Colene Woolcott, Author at Penspen

Ruwais Train 3 PLC Replacement Success Story

May 6, 2020 5:45 am Comments Off

At Penspen, we believe in celebrating our successes and recognising the hard work of our people when a project is completed.

Earlier this year, we successfully completed the Ruwais Train 3 PLC Replacement project, which initially began in May 2019. We received invaluable support from ADNOC Gas Processing Company, enabling us to overcome a number of challenges during this project.

Thank you to everyone involved for your efforts and ensuring the project was delivered successfully and on time.

Success Story

In May 2019, the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region was awarded a Front End Engineering & Design (FEED) contract by ADNOC Gas Processing for the Ruwais train 3 PLC replacement/upgrade.

The project scope included: engineering for the replacement/upgrade of the existing ProSafe PLCs, utilised for ESD and FGS systems in the Ruwais train-3 facility and FSC system of new LPG tankage, having various interfaces to existing ESD/FGS systems.

Our services were led by our Instrumentation & Control team, supported by our other engineering disciplines in order to review the existing design and replace/upgrade the control system.

We experienced a series of hurdles during the project, as this was a brownfield FEED project and consisted of major instrumentation works. There were many bottlenecks and we faced a lot of challenges in the plant.

With the determination of the project team and their splendid efforts, the project was successfully completed on 11th February 2020. This would not have been possible without the support we received from ADNOC Gas Processing Company.

Continuous monitoring and follow-ups were the hallmarks of this project’s successful completion. The project close out celebration was held at our Abu Dhabi office on Tuesday 25th February 2020, with the distinguished presence of ADNOC representatives.

Penspen Awarded Engineering Services Project with Robtstone

March 2, 2020 8:30 am Comments Off

We have been awarded a contract with Robtstone, a leading EPC oil and gas contractor in UAE, to provide detailed engineering services and procurement assistance for their Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) project in the Asab Area.

The main objective of the project is to upgrade the existing firewater network at the ASAB-0 natural gas liquid plant, 190KM south of Abu Dhabi city. This will include new 10” carbon steel (CS)/glass reinforced epoxy (GRE) pipe from ASAB-0 NGL plant to the accommodation camp, which Penspen will carry out.

The scope of the work includes the installation of five new hose cabinets, as well as nine new hose cabinets in the accommodation camp area and one hose reel that will be installed at the junior recreation building.

Penspen will also be responsible for the design and construction of a new 6000 m3 nominal capacity firewater storage tank, the supply and installation of a clean agent system for substation-8 at the facility, and the supply and installation of a hypochlorite injection unit.

Neale Carter, Penspen’s Executive Vice President for the Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific Regions, said: “This project award is testament to Penspen’s strong reputation and experience in the UAE and our continued ongoing association with Robtstone. We look forward to working with Robtstone on this exciting project.

“Penspen’s responsibility for the full suite of engineering services, procurement and EPC support for the upgrade of the firewater network at the plant demonstrates our scope of capabilities in the UAE and beyond as a leading provider of engineering services to the industry.”

Penspen & QiO Techologies Announce Partnership with Launch of THEIA, Penspen’s Flagship Digital Integrity Service

February 19, 2020 1:45 pm Comments Off

Penspen have developed THEIA in partnership with QiO Technologies as an environment for pipeline operators across the world to access Penspen’s leading expertise in defect assessment and asset integrity management. The project is part of the company’s ongoing commitment to the digital transformation of its services.

Peter O’Sullivan, Penspen CEO, explains ‘There is no secret about the challenges we face in the energy industry. Ageing pipeline assets mean greater risks which are in turn set against a background of industry-wide cost reductions and increased regulatory demands. Furthermore, loss of skills and strong competition for new talent mean resources for the time-consuming analysis of inspection data are limited. THEIA responds to all these constraints by empowering operators to make critical and timely decisions for the optimum management of their pipelines.’

THEIA combines Penspen’s 65 years of technical experience, industry knowledge and quality assurance skills with QiO Foresight Maintenance^® technology to provide a complete picture of pipeline assets under a wide range of different environmental and operating scenarios. Penspen believes harnessing predictive data analytics in this way will enable its clients to gain insights into how best to manage pipeline integrity as well as to plan whole life-cycle technical assurance.

The ability to run complex assessments quickly, repeatedly and securely, providing predictive information and analysis, forms the backbone of the current THEIA offering. QiO’s specialist skills in machine learning and AI will contribute to the further development of THEIA’s capabilities, consistent with the growing trend for automation of manual processes. This will unlock trapped business value through the use of the most advanced analytical techniques.

THEIA is a cloud-based, subscription service designed to allow clients a high degree of flexibility in accessing their pipeline information and the level of analysis required, whilst at the same time ensuring maximum security for all of their critical data. Over the next twelve months, Penspen will make instant, first-level checking of defects available to every pipeline operator worldwide.

