending on the location and age of the pipeline system, however, the required features of monitoring systems for asset integrity and pipeline defects differ and fall into different market segments. In poor regions, the main threat to pipeline systems is theft. A damaging event can happen in any part of the pipeline which is often several hundreds of kilometers long. In this case, technology is needed which can detect minimal acoustic emissions over long distances. In order to meet the logistic and economic requirements of these regions, it is important to reduce the amount of monitoring stations. The inclusion of data transmission via satellite or existing Scada cables can help overcome geographical and financial limits in this set-up. The monitoring situation is different in High Consequence Areas (HCA). These include highly populated areas in which pipelines are more susceptible to damage by building activities or accidents. A high density of sensor nodes and a good combination of different sensor types enable the arrangement of self-organizing networks thus increasing the assessment ability of the monitoring system. A self-organized sensor network allows the monitoring system to work even if one or more sensors are damaged or destroyed. Detection devices that deal with the protection against terrorist attacks and sabotage on pipelines require further specific features such as power supply concept and self-protection function. As regards the planning process and the installation of monitoring technology, it is generally useful to distinguish between existing pipeline systems which need new or up-dated protection devices and pipeline systems that are yet to be built. Both areas represent significant market potential for the monitoring and protection systems. As for the former, it has to be kept in mind that the financial and logistic effort of installing protections systems needs to be acceptable to the customer. This particularly concerns the installation of detection technology during times when the pipelines are in full operation. The planning process for future pipelines poses different challenges and offers different new opportunities. The planning process should, at the earliest possible stage, include the consideration of the feasibility for embedded sensing devices in the manufacturing process and ensure the sensing functionality as a fix intelligent part of the modern pipeline. The embedded sensor nodes should be maintenance-free and self-organized. The optic fiber or many other new micro sensor technologies could be a good example for the in pipeline integrated sensing system and will become a more vital element in the future pipeline system. Pipeline safety and security is crucial for the economic and social development of numerous industries and societies around the globe. Challenges to the safety and security of pipeline systems are diverse and range from natural disaster to sabotage and terrorist attacks. Among the technical security devices available, each technology has its advantages and drawbacks. The market calls still for well designed, reliable and more intelligent monitoring system for the security of the pipeline operation. They should provide the pipeline operator with detailed real-time information about an incident thus significantly reducing response time in the event of an accident or attack. Highly sophisticated modular security systems will meet the new challenge of both existing and planned pipeline systems and could provide cost-effective solutions. Making use of the latest developments in acoustic and optical sensor technology and also in the technology of wireless sensor networks, these security systems will cater for a wide variety of geographical and technical specifications and clients' needs not just within the sector of pipeline. The ROSEN Group is working on the next generation of pipeline monitoring systems. ROSEN engineers are currently perfecting a modular monitoring system for pipelines which is based on the advanced acoustic emission technologies and can be adjusted to a variety of conditions and clients' needs. http://www.hydrocarbons-technology.com/contractors/pipeline/h_rosen/press6.html Mon, 21 Apr 2008 14:22:01 GMT http://www.hydrocarbons-technology.com/contractors/pipeline/h_rosen/press6.html An Advanced Software Solution to Support Effective Pipeline Integrity Management Pipeline integrity management is a complex process involving people, assets, procedures, data gathering, analysis and commercial consideration in terms of production, operations and maintenance costs. The primary objective of an integrity program is to maintain the pipeline in a fitness-for-purpose condition and in a safe and cost-effective manner. Standards and codes of practice are available which provide clear guidance for the practical implementation of pipeline integrity management in a logical and consistent manner. Today, however, vast amounts of information are generated during the integrity management process and software tools become a necessity to aid the engineer in its practical implementation. This includes essential elements such as effective data management, appropriate assessment tools, documentation of the integrity assessments conducted, an auditable record of the overall integrity management process, and incorporated rights management. There is always a concern that such integrity management systems can become unnecessarily complex and difficult and expensive to implement and maintain. Therefore a primary requisite for any software tool must be that it is flexible and allow for customization to suit the needs of a wide range of operators. ROSEN has developed a suite of software tools which meets such technical and functional demands. The ROSEN Asset Integrity Management Software (ROAIMS) is made up of a number of functional modules that can be combined to configure different integrity management applications. Following an initial audit of an operator's specific requirement the system can be customized as needed, ranging from a simple data storage/repository to a comprehensive integrated integrity management software solution. http://www.hydrocarbons-technology.com/contractors/recruitment-personnel/worldwideworker/press1.html Wed, 16 Apr 2008 13:49:21 GMT http://www.hydrocarbons-technology.com/contractors/recruitment-personnel/worldwideworker/press1.html Recruitment Event Worldwideworker.com - 20-23 April 2008 Worldwideworker.com is hosting another recruitment event at the AAPG Annual Meeting, 20-23 April 2008, in San Antonio, USA. In Booth 1539 you will find the exciting Worldwideworker.com Wall of Job Opportunities, where you can browse some of our latest job vacancies. This Recruitment Event allows oil and gas professionals and employers, to interact face to face. Participating companies include: Addax Petroleum Services Hunt Oil Company Maersk Oil and Gas Worldwideworker.com Worldwideworker.com hosts over 22 Recruitment Events at leading Oil and Gas exhibitions annually. You can find our schedule of events on www.worldwideworker.com click on Recruitment Events in the menu on the left hand side. Worldwideworker.com Recruitment Events have been instrumental in facilitating the recruitment requirements of many of the major energy operators and service providers. With the increased skills shortage within the industry, it is increasingly important for companies to meet both experienced professionals and university graduates alike. Whether you are a potential employer, employee or graduate, visit the Worldwideworker.com Recruitment Event at the AAPG to find out how we can help you. http://www.hydrocarbons-technology.com/contractors/pipeline/ndt/press2.html Tue, 15 Apr 2008 13:48:42 GMT