Modec and BP Select Merpro forSand and Water Handling Solutions on Major Project

Thursday, 30 July 2009

BP has opted for Merpro’s Tore®OVD (Online Vessel Desander) technologies for the first FPSO to be commissioned on the BP Angola Block 31 PSVM development project. The FPSO being supplied to BP by Modec International LLC is being converted at Jurong Shipyard in Singapore and is scheduled to produce first oil in 2011. Tore®OVD will be installed in two High Pressure separators, an Intermediate Pressure Separator, electrostatic treater, desalter vessel, and both high and low pressure flare knock-out drums. This will completely protect the oil separation facility from unplanned shut-downs due to sand accumulation and maximize separation efficiency by preventing loss of separator volume to sand accumulation. In addition to supply of Tore®OVD, Merpro will support Modec with hydraulic analysis and design review of critical sand slurry transfer lines within the facility. The Tore®OVD design and slurry analysis work will be handled by Merpro Americas in Houston, Texas. The OVDs will be fabricated in Duplex Stainless Steel by Merpro’s ISO 9001 certified, and BP approved alloy fabrication facility in Montrose. Merpro’s Houston based engineers integrated the design of Tore®OVD into the separation vessels in cooperation with the vessel supplier’s Tokyo based engineering team. Stephen Beedie, Operations Manager for Merpro Americas, advised the vessel supplier on design requirements necessary for effective sand removal, avoiding a potential project delay. Modec has also selected Merpro to supply its hydrocyclone technology for the treatment of slop water prior to overboard discharge for the same BP Angola FPSO project. The slop water hydrocyclone unit will be designed and managed at Merpro’s Houston office and fully fabricated in Singapore by a BP approved fabrication facility for delivery in November 2009 to Jurong Shipyard.

Merpro’s Asia Pacific hub office in Singapore has taken a supportive sales role in the project, offering continual assistance. “The sale and execution of this project is a clear example of the successful globalisation strategy envisioned by Merpro founder, Chairman & MD, Bert Smith,” stated Mark Wolf, President of Merpro Americas, Inc.