Maire Tecnimont and Rosneft agree to implement a project at the Ryazan refinery in the Russian Federation

Maire Tecnimont S.p.A. announced that it has signed an Agreement of Intent with Rosneft for the implementation of a project related to the “Construction of the VGO Hydrocracking Complex” at the Ryazan Refining Company’s (RORC) production site, approximately 200 km South East of Moscow. 

The agreement was signed on the occasion of the ХIV Eurasian Economic Forum in Verona, in Italy. 

VGO stands for Vacuum Gas Oil, which is produced by vacuum distillation unit in a refinery plant. Rosneft’s subsidiary RORC is one of the largest Russian refineries by volume of refining and production output.

The project’s scope of work entails a full range of works related to the design, supply of equipment and materials, construction, start-up and commissioning, and project finance services.

The VGO hydrocracking complex will enable RORC to increase refining margins by converting heavy petroleum products into Class 5 light commercial petroleum products (gasoline, kerosene, diesel fuel). The complex includes hydrocracking units, hydrogen production units, elemental sulphur production units, and off-site facilities. All equipment has high environmental performance characteristics. The project uses modern, highly efficient technology and equipment with an automated control system to reduce the carbon footprint of the plant.

Rosneft is implementing an unprecedented program to upgrade its refineries, with more than 900 billion rubles (13 billion USD approximately) already been invested to significantly increase production of Class 5 gasoline, diesel fuel and fully meet the needs of the domestic market.

Pierroberto Folgiero, Maire Tecnimont Group Chief Executive Officer, commented: “We are really honored to put for the first time at Rosneft’s service our technological know-how as well as our engineering and construction capabilities for this strategic initiative to unlock greater value through the transformation of natural resources, while ensuring best environmentally performing standards. This achievement with a prestigious client such as Rosneft let us further consolidate our very strong track record in the Russian Federation, a market currently showing really significant investment trends in downstream”.

Source: Maire Tecnimont

L&T Construction Awarded Contract for its Buildings & Factories Business

The construction arm of L&T has secured a large order for its Buildings & Factories business from Central Public Works Department (CPWD) to construct Common Central Secretariat Integrated Buildings 1, 2 and 3 in Plot 137, New Delhi with a built-up area of approx. 48.11 Lakh Sq.ft. including its Operation & Maintenance. 

These buildings will have a ground floor, upper ground floor plus six storeys with two basements. 

This project involves the construction of cabins, cubicles and open work halls for Secretaries, Additional / Joint Secretaries along with their Private Secretaries, Deputy Secretaries / Directors, Under Secretaries, Section Officers and Assistant Secretaries. The scope of work also involves Demolition, Civil Works, Finishes, External Development, Furniture, related MEP works and Operation & Maintenance for 5 years.

The project is scheduled to be completed in 24 months. 

“We thank our client for reposing confidence in our capabilities to build to speed and scale by entrusting us with this project of national importance,” commented Mr S. N. Subrahmanyan CEO & MD Larsen & Toubro. Further elaborating on the significance of the project, he added, “This project will be one of its kind, in terms of sheer scale of work to be executed within stringent timelines with highest safety & quality standards. It is also of strategic importance for it will realize the Honourable Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi’s dream of strengthening governance infrastructure by building new facilities for India’s Parliament, an efficient and sustainable Central Secretariat to house all the ministries of the Government of India.”

Source: L&T

Petrofac secures Lithuanian refinery EPC project

Petrofac announces it has been awarded an Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contract, valued at around EUR550 million (approx US$640 million), from PC ORLEN Lietuva to support a comprehensive modernisation, environmental upgrade, and expansion programme at its Mažeikiai Refinery in North-West Lithuania.

The lump sum contract comprises engineering, procurement, construction, start-up and commissioning services, as ORLEN Lietuva invests to expand the existing refinery complex, raise capabilities, meet the requirements for cleaner fuels and improve operational and carbon efficiency of the plant. The scope of work encompasses mainly greenfield EPC development, with some brownfield modifications, as well as Front End Engineering Design (FEED) of relevant utilities and offsites. The contract includes the addition of a new residue hydrocracking facility and improvement of the existing facility. Project completion is planned by the end of 2024.

Elie Lahoud, Chief Operating Officer – Engineering & Construction, said:

“We are delighted to have secured such an important refinery project within the European Union as we demonstrate our growth strategy in new geographies. Petrofac has a well-established track record and significant experience in the refining sector, as customers transform existing facilities to produce higher quality, more environmentally friendly fuels. ORLEN Lietuva is a new customer for us, and we look forward to developing our relationship as we deliver locally, to the highest global standards, on a project that is an important part of Lithuania’s energy infrastructure.”

Source: Petrofac

Besix-Trojan JV to build Guggenheim Abu Dhabi museum

The largest of the Guggenheim Museums: in Abu Dhabi

The outstanding architecture of the building is the work of the award-winning and world-renowned architect Frank Gehry. It features a series of asymmetrical cones which surround the main building and serve as both entrances to the museum and outdoor exhibition spaces.

The design also incorporates sustainable elements appropriate to the region, including the natural cooling and ventilation of the covered courtyards, inspired by the concept of traditional wind towers found throughout the Middle East.

Guggenheim Abu Dhabi will be part of the Saadiyat Cultural District, an emerging global cultural centre with a concentration of iconic museums, galleries, and performance venues. In collaboration with the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation, the museum will present a collection from all four corners of the world (including art since circa 1960) with a specific focus on West Asia, North Africa, and South Asia (WANASA). The museum’s collection will foster a deeper understanding of how different art perspectives have shaped the interconnected histories and cultures of our time. The museum will also serve as a forum for academic research and intellectual and cultural dialogue, engaging artists, scholars, curators, architects and innovative thinkers.

A high-profile challenge for BESIX Group and its partners

The joint venture contract includes all construction work, except for the foundations, which have already been completed. The building is made of various materials, including steel, concrete, wood and aluminum. The construction process has been carefully prepared by the joint venture partners to optimise planning, methods and procurement. Work is set to be completed in 2025.