http://www.hydrocarbons-technology.com/contractors/pipeline/ndt/press2.html NDT Supply Company Named as Top Gauteng Exporter in South Africa Launched in 2001, the South African export awards are designed to showcase the international achievements of local companies which have won orders against fierce competition in markets where there are often long-standing relationships with national suppliers. Gammatec NDT Supplies, a leading supplier to over 60 countries world-wide of non-destructive testing equipment and accessories received the award in the medium manufacturing category from Tebogo Moremi of Transnet National Ports Authority at the 2007 Gauteng Exporter of the Year awards held in September 2007. http://www.hydrocarbons-technology.com/contractors/pipeline/gammatec/press2.html Fri, 11 Apr 2008 15:47:38 GMT http://www.hydrocarbons-technology.com/contractors/pipeline/gammatec/press2.html NDT Supply Company Named as Top Gauteng Exporter in South Africa Launched in 2001, the South African export awards are designed to showcase the international achievements of local companies which have won orders against fierce competition in markets where there are often long-standing relationships with national suppliers. Gammatec NDT Supplies, a leading supplier to over 60 countries world-wide of non-destructive testing equipment and accessories received the award in the Medium Manufacturing category from Tebogo Moremi of Transnet National Ports Authority at the 2007 Gauteng Exporter of the Year awards held in September 2007. http://www.hydrocarbons-technology.com/contractors/instrumentation/turner/press16.html Fri, 11 Apr 2008 15:16:04 GMT http://www.hydrocarbons-technology.com/contractors/instrumentation/turner/press16.html Hydrocarbon in Glycol Detection Refineries and gas processing plants use glycol to dehydrate oil and gas, reducing the amount of water to less than 0.5%. Once the glycol has dehydrated the hydrocarbon the glycol is 'rich' with water and hydrocarbon. In order to reuse the glycol, the water and hydrocarbons are removed in a regeneration process. Normally, a laboratory analysis procedure is used to determine the water and hydrocarbon content in the 'lean' glycol. The laboratory procedure for hydrocarbons is lengthy and has a number of steps that can contribute to non-repeatable answers. A repeatable, quick and easy field method with field analyzer is needed to provide confident results without delay. The TD-500D hand held oil in water analyzer was introduced to the offshore oil market for overboard produced water monitoring applications about five years ago. Since then its role has expanded into other markets including all phases of hydrocarbon processing and heavy industrial applications. In recent tests with a major oil and gas producer, the TD-500D was used to determine the hydrocarbon content in lean glycol in less than two minutes with no solvent extraction. A field-able method allows the TD-500D to detect up to 5% hydrocarbon in glycol through a simple dilution and without need for a laboratory. The TD-500D Glycol dilution procedure requires only a single step of diluting the lean glycol 100:1 with de-ionized water. The diluted glycol is then analyzed in the TD-500D in a cuvette with no solvent extraction. The entire procedure and analysis should not take more than two minutes and can be done in the field by field personnel. The TD-500D is a very simple to use analyzer with just two button pushes needed for a single analysis. Results are obtained in five seconds. Continuous on-line monitors such as our TD-4100XDC are perfect if continuous monitoring is required. Turner Designs Hydrocarbon Instruments, Inc. is the recognized world leader in oil in water monitoring with fluorescence. UV Fluorescence has been used for measuring oilfield produced water for over 15 years, and is the most commonly specified technology for continuous measurement of produced water. Measurement of hydrocarbon in water as low as a few Parts per Billion is common in many applications. Turner Designs Hydrocarbon Instruments' complete product line includes continuous on-line and bench top hydrocarbon in water instruments for a wide range of applications and markets. http://www.hydrocarbons-technology.com/contractors/storage/oreco/press5.html Tue, 01 Apr 2008 09:32:29 GMT http://www.hydrocarbons-technology.com/contractors/storage/oreco/press5.html Optimising Safety at Every Opportunity SAFETY CONCERNS DRIVE POSITIVE CHANGE Safety issues have always been a major concern in the oil business, but over the last decade attention to Health, Safety, and Environment issues (HSE) have become increasingly prominent worldwide. Companies take affirmative action, and legislation reflects the widespread agreement that safety - both personal and environmental - must be a prime consideration. Already, many companies have adopted new technologies and processes to eliminate hazards. The BLABO® system from Oreco is one example of such technology. ENGINEERED FOR MAXIMUM SAFETY ON AN ONGOING BASIS Even among those who deliver the safer options, changes happen regularly. The BLABO system - a fully automated tank cleaning system that eliminates the need for man entry and ensures maximum oil recovery - is no exception. The system has already proven its worth for more than a decade. Over the course of time, Oreco has made ongoing adjustments to the technology, auxiliary equipment, and processes to continually meet the strictest demands for safety and quality. And to make the safe alternative even more attractive in terms of total cost. Recent upgrades to the BLABO automated oil tank cleaning system Mr Michael Meyer, Managing Director at Oreco explains: "The BLABO system was, of course, engineered for top safety and process quality right from the outset. But that doesn't mean we rest on our laurels. Legislation changes over time, HSE demands become ever stricter, and day-to-day experience makes us aware of small things that we could adjust to make the complete package even better - in terms of both safety and process optimisation. This is what prompts us to look at aspects as diverse as standard compliance, auxiliary equipment adjustments, and competence building among our clients." The most recent changes concern re-engineering to meet UL/CSA standards, a system designed to help BLABO users achieve ISO and OHSAS certification and dual-nozzle operation for even greater cost efficiency. RE-ENGINEERED FOR THE NORTH AMERICAN MARKETS Some changes are technical in nature, and of these, some are driven by legislation. For the BLABO system, the most recent change of this nature was a re-engineering to meet North American standards for equipment used in potentially explosive atmospheres. Mr Meyer explains: "We already built the BLABO systems to comply with the strict ATEX regulations in the EU. Now, however, we also comply with the corresponding standards in the US and Canada such as the UL and CSA standards. This re-engineering means that the BLABO system is built to the three strictest standards in the world. You can't get safer than that." HELPING SERVICE PROVIDERS BECOME CERTIFIED As an ISO certified company, Oreco is well aware of the advantages of being certified according to demanding Quality Assurance systems. "We find that adhering to international standards of quality management and occupational health helps us be the company we want to be," says Meyer. "Our core business is to improve safety and processes in tank cleaning, so working with the issues covered by the ISO and OHSAS standards comes naturally to us. The same applies to many of our clients. Even so, we believe that our clients can benefit from the systematic approach offered by international standards - and by being certified. After all, Quality Assurance systems do exactly