Control System World

Technip, in a consortium with Asahi Kasei Chemicals Corporation Japan, has been awarded by BASF S.E. a lump sum turnkey engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract, for the expansion project of a chlorine plant (chlor-alkali). The plant is situated in Ludwigshafen, Germany, BASF’s largest production site worldwide.

The work will include a membrane chlorine plant expansion as well as the integration and implementation of existing equipment and facilities.  Technip will be responsible for the complete EPC execution of the project using Asahi Kasei Chemicals Corporation’s technology and proprietary equipment. The project is scheduled to start up in the second semester of 2014.

Technip’s operating center in Düsseldorf, Germany will execute the project. This contract reinforces our relationship with BASF and provides it with access to Technip’s extensive expertise in the chemical sector. This award follows the successful execution of the conversion project in 2002 as well as the pre front-end engineering design (FEED) and the FEED phases of the Ludwigshafen project, which were also carried out by Technip.

Technip has been awarded by the Discovery System*a lump sum pipeline installation contract for Discovery’s South Timbalier Block 283 Junction Platform project. The pipelines will be installed between existing facilities in South Timbalier 280 and Ewing Bank 873 and the new platform in Block 283,at water depths ranging from 83 to 244 meters.

The contract covers project management, engineering, transport, installation and pre-commissioning:

• 15.8 kilometers of 12” pipeline,

• 13.9kilometersof 30” pipeline.

Technip's operating center in Houston, Texas will perform the overall project management and engineering. Offshore installation will be performed in 2013 with the G1200as the primary installation vessel for all pipelay. Pre-commissioning will be completed by one of the Technip diving support vessels.

David Dickson, Technip’s Senior Vice President, North America Region, has declared: “This award is the largest-diameter pipelay contract for Technip in the Gulf of Mexico,thanks to the acquisition of Global Industries. This 30”pipeline will also be the largest diameter lines installed by the G1200 vessel to date.”

The Fieldbus Foundation today announced the release of the latest version of its FOUNDATION™ for Safety Instrumented Functions (SIF) Interoperability Test Kit (ITK). This powerful test solution has been updated with new test cases to verify the functionality of H1 (31.25 bit/s) fieldbus devices based on the current FOUNDATION for SIF technical specifications, including the newly introduced H1 dual-mode device capability employing powerful field diagnostics.

FOUNDATION for SIF ITK 1.2 is an excellent tool for troubleshooting and debugging fieldbus instruments, and provides all hardware and software required to ensure a manufacturer's complete device interoperability as specified by the Fieldbus Foundation's official registration testing procedure. By using the test kit, device developers can run tests identical to those used by the foundation before submitting their device for registration.

Fieldbus Foundation Director-Fieldbus Products Stephen Mitschke said, "The updated FOUNDATION for SIF ITK verifies advanced functionality such as the new dual-mode H1 device capability allowing automation suppliers to bring new safety products to market without having to design two entirely different devices. Developers can implement H1 instruments with SIF features activated or de-activated. More importantly, this means that plants will only have to stock one type of instrument that can be used as either a process device or a safety device."

SNC-Lavalin (TSX: SNC), in joint venture with Skanska, has been awarded a contract for the Newark Energy Center, a 655-MW gas-fired combined cycle power plant in New Jersey. SNC-Lavalin is providing engineering, procurement, start-up and commissioning services, while Skanska is responsible for construction and site management.

The Newark Energy Center is being developed by a joint venture of Hess Newark Plant Holdings, LLC, a subsidiary of Hess Corporation and EIF-NEC, LLC, a subsidiary of private equity funds managed by Energy Investors Funds.

The plant will use the latest General Electric (GE) F class 5 series combustion gas turbines to generate power in a reliable and energy efficient manner. The facility, scheduled to be operational in 2015, will also be one of the cleanest of its kind in the United States thanks to its use of natural gas and sophisticated emissions control technology.

“We are proud to support a project that will provide clean, efficient and dependable electricity to the northern New Jersey grid, while bringing new jobs and revenue to Newark,” said Patrick Lamarre, Executive Vice-President, SNC-Lavalin Group Inc.

SNC-Lavalin has a long history of working with GE F class gas turbines, having successfully installed 70 such units at power plants around the world.

Foster Wheeler AG  announced today that its Global Engineering and Construction Group has been awarded a project management and consultancy (PMC) services contract by Kuwait National Petroleum Company (KNPC) for its Clean Fuels Project at the Mina Al-Ahmadi and Mina Abdullah Refineries in Kuwait.

