industry update
Expro announces EUR 13.6M contract
Energy services provider Expro has secured a contract with a major operator for the first deployment of its unique and industry-leading single shear and seal high-debris 15K ball valve assembly . The multi-functional single shear and seal mechanism will form part of a full subsea deepwater completion / intervention system being designed by Expro for a long-standing and valued customer for a deepwater subsea field at about 2,000 m in the Gulf of Mexico . The mechanism is designed to answer the customer ’ s requirement for a versatile , single-valve subsea solution rather than the conventional double-valve system while offering the reassurance of risk reduction through an additional safety barrier . Expro ’ s high-debris single ball system is a solution for both gas and liquid . Its versatility makes it suitable for deployment in both in-riser or open water environments . Its ability to handle up to 15 % debris is a significant improvement over alternative mechanisms used in this environment today .
Norway approves EUR 16.3bn of oil and gas projects
Norway ’ s energy ministry approved oil and gas projects with a total value of more than EUR 16.7bn as Europe ’ s biggest supplier of natural gas works to keep up production . The projects , which include Aker BP ASA ’ s Yggdrasil and Valhall PWP og Fenris in the North Sea , as well as Equinor ASA ’ s Irpa in the Norwegian Sea , cover 19 new developments , build-outs of existing fields and increased oil-recovery projects ,
the ministry said in a statement on recently . The Nordic nation has become the biggest supplier of natural gas to Europe in the aftermath of Moscow ’ s invasion of Ukraine , and will likely continue to see strong demand . As many as 55 wells are planned at Yggdrasil . That area is estimated to contain about 650 MMboe , making it one of the biggest development projects on the Norwegian continental shelf in recent years .
Rheinmetall wins two multimillion-euro orders
The Düsseldorf-based technology group Rheinmetall has received two more orders for fuel cell components . Together , the orders ( for cathode flaps and shut-off valves ) are worth a figure in the mid-two-digit millioneuro range . Full-scale production will commence in 2024 and 2026 respectively . Featuring integrated electronics , the flap systems ordered here will be used as bypass and high-sealing shut-off valves for fuel cells . Thanks to their special design , the components meet the most stringent sealing specifications for fuel cell modules with a power output of 100-150 kW . The flap system regulates the intake and emission of airmass flows and isolates the fuel cell stacks on the cathode side at the inflow and outflow points from the ambient atmosphere . It achieves operating times of up to 12,000 hours , while a new generation currently under development should have a service life of at least 30,000 hours in commercial vehicles , trains , and marine engines as well as in stationary applications .
TotalEnergies strengthens its position in LNG
TotalEnergies has signed a framework agreement with the US company NextDecade to participate in the development of the Rio Grande LNG ( RGLNG ) project , a liquefied natural gas ( LNG ) plant located in South Texas . The company shall offtake 5.4 Mtpa of LNG from this first phase for twenty years , which brings the Company ’ s US LNG export capacity to more than 15 Mtpa by 2030 .
The first phase of RGLNG , whose final investment decision is expected in the coming weeks for start-up in 2027 , will be developed , besides TotalEnergies , by NextDecade as shareholder and operator and Global Infrastructure Partners ( GIP ) as majority shareholder . The project has already received all the necessary authorizations from FERC , the US Federal Energy Regulatory Commission . www . valve-world . net Valve World August 2023
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