- Email: [email protected]
New center strengthens John Crane presence in Gulf region
NEWS
Camera shows the source of leaks An infra-red camera that enables the operator to see the source of a leak has been introduced by Flir Systems. It can detect small leaks from several meters, and larger leaks from hundreds of meters away. The thermal imaging technique offers a number of potential benefits compared with the widely used ‘sniffing’ techniques. In addition to making VOC leaks visible, it is able to scan large areas quickly, increasing inspection speed, and can be used to scan moving vehicles. The camera will detect a wide range of hydrocarbon gases, and can be used to scan entire petrochemical facilities, miles of pipelines, transfer stations and tankers. The camera has an optimized, narrowband cold filter whose spectrum has been specially selected to detect these gases, and it can detect gas leak levels down to 5 g/h. Their absorption characteristics mean that gas leaks appear as black smoke on the camera screen. The video output allows the inspection to be recorded for documentation. It is designed for operation in harsh
environments and in a temperature range from –15°C to 50°C. Contacts: Europe: FLIR Systems Ltd, 2 Kings Hill Avenue, Kings Hill, West Malling, Kent ME19 4AQ, UK. Tel: +44 1732 220011, Fax: +44 1732 843707, Web: www.flirthermography.co.uk USA: FLIR Systems Inc, 25 Esquire Road, North Billerica, MA 01862, USA. Tel: +1 978 901 8000, Fax: +1 978 901 8885, Web: www.flir.com
Editor’s comment: This looks like a very useful piece of equipment for rapidly scanning plant or even vehicles for leaks. It will help to rapidly locate bad leaks. Unfortunately it does not appear to provide a sufficiently sensitive reading to meet current valve and gasket leakage criteria. Unless the editorial calculations have dropped several zeros somewhere, I estimate the 5 g/h to be about 2 atm cm3/s of methane, which is several orders of magnitude higher than current emission testing limit values. Equating back to liquid leakage, which can be helpful, 5 g/h is about two drops per minute.
COMPANY NEWS New center strengthens John Crane presence in Gulf region John Crane has increased representation of the company in the Middle East with the opening of a Customer Support Center in Abu Dhabi. Located in Abu Dhabi’s Mussafah Industrial Area, the new center has been opened in conjunction with the local partner of John Crane, Abu Dhabi Oilfield Services (ADOS). Facilities include a fast-track workshop staffed by fully trained and experienced John Crane engineers. It offers a range of engineering, failure analysis,
refurbishment and static pressure testing services, plus a round-theclock, on-site emergency service capability. Asset management and reliability optimization services are also provided. Contacts: John Crane EAA, Nash Road, Trafford Park, Manchester M17 1SS, UK. Tel: +44 161 886 5993, Fax: +44 161 886 5990, Email: [email protected], Web: www. johncrane.co.uk Abu Dhabi Oilfield Services. Tel: +971 2 551 5530.
Joint venture to build largest pump repair facility in Saudi Arabia The Al Rushaid Group of Dhahran, Saudi Arabia and Flowserve Corporation of Dallas, Texas have ratified an agreement to build the largest original equipment manufacturer (OEM) pump repair, manufacturing and training facility in the Middle East. The complex is to be located at the Al Rushaid Oil Field Center in Dhahran, and is expected to be fully operational in October 2007. Designed specifically to support Aramco, Sabic, SEC, SWCC and other major industries within Saudi Arabia and the surrounding Gulf countries, the complex will have the capability to address the service and
repair needs of all pump products. Capabilities will include pump manufacturing, pump set packaging, parts manufacture, pump improvement engineering and engineered services. Field service along with installation and commissioning will also be provided. Contacts: Flowserve Corporation, 5215 N. O’Connor Boulevard, Suite 2300, Irving, TX 75039, USA. Tel: +1 972 443 6500, Web: www.flowserve.com Al Rushaid Group, PO Box 31685, AlKhobar 31952, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Tel: +966 3 893 3333, Email: corporate@ al-rushaid.com, Web: www.al-rushaid.com
British Valve & Actuator Association relocates
The GasFind IR camera enables the operator to see the source of a leak from some distance.