what their name says: they make sure that every angle is covered, that no stone is left unturned to ensure the best possible management and safety." Promoting consistency among service providers and sharing know-how To help service providers reap the same benefits including a uniformly high standard and a hazard-free work environment - Oreco has developed an ISO 9001:2000 and OHSAS 18001 system for service providers, helping them optimise their use of the BLABO system. Standard compliance aside, Oreco also shares its tank-cleaning know-how with clients in other ways and sharing know-how is nothing new for Oreco. Oreco has recently launched many courses and seminars that look at automated tank cleaning from a range of angles, including theory and practice, safety in all its many aspects, the commercial opportunities offered by safe tank cleaning, etc. MINIMISING DOWNTIME A recent adjustment makes it possible to set the BLABO system to dual nozzle operation, i.e. to clean tanks using two nozzles at a time instead of just one. Naturally, this significantly cuts the time required to clean the tank, minimising downtime. "Efficient nozzle action is a key element of the BLABO process," says Mr Meyer. "The nozzles, a design patented by Oreco, ensure that the entire inner surface of the tank is cleaned. The shortest possible downtime is a key factor in reducing the cost of tank cleaning, so we focused our efforts there and turned our attention to making it work even more efficiently. Of course, when you include the value of the recovered oil and the elimination of work hazards in the equation, automated tank cleaning wins on all fronts." http://www.hydrocarbons-technology.com/contractors/storage/oreco/press6.html Tue, 01 Apr 2008 09:20:40 GMT http://www.hydrocarbons-technology.com/contractors/storage/oreco/press6.html Oreco Offers Onsite Gas Generators On Demmand to the Oil and Gas Industry Oreco, best known in the industry for its BLABO® and MoClean(c) systems for automated tank cleaning, now expand their product offering. The Oreco NitroGen™ system for on-site gas generation can now be supplied independently, in standard or customised configurations to suit a wide variety of upstream/downstream applications within the oil and gas industry. Mr Michael Meyer, Managing Director at Oreco maintains: "We use and supply the NitroGen system ourselves for tank blanketing purposes. Our experience tells us that having your own on-site, on-demand supply of Nitrogen has many advantages - you become independent of suppliers, never run out of nitrogen, get it in exactly the quantity and quality you need at the push of a button, and so on - and so we thought we would share those advantages with the rest of the industry. You could also say that Oreco is all about making processes safer, about eliminating work hazards and minimising downtime, and that making Nitrogen readily available for applications other than tank inerting purposes is a natural next step for us." GREATER CONVENIENCE AND COST-EFFICIENCY Mr Meyer points out that the system was designed with the specific objective of letting customers become their own Nitrogen suppliers, but on a scale where the systems can still be flexible and user-friendly. This entails certain restrictions on the quantities produced. “The NitroGen system will not replace e.g. tonnage distribution solutions. But for any task where you require flows of up to 500 Nm3/h and a purity of up to 99.9%, the NitroGen offers a combination of convenience, quality, and cost-efficiency that is worthy of attention. Just start by imagining the relief of not having to handle Nitrogen cylinders on a regular basis, and you will see what I mean. The potential application areas include vessel and pipeline inerting, pressure testing, oil well applications, offshore and sea carriers.” TWO STANDARD OPTIONS Having used the NitroGen system themselves for years already, Oreco has developed two standard solutions ideal for those who require a mobile Nitrogen supply. “For creating an inert atmosphere in tank cleaning, we use NitroGen systems mounted in 20' HC containers. Being fully containerised, these units are self-contained and mobile. We have two versions in our standard range, the NitroGen 250 and 500 systems - the numbers reflect the maximum flow measured in Nm3/h. Both systems offer purities of up to 99%." CUSTOMISED SYSTEMS AVAILABLE However, now that NitroGen systems are being offered for many diverse application areas, Oreco also expands the range of options available. Mr Mayer continues: "Our containerised standard systems will be excellently suited to many tasks throughout the oil industry, precisely because they are mobile and self-contained. However, we are very much aware that Nitrogen is used in situations where different conditions of space or system integration apply, so we also offer skid-mounted and trailer-mounted NitroGen solutions - as well as complete, stationary plants tailor-made to the customer's requirements. The range of options includes Nitrogen purities of up to 99.9%, high ambient temperature tolerance, and much more. At Oreco, we are used to engineering solutions that match specific customer requirements for safety, quality, and capacity, so we are always happy to talk to customers about what they need - and how they can get it." All systems, whether standard or customised, are based on PSA (Pressure Swing Adsorption) technology, which was, according to Mr Meyer, chosen over membrane technologies for its advantages in terms of reliability, system lifetime, purity, and cost effectiveness. http://www.hydrocarbons-technology.com/contractors/hvac/tranter/press2.html Thu, 27 Mar 2008 16:06:27 GMT http://www.hydrocarbons-technology.com/contractors/hvac/tranter/press2.html Heat Exchangers Provide Perfect Performance for Processing Application Six Tranter PHE heat exchangers have just completed their third year of flawless service after being installed at the world's most modern plant producing petroleum jelly, which is widely used in the cosmetics and pharmaceutical industries. Fuchs Lubricants has particularly stringent specifications for the equipment, which Tranter PHE was easily able to accommodate using its GC-26 heat exchangers, utilised during the final processing stage at the processing plant in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent. To maintain the jelly in a liquid state, process line temperatures are kept between 90 - 100°C, and the Tranter units use a co-current flow of water at 15 - 25°C to cool the liquid jelly from 100°C to 80°C. It is then stored ready for transfer to delivery tankers. The GC-26 units are manufactured with a large pressing depth to assist the flow of the highly viscous liquid jelly. Fuchs specified the units with cured fluor carbon gaskets, and a 10m² surface area for maximum transfer efficiency. A typical heat transfer coefficient for a Tranter gasketed plate heat exchanger can be four to five times higher than that of an alternate design, such as a shell and tube exchanger. The modular design of the Tranter exchanger also allows users to easily change parts for servicing, alternate applications, or to increase capacity. The Fuchs Lubricants petroleum jelly plant is the most modern in the world. A subsidiary of leading lubricants supplier Fuchs Petrolab AG, Fuchs Lubricants is the largest UK producer of soft paraffins (petroleum jellies) for the toiletries and cosmetics industries. Petroleum jelly is widely used as a carrier for drug delivery systems, and as the base for many cosmetics products. Tranter PHE offers the world's largest range of heat exchangers designed to satisfy a wide variety of applications. Suitable for virtually any application within their pressure and temperature