Pierre Sironval, Deputy CEO of BESIX Group: “We are extremely proud to build the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, a museum of global modern and contemporary art that will further enhance the appeal of Abu Dhabi as a destination. The museum joins BESIX Group’s previous achievements in Abu Dhabi, including Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Emirates Palace and the Sheikh Zayed Bridge. We have also had the honor of constructing the Dancing House, designed by Frank Gehry, in Prague.”

Olivier Crasson, General Manager of BESIX-Six Construct: “I would like to thank our client, the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, for its confidence. This is a particularly complex yet very sustainable building, which will benefit from our engineering and construction expertise. Together with Trojan, a high-quality partner, we will make the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi a great success for our client and the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.”

Source: BESIX

Wood awarded consenting and FEED contracts for the UK’s first hydrogen distribution pipeline infrastructure

Wood has been awarded the consenting and environmental assessment and front-end engineering design (FEED) contracts for Cadent’s HyNet North West, an innovative project that aims to unlock a lower carbon economy for the North West of England and North Wales.

The industry-leading HyNet North West project has the potential to reduce carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions by 10 million tonnes a year by 2030 – the equivalent of taking 4 million cars off the road.

From 2025, the project will produce, store, and distribute hydrogen, as well as capture and store carbon from industry in the North West of England and North Wales. It will use state-of-the-art technology to build new energy infrastructure whilst also upgrading and reusing existing infrastructure currently involved in fossil fuel production.

As part of the scope of work, a multidisciplinary Wood team will lead the design, consenting and consultation of a new 85km hydrogen pipeline and above-ground installations.

Wood will also provide land rights consultation and engagement services to support the application for consent. System modelling and design will benefit from the company’s specialised and field proven H2 modelling technology Virtuoso.

Josh Carmichael, Vice President of Hydrogen at Wood, said: “We are delighted to be working with Cadent on HyNet North West. Together with our clients, we’re driving hydrogen production and distribution at pace and at an industrial scale as one of the mission-critical pathways to a more sustainable future. Industries and clusters will be key to catalysing the hydrogen industry in the UK, and we are excited to be a part of this leading project.

“This first-of-its-kind project will help meet the challenge of reducing CO₂ emissions from industry, providing fuel for our transport as well as heating for our homes and businesses, and could really put the region at the forefront of the UK’s drive to reaching net-zero by 2050.”

As a leader in hydrogen production technology, Wood has been supplying hydrogen production units globally for more than 60 years. With experience in carbon capture and storage, renewable power and pipelines for distribution, the company is well positioned to support the opportunities of a clean hydrogen energy system.

Source: Woodplc

QatarEnergy and H2Korea sign hydrogen energy cooperation agreement

QatarEnergy and Korea’s Hydrogen Convergence Alliance (H2Korea) signed an agreement for cooperation in the field of hydrogen energy.

The agreement provides a framework of cooperation in the development of the hydrogen sector in both countries, encouraging growth of the hydrogen industry and expansion of the hydrogen supply chain, in addition to supporting efforts within multilateral fora to accelerate cooperation for hydrogen related technologies worldwide.

His Excellency Mr. Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi, the Minister of State for Energy Affairs, the President and CEO of QatarEnergy, and His Excellency Mr. Sung-Wook Moon, the Minister for Trade, Industry and Energy in the Republic of Korea witnessed the signing of the agreement, during their meeting in Doha.

In his remarks on the signing of this agreement, His Excellency Minister Al-Kaabi hailed the solid ties and historical long-term partnership between Qatar and Korea in the field of energy and expressed the mutual desire of the two countries to further build and expand on this partnership for many decades to come.

Minister Al-Kaabi said: “We are pleased to sign this agreement on hydrogen to expand our strong relations into new horizons of cleaner energy including our long-established strategic partnership in the field of liquefied natural gas. We believe hydrogen has an important role to play in the energy transition towards an affordable, reliable and clean energy system, but only if relevant competent entities, such as QatarEnergy and H2Korea, join hands to achieve this goal.”

The Hydrogen Convergence Alliance (H2Korea) is a public-private consultative body established by the Korean government in 2017 to promote and develop the hydrogen industry with the aim of achieving an early hydrogen economy society in the Republic of Korea and to act as a bridge between the public and the private sector by exploring policy tasks, supporting businesses, international cooperation projects, and public relations projects.

Source: Qatar Energy

Nextchem (Maire Tecnimont Group) and Acciaierie D’Italia agree on a feasibility study to decarbonize Taranto steel plant

Maire Tecnimont S.p.A.’s subsidiary NextChem and Acciaierie d’Italia, Italy’s largest steel company, jointly owned by Arcelor Mittal and Invitalia, have reached an agreement for a feasibility study to use circular gas (syngas) in the Taranto steel mill. This circular gas is obtained thanks to NextChem’s Waste-to-Chemical technology, which is based on the recovery of carbon and hydrogen included in plastic and dry waste through a partial oxidation process.  

NextChem’s technology makes it possible to obtain a circular gas that can be used both in refining processes and in the steel production cycle – replacing coal dust in the blast furnace or natural gas in direct reduction – resulting in a decrease of CO2 emissions. The feasibility study will focus on the environmental benefits of using circular gas in the steel mill, as well as of maximizing the steel mill tail gas. 

Both solutions could contribute to significantly reducing the environmental impact of the steel production cycle.

Pierroberto Folgiero, CEO of Maire Tecnimont Group and NextChem, commented: “We are proud to collaborate with Acciaierie d’Italia in the development of a project that can offer a concrete solution for the decarbonization of the steel processing cycle and production. NextChem’s Waste-to-Chemical technology, which is worksite-ready, can make a strong contribution to the green reconversion of traditional industrial sites”.

Lucia Morselli, Chief Executive of Acciaierie d’Italia, said: “Contributing to the energy transition is exactly the responsibility of every company. NextChem’s circular gas technology is of great interest to Acciaierie d’Italia because, once verified, it goes in the direction of decarbonizing our plants”.