Sealing Technology August 2006
The British Valve & Actuator Association (BVAA) has moved to a new headquarters in Banbury, Oxfordshire. The new HQ is designed to provide the BVAA with the facilities it needs to provide a service to members following a three-year period of growth in
membership and services to members. Contact: British Valve & Actuator Association, 9 Manor Park, Banbury, Oxfordshire OX16 3TB, UK.Tel: +44 1295 221270, Fax: +1 1295 268965, Email: [email protected], Web: www.bvaa.org.uk
3
Camera shows the source of leaks An infra-red camera that enables the operator to see the source of a leak has been introduced by Flir Systems. It can detect small leaks from several meters, and larger leaks from hundreds of meters away. The thermal imaging technique offers a number of potential benefits compared with the widely used ‘sniffing’ techniques. In addition to making VOC leaks visible, it is able to scan large areas quickly, increasing inspection speed, and can be used to scan moving vehicles. The camera will detect a wide range of hydrocarbon gases, and can be used to scan entire petrochemical facilities, miles of pipelines, transfer stations and tankers. The camera has an optimized, narrowband cold filter whose spectrum has been specially selected to detect these gases, and it can detect gas leak levels down to 5 g/h. Their absorption characteristics mean that gas leaks appear as black smoke on the camera screen. The video output allows the inspection to be recorded for documentation. It is designed for operation in harsh
environments and in a temperature range from –15°C to 50°C. Contacts: Europe: FLIR Systems Ltd, 2 Kings Hill Avenue, Kings Hill, West Malling, Kent ME19 4AQ, UK. Tel: +44 1732 220011, Fax: +44 1732 843707, Web: www.flirthermography.co.uk USA: FLIR Systems Inc, 25 Esquire Road, North Billerica, MA 01862, USA. Tel: +1 978 901 8000, Fax: +1 978 901 8885, Web: www.flir.com
Editor’s comment: This looks like a very useful piece of equipment for rapidly scanning plant or even vehicles for leaks. It will help to rapidly locate bad leaks. Unfortunately it does not appear to provide a sufficiently sensitive reading to meet current valve and gasket leakage criteria. Unless the editorial calculations have dropped several zeros somewhere, I estimate the 5 g/h to be about 2 atm cm3/s of methane, which is several orders of magnitude higher than current emission testing limit values. Equating back to liquid leakage, which can be helpful, 5 g/h is about two drops per minute.
COMPANY NEWS New center strengthens John Crane presence in Gulf region John Crane has increased representation of the company in the Middle East with the opening of a Customer Support Center in Abu Dhabi. Located in Abu Dhabi’s Mussafah Industrial Area, the new center has been opened in conjunction with the local partner of John Crane, Abu Dhabi Oilfield Services (ADOS). Facilities include a fast-track workshop staffed by fully trained and experienced John Crane engineers. It offers a range of engineering, failure analysis,
refurbishment and static pressure testing services, plus a round-theclock, on-site emergency service capability. Asset management and reliability optimization services are also provided. Contacts: John Crane EAA, Nash Road, Trafford Park, Manchester M17 1SS, UK. Tel: +44 161 886 5993, Fax: +44 161 886 5990, Email: [email protected], Web: www. johncrane.co.uk Abu Dhabi Oilfield Services. Tel: +971 2 551 5530.
Joint venture to build largest pump repair facility in Saudi Arabia The Al Rushaid Group of Dhahran, Saudi Arabia and Flowserve Corporation of Dallas, Texas have ratified an agreement to build the largest original equipment manufacturer (OEM) pump repair, manufacturing and training facility in the Middle East. The complex is to be located at the Al Rushaid Oil Field Center in Dhahran, and is expected to be fully operational in October 2007. Designed specifically to support Aramco, Sabic, SEC, SWCC and other major industries within Saudi Arabia and the surrounding Gulf countries, the complex will have the capability to address the service and
repair needs of all pump products. Capabilities will include pump manufacturing, pump set packaging, parts manufacture, pump improvement engineering and engineered services. Field service along with installation and commissioning will also be provided. Contacts: Flowserve Corporation, 5215 N. O’Connor Boulevard, Suite 2300, Irving, TX 75039, USA. Tel: +1 972 443 6500, Web: www.flowserve.com Al Rushaid Group, PO Box 31685, AlKhobar 31952, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Tel: +966 3 893 3333, Email: corporate@ al-rushaid.com, Web: www.al-rushaid.com
British Valve & Actuator Association relocates
The GasFind IR camera enables the operator to see the source of a leak from some distance.
Sealing Technology August 2006
The British Valve & Actuator Association (BVAA) has moved to a new headquarters in Banbury, Oxfordshire. The new HQ is designed to provide the BVAA with the facilities it needs to provide a service to members following a three-year period of growth in
membership and services to members. Contact: British Valve & Actuator Association, 9 Manor Park, Banbury, Oxfordshire OX16 3TB, UK.Tel: +44 1295 221270, Fax: +1 1295 268965, Email: [email protected], Web: www.bvaa.org.uk
3