range, gasketed Plate Heat Exchangers combine high heat transfer efficiency with compact size, design flexibility, low fouling due to plate pattern turbulence, and low lifecycle cost. http://www.hydrocarbons-technology.com/contractors/chemicals/fuel-technology/press3.html Tue, 11 Mar 2008 13:54:21 GMT http://www.hydrocarbons-technology.com/contractors/chemicals/fuel-technology/press3.html IFT Wins 'Innovation in Technology 2008' Award From the Institute of Transport Management International Fuel Technology has received the prestigious 'Innovation in Fuel Technology' award given annually by the Institute of Transport Management. The Company earned the award for DiesoLIFTTM, IFT's proprietary fuel additive technology designed to improve the performance of diesel and bio-diesel fuel blends. The Institute for Transport Management is a non-profit organization founded in the United Kingdom in 1977 to help monitor and improve the standards in the transport industry. The Institute works in unison with government, regulatory and academic bodies, to encourage and promote professionalism in the transport arena through innovative research and communications programs. The Institute's primary means to communicate with members and others in the transport industry is through its Transport Journal publication. "From time to time the Institute's research body identifies Companies which show potential for a massive impact on the transportation industry through innovation. Many times these companies are barely out of the concept phase, but are singled out for the contribution that their product or service can potentially make to improve the quality of our environment. One such Company which has raised its head above the parapet, in the area of fuel technology, against the background of our ongoing dependency on hydrocarbons - is International Fuel Technology, Inc. (IFT). In recognition of the Company's ongoing investment in this area and its development of DiesoLIFT™ and the benefits of this technology, the Institute of Transport Management, is delighted to accredit IFT with 'Innovation in Fuel technology 2008.' International Fuel Technology (IFT) is a pioneering creator of multi-purpose additives which improve the efficiency of liquid hydrocarbon fuels. These products deliver a whole raft of benefits: longer engine life, corrosion protection, reduced maintenance costs, better fuel economy, foaming prevention, decreased dangerous emissions, increased lubricity and detergency, exclusion of water from the fuel system, as well as improved bio-fuel, and oxidation stability. The key to the company's innovative take on increasing fuel performance lies in surfactant chemistry, which hinges on the fact that regions in surface active agents have affinities for different chemical environments. Their GasoLIFT™, DiesoLIFT™, and KeroLIFT™ product lines feature formulas designed for specialist use in gasoline, diesel, and kerosene applications, thus catering to a broad spectrum of end uses ranging across marine and land transportation to stationary power generation. IFT products have been rigorously tested at globally respected engineering research facilities and, following highly positive results, have been on the market since 2002. Commenting on the Award to IFT, Mr Patrick Sheedy, Media & PR Director for the Institute, said: Despite our best intentions to develop immediate sustainable alternatives to burning fossil fuels, we are all aware of the many issues put forward against widespread biofuel production, so for the moment we must also concentrate on developing innovative technologies to maximise fuel efficiencies whilst making them cleaner and more palatable for the environment. To date, almost all IFT's efforts have focused on its DiesoLIFT™ technology, which has been developed specifically for diesel fuel and biodiesel blends, and which has consistently shown to increase fuel economy by 4% - 7% (depending on the application), increase fuel lubricity and fuel stability; and make substantial reduce harmful emissions. Mr Sheedy continued by saying: "Taking independent research and clinical trails into consideration it is our opinion that DiesoLIFT(TM) presents a compelling financial and environmental benefit to the end user, by ensuring lower overall fuel consumption through improved fuel efficiency and reduced emissions. An added benefit is that it is easy to use requiring no additional parts and is simply blended with the fuel. "I would like to take this opportunity to remind our members just how important technological advances in areas such as fuel are. International Fuel Technology are to be highly commended for the advancements and innovation they have shown to date. The Institute believes it is high time that the major multi-national oil companies paid heed to what IFT has to offer, and to consider strongly the benefits of using their technology." http://www.hydrocarbons-technology.com/contractors/hvac/tranter/press1.html Thu, 06 Mar 2008 14:49:19 GMT http://www.hydrocarbons-technology.com/contractors/hvac/tranter/press1.html Jacket Water Coolers at Polypropylene Plant Gasketed plate heat exchangers have been supplied for jacket water cooling duties at the CSPC Nanhai Petrochemical Complex by Tranter, one of the world's leading specialists in the design and manufacture of heat exchange technology. BACKGROUND In November 2002 China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) and Shell Company made a final investment decision to proceed with development of a joint venture world scale petrochemical complex, to be built in China. The joint venture company is called CSPC. The venture is investing US$4.3 billion to build an integrated petrochemical complex which is centred around an 800,000t/y naphtha cracker. In total the complex will produce some 2.3 million t/y of product. The complex is located in the Daya Bay Economic and Technical Development Zone, Guangdong Province, China. PRODUCTS FROM THE CSPC PETROCHEMICAL COMPLEX Apart from the 800,000t/y ethylene plant, other production units are: 240,000t/y polypropylene 200,000t/y linear low density polyethylene/high density polyethylene 250,000t/y low density polyethylene 550,000t/y styrene monomer 250,000t/y propylene oxide 320,000t/y mono ethylene glycol 60,000t/y propylene glycol 135,000t/y polyols CONSTRUCTION OF POLYETHYLENE AND POLYPROPYLENE PLANTS During the first quarter of 2003, CSPC awarded Italy's Tecnimont a $220 million contract for the construction of polymer plants. Tecnimont is responsible for building the low density polyethylene (LDPE), linear low density and high density polyethylene (LLDPE/HDPE) and polypropylene (PP) units. Tranter won the contract by Tecnimont to do design, engineering and manufacture of the required plate heat exchangers for this project. The plate heat exchangers are now installed and have been working since 2005 in these LDPE/HDPE/PP plants. The units were designed for use in the most demanding environmental conditions and provided with ASME Code design. For external corrosion protection, the units covered with 3-layer epoxy paint. http://www.hydrocarbons-technology.com/contractors/storage/idrabel-italia/press2.html Wed, 27 Feb 2008 12:00:40 GMT http://www.hydrocarbons-technology.com/contractors/storage/idrabel-italia/press2.html IDRABEL will be participating in STOCEXPO - Rotterdam, 1-3 April 2008 StocExpo (Storage Terminal Operators Conference and Exhibition) is the most important international exhibition and conference for companies associated with the oil, chemical and gas tank storage terminal industries. Idrabel Italia will participate presenting the latest innovations of its technologies. Will also take part in the Conference with a lecture on "A Biological Tank Cleaning System Enhancing