ABB Azipod: Performance in Harsh Environs
ABB received an endorsement from two leading Russian customers on the performance of Azipod propulsion in the harshest environments in the marine sector. The impending fourth anniversary of the delivery of the ice breaking tug Polar Pevek has prompted the vessel’s technical management company OOO Polarus to offer its approval of Azipod propulsion technology as the “right choice” for extreme ice conditions. Delivered by Aker Langsten in June 2006, the 940 dwt Polar Pevek is owned through the GC Rieber Shipping/Primorsk Shipping Corp joint venture Polar Pevek Ltd, registered in Cyprus. The DnV Ice 10 IB offers 115 tons of bollard pull ahead, and 95 tons astern.
Sakhalin-1 Production Starts
Exxon Mobil subsidiary, Exxon Neftegas Limited, has commenced production from the multiphase Sakhalin-1 Project offshore Eastern Russia. The initial phase of the project will produce 50,000 barrels (6,300 metric tons) a day by year-end 2005 and 250,000 barrels (33,000 metric tons) a day of oil by year-end 2006 from the Chayvo field. Associated domestic gas sales will start at about 60 million cubic feet (1.7 million cubic meters) per day, and ultimately are expected to increase to about 250 million cubic feet (7.1 million cubic meters) per day by the end of the decade. The project start-up was on schedule and within about 10% of unit development cost expectations.