Source: Maire Tecnimont

Marubeni Signs a Water and Energy Conversion Agreement for the Tanajib Cogeneration and Desalination Project in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Marubeni Corporation (hereinafter, “Marubeni”) hereby announces that, together with Abu Dhabi National Energy Company PJSC (hereinafter, “TAQA”), Marubeni has signed a Water and Energy Conversion Agreement to develop a greenfield industrial steam, water and electric cogeneration plant and seawater desalination plant, as well as pipelines between the cogeneration plant and the desalination plant, and also the desalination plant and facilities of Saudi Arabian Oil Company (hereinafter, “Aramco”) on September 15, 2021.

The plants will be located in Tanajib, in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia, on land procured by Aramco, and this project will supply electricity, steam, and desalinated water to the new oil and gas facilities in the area owned by Aramco. Under the contract, Marubeni and TAQA will operate the plants for 20 years on a build, own, operate, and transfer basis.

Marubeni, TAQA, and Aramco have established a special-purpose company in Saudi Arabia and will develop the cogeneration plant and the seawater desalination plant with a net capacity of approximately 940MW of electricity generation, a steam output of approximately 1,084 tons per hour, and a desalinated water output of approximately 19,470 cubic meters per day. The cogeneration plant consisting of gas turbines, heat recovery steam generators, and steam turbines can efficiently generate electricity with the waste heat used to generate process steam and achieve high thermal efficiency, which contributes to carbon emissions reduction by reducing natural gas consumption.

This will mark Marubeni’s 4th power and water project in Saudi Arabia, adding to the existing Third Party Cogeneration Projects (900MW of power, 1,500ton/h of steam) (*1); the Shuqaiq 3 Independent Water Project (450,000m³/day of water)(*2); and the Rabigh Solar PV IPP Project (300MW of power)(*3).

Marubeni owns stakes in power projects across 19 countries (including Japan) for a total net capacity of about 12GW. Also, Marubeni will continue to deploy its expertise and experience in the power generation business, and at the same time contribute to the establishment of a sustainable society by providing reliable sources of power that are also environmentally friendly.

Source: Marubeni

TechnipFMC and Talos Energy Enter Strategic Alliance to Provide Carbon Capture and Storage

TechnipFMC and Talos Energy Inc. announced that they have entered into a long-term strategic alliance to develop and deliver technical and commercial solutions to Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) projects along the United States Gulf Coast. The alliance combines Talos’s offshore operational strength and sub-surface expertise with TechnipFMC’s extended history in subsea engineering, system integration and automation and control.

Cultivated through a shared vision to responsibly deliver CCS solutions that will help to reduce the global carbon footprint, this innovative partnership will accelerate offshore CCS adoption with reliable, specialized CCS systems.

Under the alliance, the companies will collaborate to progress CCS opportunities through the full lifecycle of storage site characterization, front-end engineering and design (FEED), and first injection through life of field operations. This further advances the companies’ leadership in the emerging Gulf Coast CCS market, building on Talos’s recent successful award as the operator of the only major offshore carbon sequestration hub in the United States.

Jonathan Landes, President, Subsea at TechnipFMC, commented: “We are pleased to partner with Talos to deliver offshore CCS solutions that will help reduce CO2 emissions during the energy transition. This alliance capitalizes on our collective expertise and TechnipFMC’s position as a system integrator and architect to deliver a reliable industrial-scale solution for CCS.”

Bob Abendschein, Executive Vice President and Head of Operations at Talos, commented: “We are excited to announce this strategic alliance with TechnipFMC and to work collaboratively as we continue to execute on our strategy to scale our CCS business. Combining the technical expertise of both companies solidifies our market leadership in delivering integrated CCS solutions to lower industrial carbon emissions and create a positive impact in the communities where we work and live.”

Source: TechnipFMC

TP Awards Schlumberger Sakarya Offshore Gas Field Phase-1 Contract

Schlumberger announced a significant contract award by Turkish Petroleum (TP) for the engineering, procurement, construction and installation (EPCI) of end-to-end production solutions for the Sakarya gas field, Turkey’s largest gas reserve. The contract is awarded to Schlumberger and Subsea 7, as part of a consortium.

The integrated project scope will cover subsurface solutions to onshore production, including well completions, subsea production systems (SPS), subsea umbilicals, risers, flowlines (SURF), and an early production facility (EPF).

Schlumberger will deliver the well completions scope and the design, construction, and commissioning of the early production facility capable of handling up to 350 MMscfd of gas. The SPS and SURF scope will be delivered by OneSubsea®, the subsea technologies, production, and processing systems division of Schlumberger, and Subsea 7.

“Schlumberger is uniquely positioned to integrate solutions from the subsurface to the processing facility, and deliver pipeline-ready gas,” said Donald Ross, president, Production Systems, Schlumberger. “This end-to-end production solutions contract award demonstrates the confidence placed in our ability to accelerate discovery to first gas and enhance value creation for TP in the Sakarya offshore gas field. Through open collaboration and by leveraging innovative production solutions, Schlumberger will drive local content value creation and remains committed to supporting Turkey’s energy sector.”

The Sakarya offshore greenfield represents the largest gas reserve ever discovered in Turkey. The subsea development will be located approximately 100 nautical miles into the Black Sea.

Source: Schlumberger

McDermott Selected for Engineering and Procurement Phase of Mega Gas Chemical Complex Project in Russia

McDermott has signed a Letter of Guarantee to deliver engineering and procurement for the ethylene cracker of the Gas Chemical Complex (GCC) project—the largest polyethylene integration project in the world—with China National Chemical Engineering and Construction Corporation Seven, Ltd (CC7). This agreement follows McDermott’s safe and successful delivery of the front end engineering design (FEED) and early works phases of the project.

The ethane cracker project is owned by Baltic Chemical Complex LLC, (BCC) a subsidiary of RusGazDobycha, located onshore Russia in the Gulf of Finland.

