UMW Expands Threading Plant in East Malaysia

The UMW Group, through its Oil & Gas Division, officially opened its new West plant at Labuan. The West plant is an expansion to its East plant, which is Malaysia’s premium threading plant for Oil Country Tubular Goods. This new plant was completed late last year with an initial investment of RM 15 million, under the management and operations of its subsidiary, UMW Oilpipe Services Sdn Bhd.

According to En Zulkifly Zakaria, President of UMW Oil & Gas Berhad, “UMW Oilpipe Services or UOS was established in 1988 to support the operations of the oil majors operating in East Malaysia. We are Malaysia’s premium threading plant for Oil Country Tubular Goods, with a total production capacity of 80,000 metric tonnes per annum (East and West Plant). Our East Plant, where we started more than 20 years ago is located just 1km away from here. Both plants stand on 7 acres of land and house facilities that enable us to effectively meet the needs of drilling companies and contractors. The strategic location of our plants at the Asian Supply Base in the Federal Territory of Labuan has enabled us to play a significant role in the support sector for the oil & gas industry.”

The opening of West plant will further increase the annual production capacity as well as to fulfill the market demand of OCTG offerings. The plant is equipped with 4 latest CNC threading lathe capable to thread from 2-3/8” to 10” OD and expected annual capacity of 20,000 metric tonnes.

UOS’s OCTG offering compasses threading of casing and tubing, manufacture of couplings, and fabrication of pup joints and crossovers. Other services include make-up of accessories including carbon and high alloy materials, offshore running inspection and OCTG one-stop shop integrated services.

“We utilise only approved thread patterns at our plants, among others, VAM TOP Connection, JFE FOX Connection and Tenaris Connections. Our plants are also accorded with API Q1, ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certifications. We have a total of 150 staff to support our operations, with 50 of them operating at this West Plant,” added En Zulkifly Zakaria.

The official opening ceremony of UMW Oilpipe Services Sdn Bhd’s West Plant was graced by Tan Sri Datuk Asmat Kamaludin, Group Chairman of UMW Holdings Berhad.

Cairn India and ONGC have commenced sales through the world’s longest continuously heated and insulated crude oil pipeline.

Cairn India and ONGC, the 70:30 joint venture (JV) partners in the Rajasthan block, RJ-ON-90/1, have commenced sales through the world’s longest continuously heated and insulated crude oil pipeline.

The ~590 km long Barmer to Salaya section of the Barmer to Bhogat pipeline (~670 km) is now operational with oil supplies having commenced to the private refineries from the delivery point at Salaya. Sale of crude to IOC through the pipeline is also expected to commence soon. Production is currently ~60,000 barrels of oil per day (bopd).

The completion of the pipeline and related infrastructure allows the JV to sell crude to the refineries in order to gradually increase both production and sales. Pipeline sales are expected to reach 125,000 bopd in the second half of calendar year 2010 and sales arrangements with four buyers are now being put in place for 143,000 bopd.

Other key features of the pipeline are:

· Safe and most cost efficient mode of crude transportation
· Construction to operation in a short period of 24 months
· More than 6,000 people employed during the construction activity
· Adaptation and successful application of specialised Skin Effect Heat Management System (SEHMS)
· More than 700 crossings (34-major rivers, 38-canals) along the pipeline route
· Passes through more than 270 villages in Rajasthan and Gujarat
· Route selection ensures minimum impact on the environment
· Use of latest technology to secure the pipeline and provide rapid response
· Use of natural gas from Rajasthan fields to heat the crude

The pipeline has been constructed and installed in accordance with notified regulations and international best practices. The installation and Right of Usage (RoU) reinstatement has been subject to regular review by the International Finance Corporation independent auditors. Construction work is now set to commence on the Salaya to Bhogat section of the pipeline, on the Gujarat coast with completion targeted for 2011. The pipeline, which is part of the Mangala Field Development Plan, has been approved by the Government of India.

Sudhir Vasudeva, Director (Offshore), ONGC said: “Commissioning of this crude oil pipeline marks a successful completion of a technological marvel by our Joint Venture team in the Rajasthan project and would facilitate more cost-effective and augmented crude oil production directly accessing the buyers. In partnership with all stake holders, we are committed to develop the resources in the Barmer basin and provide our nation with additional volumes of crude oil.”

Rahul Dhir, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Cairn India said: “Cairn India is delighted that crude oil sales from Mangala through the pipeline have started.It has taken 24 months to link this key piece of infrastructure from Rajasthan to the refineries which will allow for significant production growth. The partnership and support of the Government of India, state governments, local communities and ONGC has been vital in helping complete this national asset.”