Safety Environmental Advantages & Operational Returns ", April 3 at 11:10. Idrabel's BioRecOil Process is an automated “non-man entry” oil tank cleaning system. It provides more than 95% of hydrocarbons recovery from sludge, minimizing the amount of waste to be treated or disposed of. The process is based on the synergy between hydromechanic telescopic rotating modules, biotechnological compounds (Biosurfactants) and innovative engineering processes. The BioRecOil equipment complies with the current Safety and Environmental Standards and the modules have been recently ATEX certified. New case studies on biotechnological VOC emissions reduction during storage and tank degassing will be presented. In addition, we have developed 'SLUDGE VIEWER,' a specific mapping software, responding to the increasing interest from our Clients in our sludge mapping service. SLUDGE VIEWER allows the elaboration and presentation of the data collected during thermographic surveying and sludge mapping. These activities are initially carried out on each tank, prior to commencing the cleaning process, to estimate sludge amounts and its distribution profile within the tank. SLUDGE VIEWER allows displaying the 3D sludge distribution within the tank and calculating sludge volume as a results of sludge surveying services. http://www.hydrocarbons-technology.com/contractors/chemicals/fuel-technology/press2.html Wed, 27 Feb 2008 11:50:28 GMT http://www.hydrocarbons-technology.com/contractors/chemicals/fuel-technology/press2.html Major Breakthough for Biodiesel Users International Fuel Technology (IFT) (OTCBB: IFUE) announced that independent test laboratory and field trial results clearly demonstrated that use of DiesoLIFTTM 10 with a B-20 bio-diesel fuel blend increased combustion performance and restored the lost power and fuel economy associated with bio-diesel fuel use. Bio-diesel is a renewable energy source that also reduces harmful emissions. However, a major drawback to bio-diesel is its lower energy content compared to diesel fuel. This translates into reduced power and fuel economy for end users of bio-diesel. IFT has completed a series of independent laboratory test at MI Technology in the UK The most recent set of tests focused on the impact that DiesoLIFTTM 10 has on the power output produced in a rail engine using a B-20 bio-diesel fuel blend. The test demonstrated that use of DiesoLIFTTM 10 increased power by 3.5% and reduced boost pressure by 4%. In addition, IFT completed a road transport field trial where DiesoLIFTTM 10 was used with a B-20 bio-diesel fuel blend. This trial demonstrated that the addition of DiesoLIFTTM 10 increased fuel by over 5% which more than offset the reduction in fuel economy associated with the B-20 bio-diesel fuel blend. "This is a breakthrough for the bio-diesel industry," said Gary Kirk, IFT's Director of Sales and Marketing. "IFT has demonstrated that use of DiesoLIFTTM 10 makes a B-20 bio-diesel blend on par with diesel fuel in terms of power and fuel economy." "Bio-diesel use is a growing reality in the world marketplace," said Sergio Trindade, IFT's Chief of Science and Technology. "IFT will continue to research and develop its proprietary technology to improve the performance of bio-diesel fuel blends." http://www.hydrocarbons-technology.com/contractors/chemicals/fuel-technology/press1.html Mon, 25 Feb 2008 11:17:58 GMT http://www.hydrocarbons-technology.com/contractors/chemicals/fuel-technology/press1.html IFT Develops Top Performing Additive Formulation For Addressing Fuel Stability And Deposit Control Of Bio-Diesel Fuel Blends Diesolift BD-3 Positioned for Introduction Into the Bio-Diesel Market International Fuel Technology recently announced that it had completed research and development efforts on DiesoLIFTTM BD-3, IFT's proprietary fuel additive formulation for use with bio-diesel fuel blends. DiesoLIFTTM BD-3 is a second-generation fuel additive formulation. Extensive research and development efforts in conjunction with BfB Laboratories in Belgium and subsequent testing have demonstrated that DiesoLIFT BD-3 is the top performing fuel additive technology for addressing oxidation stability and deposit formation in bio-diesel fuel blends. In summary DiesoLIFTTM BD-3: Protects bio-diesel blends against oxidation, degradation and performance drop Extends storage stability Allows bio-diesel to meet and exceed current standards and specifications Provides additional protection against metal contamination Confers fuel efficiency and emissions control performance to bio-diesel Is in liquid form, thus simplifying application and usage Is the top performing fuel additive technology for addressing oxidation stability and deposit control in bio-diesel fuel blends Given the size of the European bio-diesel market, IFT has focused its commercial efforts for DiesoLIFTTM BD-3 in this market. The European bio-diesel market has grown significantly since a 2003 directive setting non-binding targets to replace 2% of transport fuels with bio-fuels by 2005 and 5.75% for 2010. In 2007, the EU commission adopted a 10% minimum bio-fuels mandate by 2020 that will ensure continued growth of the European bio-diesel market. Some EU countries, such as France, are preparing for the 2020 mandate by imposing bio-diesel blends of B7 in 2008 and B10 in 2010. In order to meet mandates, the bio-diesel component of bio-diesel fuel blends will continue to increase. For example, B2 blends (2005 target) moving to B10 blends (2020 mandate) and higher. At higher bio-diesel component levels, basic or traditional fuel additives such as BHT become less and less effective in addressing oxidation stability and deposit control and therefore are unable to keep the bio-diesel fuel blend within fuel specifications. Fuel additive and chemical companies have been developing new fuel additive technologies to allow higher bio-diesel component bio-diesel fuel blends to meet fuel specifications. Because of the demonstrated success of DiesoLIFTTM BD-3, a number of prominent European fuel additive distribution companies have decided to partner with IFT to market and distribute DiesoLIFTTM BD-3 to specific European territories. "We realized back in 2005 that the Europeans were not just paying lip service to bio-diesel consumption," said Sergio Trindade, IFT's Chief of Science and Technology. "The current magnitude and projected magnitude of the European bio-diesel market is substantial and we wanted to be in a position to offer the top performing technology to this growing stream of fuel." "Our global business strategy of identifying markets, developing superior performing fuel additive technologies for those markets and then partnering with established fuel additive distribution partners is being realized in Europe," said Axel Farhi, IFT's Director of Global Business Development. "We expect initial orders of DiesoLIFTTM BD-3 to be received in the first half of 2008." "Because of its superior fuel stability characteristics, DiesoLIFTTM BD-3 should also be a sought after technology in the emerging US market," said Jonathan Burst, IFT's CEO. "The stability of a bio-diesel fuel blend is dependent on the amount of the bio-diesel component and the stability of the underlying source of the bio-diesel component. In the US, the prominent source of bio-diesel is soy, a relatively unstable material. As bio-diesel fuel blend specifications are refined and implemented in the US, we believe DiesoLIFTTM BD-3 will be well positioned to address this market." http://www.hydrocarbons-technology.com/contractors/instrumentation/kbr-inc Fri, 09 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.hydrocarbons-technology.com/contractors/instrumentation/kbr-inc KBR KBR downstream technologies are world-renowned