“Our proven experience delivering world-class ethylene cracker projects, underpinned by our collaboration with Lummus Technology and in-house project delivery capability from the FEED to the startup phase, make us the ideal partner to continue supporting CC7 and BCC on the GCC project,” said Samik Mukherjee, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. “We are uniquely positioned to offer integrated, at-scale solutions for our customers—driving safety, quality and delivery certainty.”

Under the scope of the agreement, McDermott will provide complete project management, engineering and procurement services, including field engineering, author supervision and the supply of equipment and materials for a two train ethane cracker unit with combined capacity of 2.8 million tons of ethylene per year and is licensed by Lummus Technology.

Lummus Technology’s proprietary ethylene steam cracking process is the most widely-applied process for the production of polymer-grade ethylene and represents approximately 40 percent of the world’s capacity. McDermott and Lummus Technology work jointly through a strategic agreement that leverages their respective strengths for customers.

“This additional award is testament to McDermott’s exemplary performance during the earlier project phases and our ability to provide integrated solutions throughout the entire lifecycle of a project,” said Tareq Kawash, Senior Vice President, Europe, Middle East, Africa. “The GCC project is a game changer for the Russian Federation market. It is the biggest single contract in the global petrochemical field and will be hugely impactful in terms of job creation. Our local presence and global resources align directly with its critical success factors.”

McDermott has previously collaborated with CC7 on the Afipsky Hydrocracker project and the Lukoil Delayed Coker Unit project.

The GCC project will be executed from McDermott’s offices in The Hague, the Netherlands, Brno, Czech Republic and Gurgaon, India.

Source: McDermott

Subsea 7 confirms the award of a major contract by Turkish Petroleum for the Sakarya field development offshore Turkey

Subsea 7 confirmed the award of a major1 contract by Turkish Petroleum for the Sakarya field development offshore Turkey in the Black Sea. The award was announced on a redacted basis and the contract was recorded in the backlog of Subsea and Conventional in the third quarter.

The contract is awarded to Subsea 7 and Schlumberger, as part of a consortium. The integrated project scope of the engineering, procurement, construction, and installation (EPCI) contract will cover the subsurface solutions to onshore production, including completions, subsea production systems (SPS), subsea umbilicals, risers and flowlines (SURF) and an early production facility (EPF).

The scope of work to be executed by Subsea 7 comprises the EPCI of the subsea pipelines and associated equipment to connect the subsea wells in approximately 2000 metres water depth to the EPF. The project includes the provision and installation of infield flowlines, control umbilicals, tie-in connections, associated subsea equipment, 170 kilometres of gas export pipeline and monoethylene glycol injection pipeline to the EPF.

Project management and engineering has already commenced and will be managed from the Subsea 7 office in Istanbul, Turkey.

Olivier Blaringhem, CEO Subsea Integration Alliance said: “This combined offering provides our customer with a truly integrated solution for field development. A strong, collaborative early engagement process led by Turkish Petroleum has enabled an industry-leading timeline from discovery to first gas for a project of this scale and complexity.”

John Evans, Subsea 7 Chief Executive Officer, said: “Subsea 7 has a long track record of providing optimised solutions for deepwater developments and we are pleased to be working, through Subsea Integration Alliance, on this important project. Subsea 7 looks forward to building a long-term relationship with Turkish Petroleum and to making a significant contribution to the development and growth of the Turkish energy industry.”

(1) Subsea 7 defines a major contract as being one where Subsea a’s share of revenue is over USD 750 million.

Source: Subsea 7

Worley awarded a services contract for a residue upgrade project at Aramco’s Ras Tanura refinery

The project will convert low-value refinery residue into higher-value products including gasoline, jet fuel and ultra-low sulphur diesel.

Under the contract, we will provide early front-end engineering design (pre‑FEED), front-end engineering design (FEED) and project management services for the entire project. These services cover upgrades to the atmospheric and vacuum gas oil from the crude distillation unit, and an upgrade to the atmospheric gas oil from the Kuff condensate unit.

Advisian, our consulting business, led the front-end conceptual studies evaluating multiple process configurations. This included the development of cost estimates for possible options, integration of technology licensors, and optimization of existing brownfield assets.

“Worley has a long-standing relationship with Aramco and this important project builds on our extensive experience at the Ras Tanura refinery,” said Mark Brantley, President of Europe, Middle East and Africa. “We will combine our global refining and in-Kingdom engineering and project management expertise to continue delivering sustainable operations to Aramco, while also remaining committed to upskilling our Saudi workforce.”

Between 2007 and 2013, we provided front-end engineering and project management services for the refinery’s major expansion. Our scope also covered modifications to the refinery to comply with future environmental regulations. 

Source: Worley

Technip Energies Awarded India’s Largest PEM Based Hydrogen Project by NTPC

Technip Energies has been awarded an Engineering, Procurement, Construction and Commissioning (EPCC) contract by NTPC for its Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) Based Hydrogen Generation Plant project at Vindhyachal, Madhya Pradesh, India.

The EPCC contract covers the delivery of a 5 MW Hydrogen Generation Plant using Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) Electrolysis technology at a Super Thermal Power station. This project is suited for a large scale green hydrogen production facility as power to Electrolyzer can be replaced with renewable electricity in the future.

NTPC is setting up this plant along with two other units – the first, a CO2 capture facility that captures CO2 from flue gas stream of the coal fired power plant and the second being a Methanol unit that uses the captured CO2 and the Hydrogen through PEM Electrolyzer being supplied by Technip Energies to convert it into green Methanol.

Davendra Kumar, Senior Vice President India Business Unit at Technip Energies commented: “We are pleased to have been awarded this PEM based hydrogen project by NTPC. This award illustrates our commitment to Energy Transition and our strong project management capabilities in carbon-free energies. It is an honor to be part of one of the first ever PEM based hydrogen project in India of this scale in the country, marking a significant step towards decarbonization of the Indian energy sector.”

Source: Technip Energies

Aibel has been awarded a FEED contract by Equinor, on behalf of operator Gassco and owner Gassled, for the Kårstø Electrification Project (KELP)

A partial electrification of the Kårstø plant is planned, and Aibel will carry out a pre-project including detail planning of a comprehensive redevelopment and electrification of parts of the plant. The planned work includes construction of a new substation and replacement of gas-powered compressors.

