EoW March 2009

english technology news

Subsea umbilical contract for Nigerian oilfield

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 latest contract.” In 2008, Nexans delivered similar umbilicals to EMC BV for the Akpo field in the same area. 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 two million barrels of oil. Nexans – France Fax : +33 15669 8484 Email : nexans.web@nexans.com Website : www.nexans.com

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 in the subsea umbilical sector. Nexans’ specialist umbilical facility in Halden, Norway will produce thirty 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, will connect the wells and the FPSO (floating, production, storage and offloading) unit. Delivery is scheduled to start in the autumn of 2009. “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 Ajex & Turner specialises in the manufacture of wire drawing dies made in synthetic diamond (PCD), natural diamond and tungsten carbide, tooling for the cable industry and diamond products for die polishing. The company’s wire dies are suitable for manufacturing using copper, stainless steel, medium and high carbon steel, brass, bronze, nickel, tungsten and aluminium products. The company provides PCD and natural diamond dies in sizes ranging from 10micron to 30mm, and tungsten carbide dies in sizes from 0.1mm to 50mm. Dies are mounted in powder metallurgy, offering support on all sides of the diamond and allowing the dies to be used in hot wire drawing. This process also allows the dies to withstand the drawing forces encountered, thereby reducing die breakage and improving die life. Ajex & Turner also manufactures in-house die repairing and recondi- tioning machines in a range of models for TC dies as well as PCD/ND dies, including the ultrasonic machines UPM–555 and SAU–250.

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Diamond needle files, diamond angular pins, die checking pins, diamond paste, ceramic pulleys and tools are also available. Ajex & Turner has recently entered into an agreement with Metalube (UK) and TKT (Italy) for the distribution of wire drawing lubricants for copper, aluminium and steel for India, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bhutan. Ajex & Turner Wire Dies Co – India Fax : +91 11 23940226 Email : sales@ajexturner.in Website : www.ajexturner.com

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EuroWire – March 2009