Foster Wheeler’s scope of work includes the provision of project management services during the tendering phase for the main EPC contracts, and management of the EPC contractors through to completion of performance testing. The Clean Fuels Project is expected to be completed during the second quarter of 2018.

The Foster Wheeler scope revenue value of the contract is $500 million and will be included in the company’s fourth-quarter 2012 bookings.  KNPC’s Clean Fuels Project is a major upgrade and expansion of the Mina Al-Ahmadi and Mina Abdullah Refineries to increase their combined throughput by 264,000 barrels per stream day to 800,000 barrels per stream day. The objective is to increase conversion of fuel oil to higher value products in order to meet expected market demand and tighter specifications (one percent) for the sulfur content of transportation fuels.

“Foster Wheeler’s proven project management capabilities, our experience in executing mega-projects, and the breadth of our refining technical expertise were critical factors in our success in winning this significant award,” said Umberto della Sala, Chief Operating Officer, Foster Wheeler AG.

“The Clean Fuels Project is a critical mega project that will shape the future of Kuwait’s refining capability while driving the highest standards of commitment to the environment,” said Fahed Salem Al Ajmi, Chairman and Managing Director, Kuwait National Petroleum Company. “KNPC and Foster Wheeler have enjoyed a long-standing business association and we look forward to a true partnership in bringing the CFP to its successful commissioning.”

National Instruments today announced its acquisition of Dresden, Germany-based Signalion GmbH. The acquisition delivers strong wireless communications talent and technologies to the NI platform, which are critical to NI’s goal to continue to drive long term growth in the communications test industry. Signalion founders, Dr. Tim Hentschel and Dr. Thorsten Dräger, will remain with the company as co-managing directors, and work closely with NI R&D to evolve the capabilities of NI LabVIEW system design software and modular PXI hardware for wireless test applications. Signalion will continue to operate as a wholly owned NI subsidiary and to sell and support its products through its direct, distributor and OEM channels.

“NI continues to invest in the strategic areas of RF research, design and test,” said Dr. James Truchard, president, CEO and co-founder of National Instruments. “Signalion has assembled a top team of researchers and developers through its close relationship with Technische Universität Dresden (TU Dresden) working on the latest standards such as LTE, LTE-advanced and even fifth-generation wireless research. This expertise combined with a strong product portfolio strengthens our market position while laying the foundation for continued innovation using the NI PXI RF platform and LabVIEW for mobile communications and infrastructure test.”

Brooks Instrument, a world-leading provider of advanced flow, pressure, vacuum and level solutions, has received International Electrotechnical Commission (IECEx) certification for its SolidSense II pressure transducers. The accreditation confirms that these products are suitable for use in hazardous environments regulated for explosions caused by flammable liquids, vapor, gases or combustible dust. The approval certifies that SolidSense II pressure transducers have been manufactured under systems subject to ongoing inspections by IECEx certification bodies, assuring buyers of continuous conformance to this independently established, worldwide standard.

SolidSense II pressure transducers are widely used in ultra-high-purity applications, such as semiconductor manufacturing. This certification now makes it easier for engineers to spec them into gas cabinets, gas panels, valve manifold boxes and distribution valve boxes, which are typically part of the processing and handling equipment found in industrial markets like oil and gas refineries, gas distribution facilities and chemical plants.

With full-scale pressure ranges from 0-30 psia to 0-3000 psig and a variety of electrical and mechanical options, SolidSense II pressure transducers are well suited to industrial applications that require highly reliable pressure measurement. They function as stand-alone transducers and function as integrated sensors in thousands of Brooks’ high-performance thermal mass flow controllers hard at work worldwide.

KBR today announced it was selected to execute boiler demolition and construction for Cameco Corporation’s (Cameco) Rabbit Lake boiler upgrade project. Cameco’s Rabbit Lake operation is the longest operating uranium production facility in Canada, and the second largest uranium mill in the world by capacity.

KBR Canada subsidiary, KBR Wabi, will perform installation and demolition of the boilers, ancillary equipment and utilities for the project. This project builds on KBR Wabi’s previous contract management work executed for Cameco and complements KBR Wabi’s long-time presence in mining construction in Canada.

“This is a strategic project for KBR Wabi as we continue to expand our extensive mining construction portfolio,” said Karl Roberts, Senior Vice President, KBR Canada. “Cameco is a world leader in low-cost uranium production and we’re pleased to collaborate with them and support their needs in the growing minerals market.”