The estimated value of the FEED contract is approx. NOK 130 million and will have an average staffing of around 85 employees. Project management and engineering will be carried out at Aibel’s offices in Haugesund. The pre-project has immediate start-up and is due to be completed in September 2022.

The contract also includes two options, where one comprises a EPCI turnkey delivery of the complete implementation scope. This is scheduled to be decided at the turn of the year 2022/23, and if the option is exercised, this may result in a contract of major size* for Aibel. The implementation of the project will at its peak employ about 600 people.

“This award confirms Aibel’s leading position within electrification of Norwegian offshore and onshore oil and gas infrastructure. We are proud to contribute to reducing future emissions in line with industry ambitions,” says President and CEO Mads Andersen.

Source: Aibel

Wood has secured two Front End Engineering and Design (FEED) contracts to support Beach Energy’s Trefoil field development

Wood, the global consulting and engineering company, has secured two Front End Engineering and Design (FEED) contracts to support Beach Energy’s Trefoil field development opportunity in the Bass Basin.

The potential Trefoil Project is a subsea development at the Trefoil field, with a tie-back to the Yolla Platform.  Wood will provide FEED services for both the platform topside modifications, and the subsea and pipeline system that would maximise recovery and extend the lifecycle of the assets.

Ralph Ellis, President of Wood’s Operations business in Australia, said: “We are delighted to continue our relationship with Beach Energy to deliver this strategic development.  The contract wins demonstrate our strength in engineering and design as well as our detailed understanding of complex offshore brownfields projects and decades of experience in Australia including the Bass Basin and Otway development specifically.”

Enda O’Sullivan, Vice President of Consulting at Wood, said: “We are proud to support Beach Energy with a robust technical solution that could extend the life of their assets and help meet the needs of the local gas market.”

The Trefoil gas field is located 38 km east of the Yolla Platform. The development of the Trefoil resources through the existing Yolla Platform would extend the asset life by approximately 10 years, increase recovery from the Yolla field and defer abandonment of the Yolla Platform and Lang Lang Gas Plant.

Source: Woodplc

NOVA ENERGIES – a joint venture of Technip Energies and NIPIGAS – has been awarded a Pre-FEED contract by SIBUR

The scope of NOVA ENERGIES work includes technology and optimal technical solutions development, along with a cost estimate for the process of capturing, transporting and utilizing carbon dioxide (CO2) from the operating enterprises of “ZapSibNeftekhim” and the Tobolsk thermoelectric power station, which is the unique supplier of steam for the plant and the key supplier of heat for housing and social facilities of the region.

Loïc Chapuis, Senior Vice President Paris Business Unit of Technip Energies commented: “This award confirms our commitment to contribute and accelerate, through our joint-Venture with NIPIGAS, the Russian journey to the energy transition. It’s also a testimony of our long term relationship and trust with SIBUR. This project will reinforce Technip Energies positioning as a leader of low carbon solutions, and is the results of our more than 10-year world-class project delivery capacities in Russia.”

Dmitry Evstafiev, General Director of NIPIGAS, declared:“We are pleased to announce that NIPIGAS team in partnership with Technip Energies has begun the development of a project to reduce carbon emissions of the largest petrochemical enterprise in our country and the main production asset of SIBUR. This project gives NOVA ENERGIES an opportunity to contribute to the development and to take a leading position in the market for energy transition in our country from the very beginning of the operation of the joint venture.”

NOVA ENERGIES is a full-fledged independent player on the Russian market which provides a wide range of expertise, including Engineering and Design, Project Documentation and CAPEX estimates (“FEED/PD”) as well as Engineering, Procurement, Construction, Installation, and Commissioning (“EPC/EPCm”) for CO2 removal, Carbon Capture, clean H2 production, Bio Energies, Bio Refineries, Bio Chemistry, Ammonia, as well as other energy transition related themes.

Source: Technip Energies

L&T Construction Awarded Contracts for its Various Businesses

L&T Construction, the construction arm of L&T has secured various orders in India for its businesses.

Metallurgical & Material Handling:

The Metallurgical & Material Handling (MMH) Business has secured an order to set up Coke Oven, By Product and Coke Dry Quenching plants, given its competence and capability to deliver complex plants in the steel sector.

The spurt in the minerals and metals sector has accelerated much-needed private sector investment.

The MMH Business has also secured new orders in the mining sector for its Products Business and add-on orders from its existing customers.

These orders affirm MMH’s leadership position and signify its continued efforts to build customer confidence in the Metallurgical & Materials space.

Buildings & Factories:

The Buildings & Factories business has won an order from a prestigious client for construction of office space at Hyderabad with an approximate built-up area of 20 Lakhs Sq. ft on fast-track timelines, scheduled to be completed in 14 months.

This project consists of 2 Towers with 5 Basements & associated utility buildings. The Tower area comprises composite structural steel structure from the basement. The scope of work involves Civil, Finishes & related MEP works. The project reaffirms L&T’s commitment to move into Modular Structural Steel Composite Structures to overcome the challenge of scarcity in skilled manpower and to meet the accelerated delivery timelines from the Customer.

Water & Effluent Treatment:

The Water & Effluent Treatment business has bagged an order from Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) to construct a Demineralization Plant, ETP and allied facilities for its Barauni Refinery in Bihar.

The project scope involves design, engineering, supply, erection & commissioning of the demineralisation plant, effluent treatment plant, condensate polishing unit and drinking water plant with single point responsibility on Lump Sum Turn-Key basis.

The order from the refinery and petrochemical sectors underpins the business capability to deliver advanced water treatment technologies within stringent timelines.

L&T GeoStructure:

L&T GeoStructure Pvt Ltd. (LTGS), a wholly owned subsidiary of L&T, has bagged a strategic order from the Department of Water Resources, Government of Odisha, for the construction of 1 km long, 1000 mm thick plastic concrete cut-off wall for the Kanupur Irrigation Project at Keonjhar District, Odisha. The cut-off wall will arrest the seepage of water from upstream to downstream to improve the stability of the dam. The duration of the project is 11 months.