Schlumberger Launches SeaConnect mini-VSAT Service World first 60cm mini-VSAT C-band service available for the offshore oil and gas industry

Schlumberger today announced the launch of its revolutionary SeaConnect* VSAT service for the offshore industry. This new service is a world first, providing high-performance VSAT services using an innovative portable marine 60-cm C-band antenna and related technologies. “With its high portability, mobility and small footprint, the SeaConnect service will enable connectivity to any type of offshore vessel or to any service company on a rig,” said Paul Khayat, marketing manager, Schlumberger Global Connectivity Services.

“This unique service has been engineered to meet the industry’s needs while providing vessel owners and service companies freedom to have their own secure communication systems.”

SeaConnect is a high-performance, dedicated and secure VSAT offering based on a fixed-fee unlimited data access. Schlumberger has successfully trialed the SeaConnect service for the last six months on a number of vessels operating in South East Asia. It is available now in South East Asia, and will expand to South Asia, Africa and Latin America in the coming months.

Based on a marine stabilized VSAT antenna, the compact and portable SeaConnect technology is deployed in 30 minutes, providing rapid end-user data and voice access. The combination of the spread spectrum and CDMA technologies enables the use of a 60cm antenna in C-band while assuring affordable compliance with the required specifications. For additional information, visit www.slb.com/seaconnect.

DNV Establishes Clean Technology Centre In Singapore

DNV, one of the world’s leading risk management and sustainability service providers with over 40 years presence in Singapore, has established its new Clean Technology Centre (CTC) to meet the growing demand for clean technology innovation and incubation services in Singapore and South East Asia.

By establishing its new Clean Technology Centre (CTC) in Singapore, Det Norske Veritas (DNV), demonstrates its continued commitment to be an integral part of Singapore’s fast evolving clean technology industry cluster. The Centre was officially opened today by Singapore’s Minister of State for Trade and Industry and Manpower, Mr Lee Yi Shyan, and DNV CEO Dr Henrik O.Madsen.

“Our decision to establish the Clean Technology Centre here in Singapore shows our strong belief in the continued importance of Singapore in the Asian context. The Singapore way of effective cluster building that government agencies are engaging industry and academic institutions, makes us confident that Singapore will succeed in its push to grow its cleantech industry,” said Dr Madsen.

Located in the DNV Technology Centre in Science Park, the CTC will be a centre of excellence for clean technology innovation and incubation. The Centre is already delivering innovative projects together with partners in the fields of renewable and clean energy, green ship and offshore solutions, green ports, climate change adaptation and carbon markets, as well as grids and electro mobility supporting Singapore’s urban solutions initiatives. Going forward, the CTC will further build on DNV’s strong positions and global capabilities in these segments.

With its stated aim to become a centre of gravity for clean tech innovation for industry, government and academia, the CTC also aims to support Singapore’s move towards becoming a global clean technology hub. Dr Beh Swan Gin, Managing Director of the Singapore Economic Development Board, said, “DNV’s decision to establish its Clean Technology Centre in our city-state is an endorsement of Singapore’s growing importance in Cleantech innovation. Through its partnerships with companies, R&D organistions and government agencies, DNV’s Clean Technology Centre will catalyse the development of unique, cross-sectorial competencies that are in demand globally.”

Recognising that clean technology innovation and commercialisation requires collaborative business models, DNV has signed agreements with the Energy Research Institute at Nanyang Technological University (ERI@N) and the National University of Singapore (NUS). The agreements involve joint research and development activities of mutual interest in various areas within clean technology.

“We are delighted to work with such well established research institutions. We firmly believe that our collaborative model will contribute to Singapore’s fast evolving clean tech industry,” said Dr Madsen. “Also, as an independent foundation with a strong technology base and risk management as our core area of expertise, we will fill a unique role in creating trust and confidence among players in the industry as new technologies and solutions evolve in the clean technology arena.”

Bjorn Tore Markussen, Managing Director of CTC, added: “Put simply, our job is to ensure, on behalf of clients, that emerging clean technology solutions are fit for purpose, investment and commercialisation. Singapore’s water and solar sectors are two examples of clean tech clusters that have grown very rapidly in recent times. This development, along with the growing interest from our regional clients, convinced us that the creation of the CTC here in Singapore is the best platform for DNV going forward.”

Singapore is committed to growing the Cleantech industry. It has allocated nearly S$700 million to develop five key pillars: R&D, developing manpower, grooming Singapore-based enterprises, branding its industry internationally and growing a vibrant industry ecosystem.