“Working with Penspen and the THEIA environment has been a perfect example of what complimentary skill-sets can achieve, the combination of deep industry expertise coupled with QiO’s AI software services allows customers to dramatically benefit from improved efficiency and safety of their operations. We look forward to enabling Penspen to successfully scale the THEIA environment to their global customers”, said Baz Khuti, QiO’s Co-Founder & CEO.

For further information, please contact us.

Penspen Awarded Global PMC Framework Agreement with ADNOC

November 11, 2019 9:00 am Comments Off

Penspen has been awarded a prestigious Project Management Consultancy (PMC) framework agreement from the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC).

The framework agreement, secured by Penspen’s Middle East and Africa region, is for the provision of PMC services to cover a wide range of requirements on a call-off basis and the supervision of ADNOC’s contractors globally.

It will serve all ADNOC Group companies, catering to the upstream, midstream and downstream segments.

It is envisaged that the agreement will cover PMC contracts for all stages of the project lifecycle, including the global supervision of Front End Engineering and Design (FEED) contractors, Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contractors and licensors. It has been set up to support ADNOC’s continuing growth plans for the Middle East and Africa.

The agreement will run for four years, with an optional two-year extension.

Peter O’Sullivan, Penspen’s CEO, said: “We are honoured to have been awarded this significant contract from ADNOC which enables the effective supervision of the company’s contractors globally. It recognises the strengths of our ‘One Penspen’ approach in ensuring the client receives a uniform and consistently high quality service from the chosen contractors – irrespective of their location.”

Penspen Partners with MJM Energy for the Study of Gas Pipeline Network in Senegal

July 1, 2019 8:30 am Comments Off

Penspen has partnered with MJM Energy, a leading gas and energy consultancy, for the gas-to-power study early development phase in Senegal. Penspen will be providing the key technical services for the sizing and routing of the pipeline network options, plus cost estimating. The integrated MJMEnergy and Penspen team will work closely with the government of Senegal to support the overall development of its gas-to-power strategy. The contract has been awarded by the International Finance Corporation, part of the World Bank, in association with the Senegalese Ministry of Petroleum and Energy.

Significant offshore oil and gas discoveries have transformed the energy outlook in Senegal and the country is now undertaking a major domestic project to bring the benefit of this natural resource to its citizens.

Penspen will undertake technical investigations of the natural gas network scenarios for connecting potential gas consumers with new gas supplies. It will also provide a conceptual design for the gas network infrastructure, a cost estimate and schedule for developing the network, and risk assessments for the design, land access, construction, operation, environmental, social and technical aspects.

MJM Energy will define the gas markets, economic and financial aspects of the project, and develop the institutional framework and business requirements for the new, public-private gas network company required to build, own and operate the network. This scope of work is to focus on defining the objectives and business plan of the new enterprise, as well as its strategy, including the gas market and regulatory requirements, a SWOT analysis and pro forma financial statements.

Peter O’Sullivan, Penspen’s CEO said: “We are pleased to be contributing to the development of Senegal’s domestic gas sector. This important project is a significant milestone for the country in providing access to competitive and clean supplies of energy to its people. We look forward to using our deep technical experience to help Senegal maximise the benefit from the natural gas it has discovered within its territorial waters.”

Penspen Partners with Ankaa Consulting to Expand Asset Integrity Services in Asia

June 17, 2019 8:00 am Comments Off

Penspen, a leading global provider of engineering and project management services to the energy industry, has partnered with asset risk, integrity management and digital solutions services company, Ankaa Consulting, to help bolster our asset integrity offering in the Asia region.

We are currently providing asset integrity services to a number of clients in the region and the agreement will strengthen our presence in the area, by growing our pool of local resources and helping us to gain valuable knowledge and expertise.

Noel Denton, Regional Director, said: “Penspen has operated in Asia for 38 years and grown our team and client base over this time. The agreement will allow us to be even more accessible to our clients in Malaysia and we look forward to developing alongside Ankaa Consulting to create a superior service to all in the Asian market.”

Raza Amin, Managing Director of Ankaa Consulting said: “Ankaa Consulting complements Penspen service offerings and together we are able to meet all aspects of our clients’ risk and integrity management needs, including delivering a customised asset integrity management digital system, fully integrated with our client’s enterprise system. Our partnership provides Ankaa Consulting with a wider market foot-print to serve our customers across Asia and strengthens our joint technical capabilities in Malaysia.”

World Day for Safety & Health at Work: Top Tips for Driving for Work Safely

April 28, 2019 8:00 am Comments Off

At Penspen, driving is a major risk. We’re marking World Day for Safety & Health at Work 2019 with some of our top tips for driving safely for work.

We are committed to the goal of Zero Harm and have established clear guidance when driving for work, to help reduce accidents on the road.

According to the World Health Organisation, road traffic accidents are the 8^th leading cause of death across all age groups and have increased to 1.35 million per year.

Safety is our number one priority, which is why we implement our company driving rules throughout Penspen.