LTGS is focussed on ground engineering business, with the expertise to design and execute deep foundations like large diameter piling, diaphragm walls and cut-off walls, in the areas of marine, intake structures, water and earth retaining structures and bridges.

Project Classification

Classification SignificantLargeMajorMega
Value in ₹ Cr 1,000 to 2,5002,500 to 5,000 5,000 to 7,000>7,000

Source: L&T

Fugro has been awarded by Saipem a monitoring contract to support the construction of a LNG jetty for BP’s Greater Tortue Ahmeyim field offshore Senegal/Mauritania.

Beginning in December, Fugro will deploy their InclinoCam® vision technology to install more than 190 piles with centimetre precision over a period of approximately 6 months, working from a jack-up barge. Fugro’s rapid precise positioning will provide actionable Geo-data on the monopile inclination to accelerate the project schedule and a touchless solution that is much safer than conventional monitoring.

As one of the industry’s most accurate verticality monitoring instruments, Fugro’s InclinoCam will acquire Geo-data to position the monopiles at the exact location on the earth’s surface, delivering to Saipem’s tight installation tolerances and providing continuous verticality measurements via machine-vision cameras and intelligent visual object recognition algorithms. The use of vision technology to install the piles for the jetty will improve safety by reducing the need for human intervention and increase overall project efficiency by providing real-time inclination measurements that can be taken without having to pause the piling operations.

Jaco Stemmet, Fugro’s Director for Africa, said: “We look forward to leveraging the very latest vision technology to automate, optimise and record the whole measuring process, and installing almost one pile a day will deliver on our commitment to Saipem’s schedule. LNG has a clear role in shaping the energy transition and is one of the fastest and most economic paths to lowering carbon emissions. Through this contract award, we are pleased to apply our extensive West African experience, now specifically in Senegal.”

Source: Fugro

Seaway 7 awarded WTG installation vessel supplier contract by Ørsted

 Seaway 7 ASA has announced that they have been selected as a preferred contractor by Ørsted for the transport and installation of wind turbine generators for part of the Gode Wind 3 and Borkum Riffgrund 3 offshore windfarms in Germany. The installation will utilise the company’s jack-up installation vessel VIND1, and the projects are expected to be fully commissioned in 2024 and 2025. The contract award is subject to EU tendering procedures, and Ørsted’s final investment decision to proceed with the projects.

Stuart Fitzgerald, Chief Executive Officer of Seaway 7 said:  “We are excited to have been awarded this contract, which is the first award for our new build wind turbine installation vessel.  We see this award as a positive validation of the recent combination to form Seaway 7 ASA, as well as the VIND1 vessel capabilities, and we look forward to continue our working relationship with Ørsted.”

Source: Seaway 7

ACCIONA to develop its fourth wastewater treatment plant in Ecuador

EMAPAG, the municipal water and sewerage company of Guayaquil (Ecuador), has awarded ACCIONA the construction of the ‘Los Merinos’ wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) in the north of the city. The project, which includes the ‘Progreso’ wastewater pumping station, is valued at US$160 million (€140 million) and is financially backed by the World Bank. The plant, which will serve 1.5 million people, is expected to take 42 months to complete.

The WWTP will include advanced wastewater treatment and sludge treatment processes and will have a capacity of 4 m³/s. The facility will help eliminate unpleasant odors in the area and therefore improve its environmental surroundings. 

In 2019, ACCIONA completed, also for EMAPAG, the construction of the ‘La Pradera’ pumping station as part of the future ‘Las Esclusas’ WWTP in Guayaquil, which replaces the previous pumping station and contributes to modernizing the city’s water purification network.

The project, financed by the European Investment Bank and executed by ACCIONA on a turnkey basis, had a budget of US$25 million (€22 million). The scheme is part of a program to provide universal sanitary sewerage services for one million people – a third of the total population of Guayaquil – from the center to the south of the city.

ACCIONA has designed and constructed more than 330 wastewater treatment plants worldwide, with an overall capacity of 22.3 million m³ per day, the equivalent of serving a population of more than 80 million inhabitants.

The ‘Los Merinos’ plant is ACCIONA’s fifth water treatment scheme and fourth wastewater treatment plant in Ecuador, where the company first opened its local office in 2012. This new contract strengthens ACCIONA’s position as one of the leading players in Ecuador’s water infrastructure sector and in large wastewater treatment schemes in Latin America.

In 2018, an ACCIONA-led consortium was selected to build the Loja WWTP, a turnkey contract valued at US$16.6 million (€13.4 million), with financing from the Development Bank of Latin America (CAF). The treatment plant, now completed and in initial operations, has a maximum hydraulic capacity of 1.45 m3/s and will serve a population of up to 350,000 inhabitants.

ACCIONA is also leading the consortium responsible for the US$40 million (€35 million) construction, expansion and improvement of water collection and purification systems in Esmeraldas, in the north of the country. The project, which will serve a population of more than 200,000 people, is a turnkey contract financed by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and includes a water treatment plant and an electrical substation.

ACCIONA also completed in 2017 the Ibarra WWTP, also in the north of the country, which has a capacity of 43,200 m³ per day. This facility is in operation serving a population equivalent to 200,000 people. The WWTP was designed following a rigorous environmental protection plan through an advanced biological purification system.

In addition to its ample experience in the water business, ACCIONA is also building one of the Ecuadorian capital’s most emblematic projects, the construction of the second phase of the Quito metro. This contract is worth US$1.54 billion (€1.4 billion).

Source: ACCIONA

Hitachi ABB Power Grids consortium awarded major contract for the first ever large-scale HVDC interconnection in the Middle East and North Africa

Hitachi ABB Power Grids announced that it is the lead in a consortium that has been awarded a major contract worth several hundreds of millions of US dollars from the Saudi Electricity Company and the Egyptian Electricity Transmission Company. The award is for the first ever large-scale HVDC interconnection in the Middle East and North Africa, enabling the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) and the Arab Republic of Egypt to exchange up to 3,000 MW of electricity – much of which is expected to be generated from renewable energy sources in the future. The connection will support the flow of power in multiple directions between three terminals and will be the first interconnection allowing the exchange of electric power between both countries.

