Hamworthy Supports Brazilian Offshore Finds

Hamworthy, the international fluid handling specialist, is highlighting its commitment to Brazil’s growing marine and offshore sectors in the run up to opening its first dedicated service centre in Brazil in 2011.

Hamworthy’s commitment to offer strong technological solutions at competitive prices and to seek local product content has been strongly rewarded through a series of high profile orders for oil and gas handling systems.  Hamworthy has an established presence in Brazil, offering products and services through its local agency, Tridente since the 1970s. 

Hamworthy Oil & Gas Systems was recently awarded a major contract by Brazilian shipyard Estaleiro Promar SA for the design and supply of cargo handling systems for eight liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) carriers destined for operation by Transpetro, a subsidiary of Petrobras. The vessels will be designed by Hamworthy’s specialist naval architecture consultancy in Poland, along with the cargo tanks and cargo handling system.

In 2007 the Oil & Gas Systems business secured an order for its regasification technology onboard the floating storage regasification unit (FSRU) Golar Winter.  Located in Guanabara Bay in Rio de Janeiro, the vessel has an important role in supplying gas to the Rio de Janeiro area. Hamworthy’s technology allows liquefied natural gas (LNG) to be gasified in a safe and reliable manner and fed onshore via pipeline to the gas grid. The system has been operating for over a year.

Earlier this year Gusto BV specified seawater lift pumps and electric fire pumps from Hamworthy Pump Systems for installation onboard the Cidade de Paraty FPSO, due for delivery in Brazilian waters in 2013. Gusto, the design, engineering, procurement, project management and consultancy services arm of SBM Offshore, will operate the FPSO on behalf of Petrobras in the Tupi Nordeste development in the Santos Basin pre-salt area.

The run of contracts for Brazilian customers has also seen Hamworthy selected to supply equipment for the Papa Terra FPSO for BW Offshore.  The company will deliver cargo pump room systems, seawater lift and firewater pumps for the FPSO, which is under conversion at COSCO Dalian, for delivery towards the end of 2011.

The Cidade de Paraty FPSO conversion sees Hamworthy strengthening ties with Asia’s FPSO conversion and construction yard Keppel and its commitment to continued investment in the offshore sector. Hamworthy’s scope of delivery will comprise three dry mounted seawater lift electrically-driven heavy duty C42BB pumps installed in the FPSO’s pump room and two electrically-driven C22BA firewater pumps installed in the engine room.   

In 2008 Hamworthy secured inert gas and pump room systems orders for the ten 157,500 dwt suezmax tankers, the largest of the 26 tanker newbuildings that form the first phase of Transpetro’s fleet expansion and modernisation programme (PROMEF 1).
“Brazil is a key market for technology companies involved in marine and offshore,” said Paul Fleetwood, Managing Director of Hamworthy Pump Systems, “and we are planning to extend our capabilities in terms of local service support and increasing local supply.“

Hamworthy Oil & Gas Systems recently completed installation of its VIEC (vessel internal electrostatic coealescer) system in the oil separator on Petrobras’ Siri offshore installation.  Hamworthy was also contracted to supply a complete VIEC system for Brazilian FPSO operator OSX for the OSX-1 FPSO, which will be chartered by owner OGX Petróleo e Gás Ltda for re-deployment on Waimea (Block BM-C-41) in the Campos Basin. Conversion work is being carried out by Keppel Shipyard.

The contract represents a breakthrough for the new VIEC-LW technology, which has been designed to improve the separation and quality of produced oil and water. The VIEC system will be installed in both first stage separator and the test separator to improve processing of the heavy crude oil on the Waimea Field. The contract also represents a breakthrough for its new interface level and oil in water profiler, iPhase, which will be installed in both separators to improve monitoring.

This year Hamworthy has delivered a fuel gas system to the Statoil operated field, Peregrino in Brazilian waters.  Hamworthy is also experiencing increased interest from oil companies operating in Brazilian waters for its flare gas recovery and ignition systems that result in reduced emissions. 

The gas recovery and oil systems technology stems from Hamworthy’s 2009 acquisition of the Technology & Products division of Aibel, expanding Hamworthy’s presence in the offshore oil & gas market and bringing new patent-protected, technologies into the Hamworthy Group.

Hamworthy will continue to grow its presence in the Brazilian marine and offshore sectors and is determined to play a major part in supporting customers in their expansion plans.