We aim to drive SMART:

Secure – wear your seatbelt and secure loads

Manage – plan and assess journeys and check vehicles before setting off

Alert – be alert to hazards, fit and fully rested before journeys

Reduce – reduce your speed to road, weather and vehicle conditions

Telephone – do not make or receive phone calls whilst driving

Using this guidance, we’ve put together the following tips for staying safe when driving for work.

Tips for Driving for Work Safely

Set your mobile phone to ‘Do Not Disturb’ while driving

This will prevent distractions from your mobile phone by all stopping calls or texts from coming through whilst you are driving. A message will alert those attempting to contact you that you are currently driving and will respond when you are parked up and it is safe to do so.

Always drive within the speed limit

Travelling at higher speeds can mean that you have less time to react to potential hazards around you and will increase stopping time.

Plan your journey in advance and allow adequate time to reach your destination

When planning your journey, ensure you include enough time for regular rest breaks and consider any foreseeable changes to traffic and road conditions, which may increase your journey time.

Check the weather forecast before setting off

When driving, wet weather and slippery road surfaces can increase stopping distances, while fog can reduce visibility, leading to an increased risk of accidents.

Service and maintain your vehicle on a regular basis

Check your vehicle before every journey and ensure that you check the tyres, oil and brakes on a regular basis. If you notice any issues with your vehicle, get these looked at immediately.

When travelling in winter, ensure you have the following emergency supplies within your vehicle: a fully charged mobile phone, a change of warm/waterproof clothing, emergency food, a warm drink, salt and a shovel.

Adverse winter weather conditions can cause additional hazards when driving. Assess your journey and take note of advice on whether or not it is safe to travel.

Take regular breaks when driving long distances

Take a 15-minute break for every 2 hours of driving and stop in a safe place if you are feeling tired.

When possible, try to avoid driving at high risk times

Between 02:00-06:00am and 14:00-16:00pm are likely to be the higher risk times to drive. Avoid driving when you would usually be sleeping; if necessary, arrange an overnight.

Ensure you have access to emergency equipment within your vehicle

This can include: a first aid kit, a high-visibility jacket and a hazard warning triangle for use in the event of a breakdown.

Penspen Opens New Office in Aberdeen Following Growing Demand for Services

April 12, 2019 1:03 pm Comments Off

Penspen, a leading global provider of engineering, asset integrity and project management services to the energy industry, has opened a new office in Aberdeen following a growth in demand for its engineering and asset integrity services in the area.

Opened in March, Penspen can now deliver projects for both local and global clients from the office as well as grow its presence in the area. Based in the City’s Queen’s Gardens, the new location allows the company’s specialist consultants to work more closely and efficiently with its North East clients, to deliver services such as conceptual engineering, field development studies, operational support, independent design reviews, process engineering services, life extension and decommissioning services for Offshore and Onshore developments.

Penspen resources include a number of highly experienced engineers, many with over 25 years of North Sea experience across the full EPIC project cycle.

Peter O’Sullivan, Penspen’s chief executive officer, commented:

“Our new office opening in Aberdeen marks a positive return to the City. We have many exciting clients in the North East and it is an important base for us to have.

“Having an office there will present more opportunities for us to work even closer with our clients, an important factor when delivering projects as efficiently and effectively as we can for clients. Our team has a wealth of knowledge and experience and we will be able to provide a range of services to our new and existing clients.”

Fraser Ross, Engineering Lead for Aberdeen, comments:

“This is a fantastic and exciting opportunity to re-establish our engineering capability in the local market. Having worked in the previous office for over 10 years, I am proud to be part of the team here, tasked with building the business. Having the full support of Peter and his executive team in addition to our regional offices across the globe has made the process more achievable.”

Penspen and JQEC Awarded Construction Supervision Contract by Kuwait Ministry of Electricity & Water

April 5, 2019 3:36 pm Comments Off

Penspen, a leading global provider of engineering and project management services to the energy industry and Jassim Qabazard Engineering Consultants (JQEC), a Kuwaiti multidisciplinary architectural and engineering consulting company, have signed an agreement with the Ministry of Electricity and Water (MEW), Government of Kuwait for supervision services of five power stations in the country.

The project management consultancy contract, signed in March 2019, will be valid for a duration of three years. Penspen’s team will be responsible for the management and administration of the procurement and construction contractors for the following MEW power stations:

Doha West Power Station
Suwaikh Power Station
Sabiya Power Station
Az Zour Power Station
Al Kheiran Power Station

The procurement and construction contractors’ scope includes residual engineering, detailed engineering (based on requirement), procurement and construction through to the commissioning stages of the power stations.

Penspen’s Executive Vice President Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific, Neale Carter said: “We have already worked extensively with MEW for successful completion of the Phase I (detailed engineering) and are confident that our experience will help the company to deliver its objectives more efficiently. We look forward to a great working partnership.”

Penspen and JQEC have come together for this specific project wherein Penspen’s global technical expertise and JQEC’s local knowledge will help in achieving MEW’s objectives through successful project execution.

Author Archives: Colene Woolcott

Tips for Driving for Work Safely