The global technology and market leader will be delivering advanced technologies for the high-voltage direct current (HVDC) power link between the countries. This includes the supply of three HVDC converter stations located at Medina and Tabuk in KSA, and Badr in Egypt. The business will also be providing system studies, design and engineering, transformers, valves, high-voltage equipment, technical advisory, commissioning and service, in collaboration with two consortium partners – Saudi Services for Electro Mechanic Works in KSA and Orascom Construction in Egypt.

The HVDC link will give Egypt access to the interconnected power grids of the Arabian Gulf, and KSA access to those of North Africa, whilst strengthening grid resilience and power supply security. Both countries have ambitious carbon-neutrality targets. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is working to increase the share of natural gas and renewable energy sources to approximately 50% by 2030, and the Arab Republic of Egypt intends to increase the supply of electricity generated from renewable sources to 42% by 2035. The connection directly contributes to the realization of these goals. The in-country value of the investment is significant, generating new jobs and knowledge transfer for people in KSA and Egypt.

H.R.H. Prince Abdulaziz Bin Salman – Saudi Minister of Energy – unveiled that reaching such milestone highlights the sound directives and proper guidance paid by the two brotherly countries, significantly represented by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques – King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and His Excellency President Abdelfattah Al-Sisi. Among a package of economic, development and political agreements accorded by the two countries, the MOU came to light, strengthening KSA’s and Egypt’s prosperous cooperation in interconnecting their power grids.

H.R.H. Minister of Energy pointed out that the electrical interconnection plans in the Saudi Arabia comply with Vision 2030, enjoying a due care from His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense. Leveraging its strategic location while optimizing its ownership to the largest power grid in the Middle East and the Arab world, KSA aims at being a regional hub for energy exchange and a prominent trader in the market.

H.E. Egypt’s Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy, Dr. Mohamed Shaker El-Markabi, affirmed that the project reflects the depth of Egyptian-Saudi relations throughout their rich history and the wise leadership of both countries. El-Markabi also highlighted the unceasing endeavors of Egypt & KSA to attain sustainable social and economic goals across the entire Arab world. He affirmed that such joint interconnection is a kick-start for a pan-Arab interconnection, complementing their visions towards 2030.

Egypt’s Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy added that the robust connection between two of the largest electrical networks in the region, promise stability and reliability on power supply, with a thrive in the economic and developmental returns on exchanging around 3000 megawatts of electricity.

Exhibiting their fruitful expansion plans for renewable energy resources, such cooperation is considered as a safety valve for the unstable nature of renewable energy. Huge investments shall be dedicated in the near future to address such unsteady nature.

“The clean energy transition is one of the most urgent and important challenges of our times and we must innovate and collaborate to accelerate our carbon-neutral future,” said Claudio Facchin, CEO, Hitachi ABB Power Grids. He continued, “We are proud to have the opportunity to work with our esteemed customers and partners in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Arab Republic of Egypt for this prestigious project. At Hitachi ABB Power Grids, we are enabling interconnections between continents, with unique capability to reliably exchange electric power at scale, across borders and time zones.”

In the longer term, the link has the potential to be part of a more broadly interconnected energy system with Europe and the eastern Mediterranean, allowing the exchange of solar power from the south and east with wind and hydro power from the north.

The HVDC interconnection will transport up to 3,000 MW of electricity at 500 kV along 1,350 km using overhead power lines and a subsea cable across the Red Sea. The power will be able to flow in multiple directions between the three terminals – for instance, from Tabuk to Badr, but also simultaneously from Tabuk to Medina. With the state-of-the-art MACH™ control system, the power flow can be controlled and reversed between the stations without interrupting the continuous power flow, providing maximum flexibility, grid resilience and supply security to both countries.

HVDC is a key enabling technology of the sustainable energy transition, and Hitachi ABB Power Grids is continually adding new capacity to meet the growing demand for HVDC solutions globally. For example, Hitachi ABB Power Grids was involved in the go live of the North Sea Link that was put into commercial operation earlier this month. At 720 km, North Sea Link is the longest sub-sea electricity cable in the world connecting Norway and Britain’s energy markets enabling the exchange of renewable power between the countries. Hitachi ABB Power Grids pioneered commercial HVDC technology almost 70 years ago and has delivered more than half of all the HVDC projects in the world. 

Source: Hitachi ABB Power Grids

Saipem has been awarded new onshore drilling contracts in the Middle East and in South America

Saipem has been awarded new onshore drilling contracts in the Middle East and in South America. In particular, a contract has been awarded in the United Arab Emirates with a duration of approximately 15 months.

In South America, Saipem has been awarded the extension of two contracts in Colombia and one contract in Peru, as well as two new contracts in Bolivia and Peru.

All these new contracts, worth a total of 70 million dollars, further strengthen the long-standing relationships with local and international clients in these geographical areas and represent a positive sign of the gradual recovery of demand in the drilling sector and investments in the Oil and Gas market.

Source: Saipem

Technip Energies and Siemens Energy announce joint development of decarbonized Rotating Olefins Cracker technology and selection by Cracker of the Future Consortium

Technip Energies and Siemens Energy announced an exclusive agreement to jointly develop, commercialize, and license the Rotating Olefins Cracker (ROC) technology to decarbonize olefin production processes. The ROC technology employs a dynamic reactor system that replaces conventional furnaces used for pyrolysis when manufacturing light olefins  – the building blocks for chemical products used in everyday materials, from packaging to polymers.

The ROC technology offers driver flexibility, and when driven by electric-powered motors or hydrogen-fired gas turbines, the technology leads the path to decarbonize the process used to produce light olefins. The decarbonization impact is even more significant when the electric power or hydrogen fuel is derived from renewable sources. The ROC process is also expected to have better first pass olefins yields with similar operating costs compared to the currently commercially available technologies. 