for long-term reliability, superior operability and lower installed cost. In addition to offering leading process technologies, we provide global engineering, procurement, construction and project-management resources that can execute projects in any location worldwide for plants using either our proprietary technologies or other technology offerings. FLUID CATALYTIC CRACKING UNITS A leader in petroleum refining for the past 50 years and a specialist in heavy, low-value hydrocarbons, KBR offers a variety of refining solutions to help you squeeze the most value from every barrel. A pioneer in Fluid Catalytic Cracking (FCC) technology, KBR has designed more than a dozen FCC units and revamped more than 160 FCC units worldwide. RESIDUUM OIL SUPERCRITICAL EXTRACTION DEASPHALTING TECHNOLOGY Our market-leading Residuum Oil Supercritical Extraction (ROSE™) deasphalting technology helps refiners worldwide achieve higher yields of high-value transportation fuels with 50% less energy usage compared to conventional deasphalting. PETROCHEMICALS AND CHEMICALS Whether it's a modern large-scale grassroots plant, a revamp or a process unit, KBR has the skill sets to meet the needs of global petrochemical operators offering EPC and project management services with our independent proprietary technologies. Our Selective Cracking Optimum Recovery (SCORE™) technology, offered through a licensing agreement with ExxonMobil, can produce from 4% to 12% more ethylene than typical designs, with less energy input per unit of ethylene produced. KBR's SUPERFLEX™ propylene technology converts low-value olefins streams into high-value propylene and ethylene for polymers production as well as components for clean fuels. Typically, SUPERFLEX produces olefins with a two-to-one propylene / ethylene ratio – the exact opposite of most liquid-based ethylene plants. KBR offers a range of chemical technologies – including aniline, phenol, N-paraffins and NExOCTANE™ – that can help clients bridge the gap between commodity petrochemicals and intermediate chemicals that utilize more feedstock and command higher prices. SYNGAS PREPARATION AND PURIFICATION, AND AMMONIA SYNTHESIS KBR has a portfolio of ammonia technology options from which we select the best combination to meet your technical and economic needs. We offer flow sheet options for the three main sections of the plant – syngas preparation, syngas purification and ammonia synthesis. One flow sheet option that minimizes energy consumption has demonstrated that it consumes less than 6.5Gcal/t, the industry benchmark. Complementing KBR ammonia technologies is a full range of services from project development and feasibility studies, through execution and start-up, operation and maintenance, and advance process automation. COAL GASIFICATION TECHNOLOGY KBR's Transport Integrated Gasifier (TRIG™) technology offers a better way for power generation and chemical production from the world's plentiful low-grade coals. Not only does it effectively handle low-rank sub-bituminous and lignite coal, which comprises some 60% of world fossil energy reserves, KBR's process is expected to deliver power commercially at a cost lower than that of the most advanced coal-fired plants. KBR offers a range of services in this market – from technology and Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) through to full EPC services, commissioning and start-up. CO2 CAPTURE AND STORAGE SYSTEMS KBR offers a variety of solutions for capturing, compressing, transporting and storing CO2 based on more than 60 years' experience with urea plants. For one major gas-development project we used a method known as geologic storage to capture and isolate excess carbon dioxide and inject it into a brine formation a mile below the surface. RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT The KBR Technology Center has invested in research and development since the mid-1920s when Morris Kellogg started the industry's first research laboratory. The center contains numerous pilot plant and pilot plant fabrication facilities to improve our existing technologies and develop and commercialize new technology for the energy and chemicals industry. http://www.hydrocarbons-technology.com/contractors/valves/siekmann econosto Fri, 18 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.hydrocarbons-technology.com/contractors/valves/siekmann econosto Siekmann Econosto For more than 50 years the Siekmann Econosto company has been a leading supplier of valves and gaskets. The company has been operating successfully both in national and international markets. It is a 'full-service' operating company, and a major European supplier of many well-known reputable customers. The company has a corporate turnover of &uro;35 million. Its headquarters are located in Dortmund, where it employs 70 people. Since 1998, Siekmann Econosto has been a part of the Dutch Royal Econosto Group. The Econosto Group employs about 700 people worldwide of whom approximately 40% work in different production sites in Europe and the Far East. The annual turnover amounts to &uro;300 million, making the Econosto Group one of the biggest European companies in the valve and gasket market sector. INDUSTRIAL VALVES AND GASKETS Our business is to produce and supplying industrial valves and gaskets for power plant technology, chemical, petrochemical, and oil and gas industries. The field 'pipelines' have been consistently under construction and development during the last few years, and require Maintenance, Repair and Operation (MRO). We offer a wide range of products according to DIN and ANSI-standards. Project management is our particular strength. This competence allows us to be a powerful partner for the realisation of large international industrial plants. A modern logistics and document management system ensures permanent and secure control of all deadlines and documents. Our international on-site after-sales and repair service offers you comprehensive long-term customer service, including spare parts supply and maintenance. PRESSURE GATES, VALVES AND STEAM TRAPS The product range of Siekmann Econosto includes: Gates, valves, check valves for use in low, medium and high pressure systems Ball valves, butterfly valves, plug valves with soft and metal seals Safety and control valves, quick action valves Steam traps and strainer Special valves steam-to-steam heat exchanger and bellows seal Our valves are available in nominal sizes of DN 10 (1/8in) to DN 2500 (100in) and pressure ranges from PN 6 (ANSI class 150) to PN 630 (ANSI class 4500). Materials used include non-alloyed, low-alloyed and highly alloyed materials as well as special materials such as hestelloy, monel, titanium alloys, etc. GASKETS AND RING JOINTS The gasket product range includes: Camprofile gaskets Ring type joints Spiral-wound gaskets Metal jacketed gaskets Jointing material Graphite gaskets PTFE-steel lined gaskets Starpack gland packings Starflon PTFE sealing tape http://www.hydrocarbons-technology.com/contractors/pumps/weir-minerals Thu, 17 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.hydrocarbons-technology.com/contractors/pumps/weir-minerals Weir Minerals Netherlands In 1871 Mr E H Begemann started a little foundry and machining shop in the Netherlands. Soon the company began concentrating on heavy machinery such as steam engines, steam boilers and centrifugal pumps. As early as 1890 the company started manufacturing and marketing the centrifugal pump under the brand name Begemann. Weir Minerals are specialists in delivering and supporting slurry equipment solutions including pumps, hydrocyclones, valves and wear-resistant linings for global mining and mineral processing, the power sector and general industry. The strength of our products