Hamworthy to Open New Service Center in Brazil

International fluid handling specialist Hamworthy is to open a new dedicated service centre in Brazil.

The new service center represents a direct investment in a market that has offered sustained growth for the company’s oil and gas handling systems and pump systems businesses in recent years.

With offices in Rio and planned workshops and warehousing operations in Macae  it will support customers through easy access to spare parts from a domestic warehouse and qualified service personnel for all Hamworthy products, as well as related products and equipment installed onboard. The service centre will also offer assistance to domestic yards during the installation and commission stages of construction.

The move, which highlights the company’s commitment to Brazil’s growing marine and offshore sectors, supports a string of recent orders won by the company.

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, Hamworthy Baltic Design Center, along with the cargo tanks and cargo handling system.

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 redeployment on Waimea (Block BM-C-41) in the Campos Basin.

Gusto BV (the design, engineering, procurement, project management and consultancy services arm of SBM Offshore,) recently specified seawater lift pumps and electric fire pumps from Hamworthy Pump Systems for installation onboard the Cidade de Paraty floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel, due for delivery in Brazilian waters in 2013.  Gusto will operate the FPSO on behalf of Petrobras in the Santos Basin pre-salt area.

Meanwhile, Hamworthy has received an order covering electrically-driven cargo pump systems for eight FPSOs from Brazilian shipyard Engevix Construcões Oceânicas S.A. The equipment will be delivered between 2012 and 2014. These vessels, each with capacity to store 1,600,000 barrels of oil, will be assigned to various field developments in the pre-salt area of Santos Basin.

Hamworthy’s deepwell cargo offloading pumps and fire water pump systems were ordered recently by Teekay Operation for an FPSO to be constructed at Samsung Heavy Industries. With capacity to store 800,000 barrels of crude oil, the newbuilding FPSO will enter operation during the first quarter of 2014 in the North Sea’s Knarr oil and gas field.

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.     

“Brazil is a key market for technology companies involved in marine and offshore,” said Hans Jakob Buvarp, Managing Director, Hamworthy Brazil. “It is why we are extending our capabilities in terms of local service support and increasing local content supply.“

Hamworthy has been present in Brazil since the 1970s, offering products and services through its local partner Tridente. Its new dedicated service centre will provide essential assistance to ship and offshore operators including the provision of spares and service to the growing Brazilian market.

Hamworthy continues to develop its technologies and solutions for offshore applications with its strong marine background, and many of its products are already operating in harsh conditions around the world in mission-critical upstream conditions.

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