The companies  have already validated the fundamentals of the reactor technology in laboratory testing and intend for the first turbomachinery prototype to enter factory testing in the first half of 2022. Both companies bring specialized experience to commercializing this technology : Siemens Energy contributes its expertise in turbomachinery, while Technip Energies has extensive knowledge in pyrolysis cracking to produce light olefins and process integration.

As a significant milestone in the commercialization of this groundbreaking technology, Technip Energies and Siemens Energy entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Cracker of the Future Consortium (COF) on October 4, 2021. The MoU expresses the intent of the parties to negotiate a contract to install a hydrocarbon demonstration unit utilizing the ROC technology in a plant operated by one of the COF members.

The COF comprises major industry players, Borealis (part of OMV), BP, Repsol, TotalEnergies, Versalis, and coordinator Brightlands Chemelot Campus. The COF selected the ROC technology after assessing more than a dozen electricity-based heating technologies for olefin crackers. 

Stan Knez, Chief Technology Officer at Technip Energies, said: “The ROC technology is a step-change in cracking technology that leads to a significant reduction in greenhouse gases when combined with clean energy sources. This collaboration with Siemens Energy highlights our commitment to decarbonization, and we are delighted to have the ROC technology selected for the COF demonstration unit.”

Thorbjörn Fors, Executive Vice President, Industrial Applications at Siemens Energy, declared: “It is our ultimate goal to turn ideas into reality as we support our customers in transitioning to a more sustainable world. Engaging directly with major operators in the Cracker of the Future Consortium is a great opportunity to materialize this objective. Furthermore, by working together with our partner Technip Energies, we are taking an important step towards driving decarbonization forward.”

Walter Vermeiren, Chair of the Cracker of the Future Consortium, said: “The ROC technology is a new paradigm in chemical process technology, as heating hydrocarbon molecules by converting the molecular kinetic energy into heat so that that thermal cracking can occur, has never been done before. The Cracker of the Future Consortium is delighted to cooperate with Siemens Energy and Technip Energies on this unique opportunity.”

Source: Technip Energies

McDermott Wins Fourth Contract in India This Year

McDermott has won its fourth contract in India in 2021—­a key award from Chennai Petroleum Corporation Limited—for project management consultancy (PMC) and engineering, procurement and construction management (EPCM) consultancy services for Package 2 of Cauvery Basin Refinery Project in Nagapattinam, Tamil Nadu, India.

“This award demonstrates our strategic commitment to support India’s domestic energy goals and to broaden our portfolio with PMC services,” said Samik Mukherjee, McDermott’s Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. “Our experienced workforce in Gurgaon and Chennai will apply their deep knowledge in downstream refining technology and in local project execution to work as a strategic partner, supporting the expansion of India’s refining capacity.”

The new refinery complex will produce fuels to Bharat Stage (BS-VI) emissions standards, a higher standard of fuel that reduces carbon emissions, while continuing to cater to the growing fuel demands of the southern region of India. At nine million metric tons per annum, the refinery will also provide an impetus for further economic development of the region.

“We welcome the opportunity to work with Chennai Petroleum Corporation Limited to demonstrate our local capability in engineering and project management consultancy services,” said Mahesh Swaminathan, Senior Vice President, Asia Pacific. “Our global PMC expertise can only serve to strengthen India’s domestic energy markets.”

The scope will be executed from McDermott’s office in Gurgaon. Work is scheduled to begin in third quarter, 2021.

Source: McDermott

Bahrain Electricity & Water Authority Signs $28.7M Contract with GE Digital for Grid Software Solutions

GE Digital announced that the Bahrain Electricity & Water Authority (EWA) had signed a contract worth $28.7M for software and services to modernize the Kingdom of Bahrain’s electricity and water networks. A variety of GE Digital’s industry-leading Grid Software will be installed in a state-of-the-art control center that will digitize operations for increased efficiency and operations redundancy.

This remarkable end-to-end software solution spans the breadth of operations from transmission to  distribution across the company’s essential electricity and water services. Its implementation will be integral to the country’s economic vision and strategy for the future.

“We at the Electricity & Water Authority are keen to provide electricity and water services at the highest level of quality and reliability to ensure sustainable development in the Kingdom of Bahrain, and to become a leading model for providing electricity and water services,” said H.E. Shaikh Nawaf Bin Ebrahim Al-Khalifa, Chief Executive Officer of the Bahrain Electricity & Water Authority. “This project will facilitate our goals to optimize asset and network utilization and minimize outages in the networks for reliability of supply.”

“EWA’s solution is unique in the region and the industry and we are proud to be a part of it,” said Talal Eskandar, Vice President for GE Digital’s commercial operations in the Middle East region. “As the authority serves 430,000 electricity and 310,000 water customers, digital solutions will assist in optimizing their customer service and asset management goals.”

Grid Software to be utilized in this solution include:

  • Distribution Management: GE Digital’s industry-leading Advanced Distribution Management Solutions (ADMS) provide for the safe and secure management of the electric grid. The software provides EWA with next-generation control and optimization capabilities that will help them with outage restoration and overall performance of the grid.
  • Transmission Management: The Advanced Energy Management System (AEMS) provides a better framework for the authority to optimize the energy and electric transmission in a more innovative way with improved efficiency by integrating multiple monitoring, control, and analytics systems into a modular solution.
  • Grid Resilience: AEMS Wide Area Management (WAMS) can monitor and locate system oscillations in real-time reducing the risk of unnecessary power disruptions and accelerate system restoration in case of an outage.
  • Water Transmission and Water Distribution Management: The GE Digital team will be integrating EWA’s existing geospatial asset management system with the distribution network to model and manage the water operation.

“GE Digital is happy to work with the Bahrain Electricity & Water Authority to help modernize their networks and increase resiliency with our solution,” said Jim Walsh, General Manager of GE Digital’s Grid Software business. “This is a good example of how our customers are being called on to transform their businesses to take advantage of digital capabilities that can help them to achieve their goals of increased grid capacity and reduced outages.”

Source: GE