WCA March 2009

news

Bunching machines from Niehoff

❍ D1001 type double twist buncher from Niehoff

flanges and controls the traverse width of empty and full spools by means of optoelectronic sensors, without machine operator intervention. NBAT is standard on the D401 buncher and an option on other sizes. All production parameters are set on the HMI touch screen, in the operator’s native language. Maschinenfabrik Niehoff GmbH – Germany

will connect the wells and the FPSO (floating production, storage and offloading) unit. “The Usan umbilical contract calls for high levels of product quality and project management,” said Patrick Barth, managing director of Nexans’ HV and accessories business group. “We have successfully delivered a number of previous projects for Saipem and we believe that this track record – combined with our good working relationship and a high level of cooperation – were the key factors that enabled us to win this contract.” In 2008, Nexans delivered similar umbilicals to EMC BV for the Akpo field in the same area. strands of up to 50mm² with a lay length of 300mm maximum and a maximum rotational speed of 3,200 twists per minute. It is suitable for large wire rope lay strands and battery cables of copper and aluminium. Compared to conventional bunching machines, energy consumption and noise emission are reduced due to the one-bow design of the machines. Three-phase drive technology and contactless machine data transfer reduce maintenance to a minimum. Niehoff Bunching Automatic Traverse (NBAT) automatically detects spool

Nexans has been awarded a €42 million contract by EMC BV, a subsidiary of Saipem SpA, to develop, manufacture and supply umbilicals and associated equipment for the subsea development of Usan deepwater oilfield, off the coast of Nigeria. The contract is one of the largest umbilical orders ever received by Nexans and confirms the company’s position as a market leader in the subsea umbilical sector. Nexans’ specialist umbilical facility in Halden, Norway will produce 30 individual lengths of umbilical for the Usan project, to be delivered on 17 reels. The umbilicals, which will supply vital control functions and chemicals for the subsea systems, Maschinenfabrik has announced the addition of two new double twist buncher sizes to its buncher family product line: the D401 and the D1001. The product line now starts with type D401 designed for strands of 0.013mm² to 2.5mm² with continuous lay length and a maximum number of 9,000 twists per minute. The D401 enables the production of strands with 7 x 0.05mm construction as smallest strand variant, while the second type D1001 is the new powerful double twist-bunching machine. This machine completes the product line and is designed for Niehoff

Fax : +49 9122 977 155 Email : info@niehoff.de Website : www.niehoff.de

Subsea umbilical contract for Nigerian oilfield

The Usan oilfield is located off the south Nigerian coast, in water depths ranging from 750m to 850m. Usan is expected to come on stream early in 2012 and to ramp up quickly to plateau production of 180,000 barrels of oil per day. The field development plan comprises 23 producer wells and 19 water and gas injector wells, tied back to an FPSO unit with a storage capacity of 2 million barrels of oil. Cable delivery should start in the autumn of 2009 Nexans – France Fax : +33 15669 8484 Email : nexans.web@nexans.com Website : www.nexans.com

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Wire & Cable ASIA – March/April 2009