lies in the superiority of our hydraulic designs, and wear and corrosion resistant materials. BEGEMANN CENTRIFUGAL PUMPS Today Weir's Begemann centrifugal pumps are reputable and proven centrifugal pumps to be applied in the oil, gas, petrochemical, chemical and industrial industries. The Begemann product range is developed and manufactured by Weir Minerals Netherlands. The product line consists of a wide range of horizontal, vertical and vertical in-line pump types, designed in compliance with the API 610 latest edition and specific customer requirements. The Weir Begemann brand has been supplying pumps to the API and petrochemical industries for over 40 years. At Weir, we continually adjust our Begemann centrifugal pumps to adapt to the demands of the worldwide market. We are therefore able to offer a broad package of quality products and a wide range of applications for: Offshore platforms and FPSO vessels Petrochemical and refinery processes High-temperature hydrocarbon transfer and feed Fuel transfer Jetty loading and unloading Booster pumps Skid-mounted assemblies Tank farms High-temperature process pumps for refinery and petrochemical processes Lube oil pumps VERTICAL IN-LINE CLOSE-COUPLED PUMP The Weir Begemann BS range comprises single entry, vertical in-line, close-coupled pumps, compliant with the latest API 610 edition and designed to BS4082 class R. The compact vertical in-line design reduces the need for a heavy fabricated baseplate, reducing installation costs and saving space on site. SINGLE-STAGE, HEAVY-DUTY PROCESS PUMPS The Begemann PA range consists of single-stage, heavy-duty process pumps for petroleum and gas industry services. Pumps are designed to comply with API 610-9th edition (ISO 13709). All these heavy-duty process pumps have a back pull-out facility that allows the complete rotating assembly to be removed without the suction or discharge pipe-work. Their heavy-duty rigid and compact design, which is unique to the Begemann PA range, results into lower vibration levels, lower maintenance, longer MTBF and longer seal-life. CLOSE-COUPLED AND OVERHUNG PUMP DESIGN Shell PI, now called 'SPEC', has been the basis of design of both our vertical in-line, close-coupled pump (OH5) and centreline mounted, single-stage overhung pumps (OH2). PI vendors can offer pre-engineered solutions, selected from their range of standard fit-for-purpose / proven products. PI agreements are also in place for the full range of API 682 seals and sealing systems. The typical cost ownership of pumps and seals which are procured in accordance with the PI, is expected to be 35% lower than those procured in the traditional way. LEAN PUMP PRODUCTION SYSTEM Weir utilises the well-proven 'lean production system'. This single-flow, lean manufacturing process with dedicated production units means less wastage and greater efficiency, enabling us to provide the highest-standard pumps and components. Weir's Begemann pumps are designed to make maintenance straight-forward, minimise operation costs and increase product lifespan. The OH5 range is developed with the latest 3D computer-aided design technology. This design application is integrated with our manufacturing operation as well as supplier and customer systems. Advanced technology enables us to speed up product configuration, reduce the number of parts and optimise performance. A thorough analysis of the market requirements has resulted in more effective pumps, which are easier to maintain, and have a lower whole life cost and an increased lifespan. http://www.hydrocarbons-technology.com/projects/southwalesgas/ Thu, 01 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.hydrocarbons-technology.com/projects/southwalesgas/ South Wales Gas Pipeline As the North Sea reserves around the UK are being depleted the country must look for alternative sources of gas to supply both households and industry. The new supply sources are coming from Russia, Norway and also pipelines from Europe. But one of the major sources of gas (over 23% by 2012) for the UK is set to be the new South Hook and Dragon LNG terminals in Milford Haven, West Wales. These gas projects are now nearing completion and will provide gas from the Middle East via LNG tankers to the gas grid. One of the problems with this was that the pipelines connecting this area of Wales with the nationwide UK gas grid were not large enough. "The UK must look for alternative sources of gas to supply both households and industry." Consequently a major pipeline construction project has been undertaken to provide a new 48in (1,220mm) high-pressure gas pipeline from Milford Haven in Pembrokeshire to Tirley in Gloucestershire (national gas network), a distance of 197 miles (316km). The pipeline cost has been estimated at around €700m and will be completed during 2008. GAS PIPELINE CONTROVERSY The construction of the South Wales gas pipeline has stirred up a great deal of protest from climate activists and environmental campaigners during construction. Part of the route (16-mile section) passes through the Brecon Beacons National Park and although the park authority objected it went ahead (National Grid has taken expert advice and are restoring the affected parts as the pipeline is 1.2m underground). Campaigners have raised concerns about the safety of the pipeline as it is one of the first such high-pressure installations in the UK. In addition some sections have passed through seismically active areas of South Wales, such as Trebanos, and this has concerned local residents worried about leakage. Finally the safety of the LNG installations at Milford Haven have been called into question from the point of view of collisions between tankers as it is such a busy port and also because it is a potential target for terrorist attack. There have been many protests against the pipeline and planning decisions have been hurried through their due process at many local councils along the route of the pipeline. However the pipeline has been rule to be 'a critical part of the future energy needs' of the UK by the DTI. SOUTH WALES PIPELINE ROUTE Planning for the pipeline started in 2003 (route was decided in January 2004 to March 2005) and the land-based pipeline was decided on as the best option as a subsea alternative was considered as too expensive (land acquisition occurred between March 2005 and April 2006). The pipeline has a much higher operating pressure than has normally been seen in the UK. The pressure is 94bar(g) (1,364psi) as opposed to 85bar(g) (1,231psi). The pipeline originates at Herbrandston from the South Hook LNG facility (Qatar Petroleum and ExxonMobil will operate it &dash; it is one of the biggest in the world) the pipeline then picks up the smaller Dragon LNG terminal at Waterston and proceeds to Milford Haven and then onto Aberdulais in the Neath Valley (75 miles, 120km). "The construction of the South Wales gas pipeline has stirred up a great deal of protest." At Aberdulais the Cilfrew pressure-reduction station reduces the pressure of the gas and turns flow into the South Wales gas grid &dash; this section (phase I) was completed in April 2007 (DTI consent granted in December 2005). The contractor for the Milford Haven &dash; Aberdulais section was Nacap Land & Marine joint venture. The pipeline continues onto Felindre where there is a compressor station to repressurise the gas. From there the pipeline runs to a further pressure-reduction station in Tirley near Gloucestershire, before joining the UK grid for the remainder of the country. The Felindre to Tirley section marks phase II and began construction in February 2007 (DTI consent granted in February 2007). The contractors for phase II include Nacap Land & Marine joint venture (Felindre to Brecon) and Murphy