More oil and gas industry announcements: 15 August 2014

Arkansas Oklahoma Gas

AGO has opened its second public compressed natural gas (CNG) refuelling station in Fort Smith Arkanas. The recently opened station is a US$ 1 million project that has a significantly higher capacity than the company’s first station which opened in 2011, three times higher in fact. Currently, the station has one pump that can fuel two vehicles at a time selling CNG for US$ 1.63 /gal. of gasoline equivalent. AOG is planning on installing a second pump before the end of the year.

CH2M Hill

Over the last week CH2M Hill has welcomed 25 students from the Social Mobility Foundation (SMF) for a work experience programme to inspire them to continue their education and pursue engineering careers. The students who are about the start the second year of A levels and Scottish Highers spent a week with the company. During this time they met with employees and directors from across CH2M Hill’s market groups, carried out numerous practical activity sessions to replicate some of the challenges faced by colleagues on a daily basis and visited project sites to gain an insight into the diverse nature of working in the engineering industry.

David Johnston, CEO, Social Mobility Foundation said, ‘CH2M Hill’s support for this scheme has not only provided the investment to make the programme happen but has enabled us to utilise the skills of CH2M Hill employees to act as mentors and work placement hosts for young people who would never otherwise get such opportunities. It is great for a small charity such as ours to have the support of such a prestigious global business.’

Department of Energy

As part of the Obama Administration’s efforts to reduce dependence on foreign oil and transition to clean energy economy, the US DoE has announced more than US$ 55 million for 31 new projects to accelerate research and development of critical vehicles technologies that will improve fuel efficiency and reduce costs. These new projects are aimed at meeting the goals and objectives of the President’s EV Everywhere Grand Challenge, as well as improvements in other vehicle technologies such as powertrains, fuel, tires and auxiliary systems.

Launched in 2012, the EV Everywhere Grand Challenge seeks to make the US automotive industry the first to produce plug in electric vehicles (PEVs) that are as affordable and convenient as today’s gasoline powered vehicles by 2022. In just the last several years, significant cost reductions and improvements in vehicle performance have had a dramatic impact on the US automotive market. PEV sales continue to grow, sales in the first six months of this year were over 30% higher than the same period in 2013, and the cost of battery technology has come down by 60% since 2009.

Magnetrol

Magnetrol International NV, Zele, Belgium, has received a BREEAM Interim Certificate for the Design Stage of its production and office facilities expansion, achieving a score of very good. BREEAM is the world’s foremost environmental assessment method and rating system for buildings, with over 250 000 building certifications and over 1 million buildings registered for assessment since its inception in 1990.

Magnetrol regional headquarters for EMEAI markets has been located in Zele for more than 40 years. A result of the company’s strong growth, the expansion project increases the facility footprint by more than 5000 m2. With ground breaking on December 12 2012, production facilities completed in October 2013 and office space completed in June 2014, the Zele manufacturing complex will be one of the first industrial buildings in Belgium with BREEAM certification.

Shell

The largest piece of the turret for Shell’s Prelude FLNG facility has set sail from Dubai for the Samsung Heavy Industries shipyard in Geoje, South Korea, where the facility is under construction. The turret is part of a mooring system designed to ensure Prelude FLNG can operate safely in the most extreme weather conditions. At almost 100 m high, it is the largest in the world. The turret will run through the front of the facility and connect to giant chains that will keep it moored securely over the Prelude gas field. The turret mooring system will allow the facility to turn slowly in the wind and with currents, ensuring it can remain safely at its location through the most powerful cyclones.

Matthias Bichsel, Projects & Technology Director, Shell said, ‘Prelude FLNG combines our many years of experience in shipping and in managing complex LNG and offshore projects. It’s great to see our innovative designs and technologies become a reality as we reach significant project milestone like this. Designed in Monaco, built in Dubai, shipped to South Korea and for use off Australia, the turret is an example of the truly global nature of this project.’

Edited from various press releases by Claira Lloyd

Read the article online at: https://www.hydrocarbonengineering.com/gas-processing/15082014/more-oil-gas-announcements-15-aug/