TPi May 2014

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May 2014 Tube Products International 47
Oi l and gas
Inauguration of Vallourec Saudi Arabia
Vallourec has inaugurated its new
premium finishing plant for oil and
gas tubes in Saudi Arabia. Located in
Dammam, the unit is dedicated to heat
treatment and threading for the full
range of VAM® premium connections,
with an annual capacity of 100,000 tons.
Resulting from the 2011 acquisition of
Saudi Seamless Pipes Factory Company
Ltd, the finishing plant includes heat
treatment and finishing lines, which were
upgraded by Vallourec and completed
by an additional premium threading line
and a coupling shop. Total investment
amounted to approximately $200mn.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony,
Philippe Crouzet, chairman of Vallourec’s
management board, said, “This state-
of-the art finishing plant in Dammam
enables Vallourec to support local
customers with the most advanced
premium products for their growing oil
and gas projects, and with increased
services thanks to high flexibility and
short delivery times.”
With this plant in the Middle East,
Vallourec is reinforcing its presence
in a region where numerous oil and
gas projects require high added-value
tubular solutions. Vallourec Saudi Arabia
will mainly supply oil company Saudi
Aramco, along with other regional
operators. The unit is fully qualified to
carry out all operations required in the
production of VAM premium connections
using hollows provided by Vallourec’s
pipe mills, including VSB in Brazil.
Vallourec – France
Strengthening USA ties
with service agreement
UK-based oil and gas asset integrity
and corrosion management firm Lux
Assure is developing a presence
in the USA by establishing a sales
and service agreement with Brown
Corrosion Services Inc, who will
handle the business development of
the company’s corrosion management
products CoMic™ and OMMICA™, and
the deployment of CoMic in the USA.
Lux Assure CEO Charles Cruickshank
commented, “The USA has long been
a target for us, and we are delighted
to be working alongside such a well-
established company to enable us to
introduce and develop our ground-
breaking technology and services in the
region.”
The two companies exhibited at the
NACE Corrosion 2014 conference in
San Antonio, Texas, USA,
in March. Personnel
were on-hand to explain
the products, CoMic
corrosion management
tool, and OMMICA
hydrate inhibitor
monitoring technology.
Jerry Brown, president
of Brown Corrosion Services, said,
“Lux Assure has developed a suite
of products that fit perfectly into our
remit and we are excited to present
them to our clients, as well as to help
build and grow the company’s profile
and reach in the region.
“We have many years of experience
in all aspects of corrosion monitoring,
inspection and prevention, and are
confident that working with Lux Assure
will be a mutually beneficial service for
both companies, as well as our client
base.”
Lux Assure Ltd – UK
Brown Corrosion Services, Inc –
USA
Vallourec Saudi Arabia
Charles Cruickshank,
Lux Assure’s CEO