Pipelines Ltd for the Brecon to Tirley section. http://www.hydrocarbons-technology.com/projects/pnglng/ Fri, 18 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.hydrocarbons-technology.com/projects/pnglng/ PNG LNG Project The PNG LNG project (Papua New Guinea Liquefied Natural Gas) is a new gas project which is being championed by ExxonMobil to maximise the advantage from three large gas discoveries in the southern and western highlands of PNG. The new gas discoveries are the Hides, Angore and Juha gas fields that are likely to have reserves approaching 3-4 trillion ft³. The three fields will supply gas for the Asian market via a pipeline to a two-train LNG facility, which will be constructed near Port Moresby. "PNG LNG is a new gas project, which is being championed by ExxonMobil." It is believed that there could be a further two trillion cubic feet of gas or 400 million barrels of oil equivalent waiting to be discovered in PNG and this could require a phase two development of a third LNG train in the future. LNG cargoes are due to start in 2013. FINANCE AND SHAREHOLDINGS The project is likely to cost around $10bn to $11bn in investment over the 30-year lifetime of the project (initially $4bn to $6bn to construct the pipelines and LNG trains). The financial close for the project is expected in 2010 and the sovereign funds have not been affected by the US subprime financial crisis. The project's main shareholder is ExxonMobil (Esso Highlands will be the operator) at 41.6% and other shareholders include: Oil Search (Australian oil and gas producer) (34.1%), Santos (17.7%), AGL (3.6%), Nippon Oil (1.8%) and Mineral Resource Development Corporation / State (MRDC) (1.2%) &dash; the land owners. The PNG government have retained the right to take a 22.5% stake in the Hides, Angore and Juha gas fields, which could result in state participation in the LNG venture of around 19% (other shareholdings will be reduced to accommodate this). A joint operating agreement was signed between the project partners in March 2008 prior to the Front-End Engineering and Design (FEED) work of the project starting. PNG LNG PROJECT The project will be based around a two-train LNG liquefaction facility based near Port Moresby and capable of handling 6.3 million tons of LNG a year. ACIL Tasman has been contracted to prepare reports on the environmental impact and also the economic impact of the project for PNG. InterOil completed the preliminary engineering and evaluation design work for the project in April 2007. The dual train facility will be constructed adjacent to the InterOil refinery at Port Moresby in the Gulf of Papua to share infrastructure. "Three fields will supply gas for the Asian market via a pipeline to a two-train LNG facility." The LNG facility will have a 2.3km trestle for loading tankers, two 125,000m³ LNG storage tank, LPG recovery systems and two 50,000-barrel condensate storage tanks. The LNG facility will be supplied by a 716km gas pipeline, 417km of which will be subsea and 36in (Kopi on the coast is 450km from Port Moresby), while the onshore 265km section will be 32in. The pipeline will link to the Hides gas conditioning plant (906 million cubic feet a day) and the Juha production facility (250 million cubic feet a day). Between the Juha and Hides facility there will be a 14in gas pipeline and an 8in liquids pipeline for condensate. The condensate will be handled at the existing Kutubu and Agogo processing plant and exported from the existing Kumul platform on the coast (the gas produced as a byproduct from these facilities will be returned to the LNG pipeline). The LNG project will be led by Liquid Niugini Gas who are a group of experts assembled by project partners InterOil, Merrill Lynch Global Commodities (Europe) and Pacific LNG. http://www.hydrocarbons-technology.com/projects/thailandptt/ Mon, 14 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.hydrocarbons-technology.com/projects/thailandptt/ Map Ta Phut LNG Regasification Terminal The world price of energy is increasing constantly and Map Ta Phut (220km southeast of Bangkok) is an example of an LNG regasification facility being built by a country hedging its bets (not wanting to be left behind in the rush for natural gas). "The demand for liquid natural gas and, in turn, for new LNG ports is rising rapidly." The project is being developed by PTT LNG Company Ltd (PTTLNG), a subsidiary of PTT Thai National Petro Chemical Company. The demand for liquid natural gas and, in turn, for new LNG ports is rising rapidly. In addition the facility is being constructed near to the Map Ta Phut industrial complex where a number of industries are setting up plants that may require natural gas feedstock. Industries here include petrochemical, refinery, steel, fertiliser plant and plants under construction by GS E&C include Aromatics No.2 (aromatics plant) and HMC PP (Line-3) (polypropylene). PTT LNG PROJECT In February 2008 PTT plc was in talks with the Egco Group and the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (Egat) to form a new consortium to run the new $930m LNG project. This follows an agreement made previously in 2006. PTTLNG will expect to retain around a 45% share of the project. The new facility will involve the development of a deepwater port, a five-million-ton regasification (vaporiser) train with two 160,000m³ LNG storage tanks, a jetty, a boil-off gas recondensor, a send-out station and an LNG pump. The terminal is scheduled to start operating in 2011 (construction completed by June 2011). Phase two of the project, which is already being considered, will add a further LNG tank of 160,000m³ and also a further jetty (7.5 million tons capacity). The phase three proposals could involve a further jetty and another LNG tank of 160,000m³ (ten million tons capacity). GAS CONTRACTS PTTLNG failed to come to agreement for a supply contract from the Iranian Pars field for three million tons of LNG a year for 20 years and this has delayed the regasification terminal project to some extent. However in February 2008 PTT signed an agreement with Qatargas Operating Co. in Doha to purchase one million tons of LNG a year with delivery to start in early 2011 over a ten-year period (there is also an option for a further one million tons if required). Negotiations are also underway with LNG suppliers in Indonesia, Australia and the Middle East to fill the full five-million-tons-a-year capacity of the new facility. Natural gas actually already accounts for two-thirds of the fuel used to generate Thailand's electricity, and the development of new sources has been deemed critical for the establishment of long-term energy security. DREDGING In December 2007 Van Oord was awarded a contract worth €53m for dredging work in Map Ta Phut on the east coast of Thailand. "Natural gas already accounts for two-thirds of the fuel used to generate Thailand's electricity." The project started in January 2008 and is scheduled to be completed in April 2009. The dredging project involves broadening and extending the port entrance to take the new large gas tankers (around five million cubic metres of dredging work), removing silt layers, and also reclaiming land for the LNG terminal development. There will also be a need for the construction of an access route and dykes. Van Oord has deployed a cutter suction dredger on the project. OTHER CONTRACTORS Construction has already started in 2008 and although not all of the contracts have gone out to tender yet there are some major engineering companies involved in the project. These include the project managing Korean E&C consortium consisting of GS E&C (Engineering and Construction &dash; putting up $390m finance towards the project), Korea Gas Corp, Hanyang Corp and Daewoo Eng.