business & market news
26
Tube Products International March 2014
Technip awarded four North Sea contracts
Technip was awarded four contracts by
Shell UK, Fairfield Energy, Ithaca Energy
and TAQA during 2013. As the longevity
of fields represents a key challenge for
the energy industry, Technip aims to
deliver a suite of subsea maintenance
services including inspection, repair,
maintenance, decommissioning, and
asset integrity management, as well as
brownfield construction.
Specifically, Technip has delivered,
or is in the process of delivering,
the following scopes of work:
diving operations to prepare for
decommissioning of the Shell Delta
Brent facilities, under a newly awarded
framework agreement to support its UK
and Norway assets; intelligent pigging
operations for Fairfield Energy’s
Merlin field development (completed
September/October 2013); light
construction work for Ithaca Energy
on the Causeway field; and conductor
centraliser maintenance services for
TAQA’s Harding field development.
Technip’s operating centre in Aberdeen,
UK, is managing the projects. The
specialised work scopes, which equate
to around 75 vessel days, have utilised
the group’s diving support vessels,
including the
Orelia
and
Skandi Arctic
.
Steve Beddows, business manager of
life of field services (LOFS) at Technip,
commented, “We provide our clients
with a complete range of life of field
services with each scope demanding a
specific set of core skills and expertise.
We are keen to assist operators as they
look to prolong the longevity of their
fields in the UK Continental Shelf and
beyond. The LOFS market is growing
apace and these new awards underpin
our capabilities in this area.”
Technip
– France
Butt-welding fittings approval
Erne Fittings Middle East (EFME) has
achieved ExxonMobil approval for butt-
welding fittings up to 12". EFME, part
of the Erne Group, is the sole producer
of butt-weld fittings such as elbows and
reducers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
ExxonMobil is the world’s largest publicly
traded international oil and gas company,
as well as the world’s largest refiner and
marketer of petroleum products.
Since 1998, the parent company Erne
Fittings GmbH has been listed on
the Exxon Approved Manufacturers
List. By achieving this approval
Erne Fittings Middle East underlines
that it understands the respective
requirements of the industry and is
able to produce according to one of
the most demanding standards in the
oil and gas industry.
Manfred Havrilla, head of sales and
marketing at EFME, commented, “The
world’s most modern production site
with the latest technologies assures
first class quality based on European
standards, produced in Jubail.
“Approvals like Saudi Aramco, Qatar
Petroleum or Saudi Electricity Company
certify this. We are happy to add another
important accreditation to our list.
We will take this as further motivation
to exceed expectations in regard of
meeting standards and adhering to
specifications.”
With technological expertise in
moulding, heat treatment and weld-end
preparation, Erne Fittings produces
elbows, tees and reducers for use in
many areas, including the construction
of power stations, refineries, and oil
and gas plants, and in many other
demanding applications.
Erne Fittings Middle East Co Ltd
–
Saudi Arabia
Van Leeuwen enters Brazilian market
The Van Leeuwen Pipe and Tube Group
has acquired Tubexpress, a Brazilian
distribution company supplying pipes
and tubes to the petrochemical and oil
and gas industry. The acquisition was
effective from 1 January 2014.
Van Leeuwen’s strategy is aimed at
expanding and strengthening its market
positions in several countries and
industrial segments through acquisitions
and autonomous growth. Acquisitions
focus on expanding specialisms, and
enlarging the company’s geographical
footprint. The acquisition in Brazil is in
line with this growth strategy.
Tubexpress, founded in 1990, is a stock
holding distributor, offering products
according to ISO 9000 standards, and
has extensive product knowledge and
expertise in the oil and gas market. The
company has two branches in Brazil,
in Osasco and São Carlos, both in the
state of São Paulo.
Founder and managing director Mario
Zupo will transfer his day-to-day
responsibilities but will remain closely
involved for the next two years, to ensure
a smooth transition and to further expand
the business. With Tubexpress, the focus
of Van Leeuwen in Brazil will primarily
be on the international energy market,
specifically the oil and gas segment.
Peter Rietberg, chairman of the board
of the Van Leeuwen Pipe and Tube
Group, commented, “With the takeover
Van Leeuwen expands again following
expansion in, for instance, Africa, Asia
and the USA. The acquisition provides us
a platform for growth particularly in the
oil and gas segment in Brazil.”
Van Leeuwen Pipe and Tube Group
–
Netherlands
