Stats Group wins big Abu Dhabi subsea pipeline project work
ABU DHABI, December 3, 2022
UK-based Pipeline technology specialist Stats Group said it has been commissioned by UAE-headquartered oil and gas EPC contractor National Petroleum Construction Company (NPCC) to provide pipeline isolation, hot tapping and plugging services to the world’s largest diameter subsea pipeline intervention project, on behalf of a national operating company.
Stats said the project win is the result of its long-term commitment to support localisation in the Gulf region. The company employs more than 80 people and has facilities in Abu Dhabi, Muscat and Doha.
The scope of work will include the hot tapping and double block and bleed isolation of multiple pipelines with diameters ranging from 42' up to 56' in the Middle East region, using Stats SureTap hot tapping machines and its patented BISEP technology.
Mark Gault, Stats Group’s General Manager Middle East, said: “We believe this project to be a first in the world. As far as we are aware, there have been no other subsea intervention projects of this complexity or scale that involve subsea isolations on pipelines of 56” diameter.
"We have made a significant product development investment with three new large-diameter hot tapping machines and the associated isolation assets capable of handling this unique work scope. Relatedly, we are delighted to have increased our Bisep DNV Type Approval status up to 56'," he noted.
Ahmed Al Dhaheri, the Chief Executive of NPCC, a subsidiary of National Marine Dredging Company, expressed delight at the new collaboration with Stats Group.
"We have always been a pioneer in delivering mega projects, and we will continue to support and enhance our clients’ infrastructure to meet the technical, safety and environmental standards required," he stated.
Gault said this was a landmark project for Stats Group and it reinforces the group's credentials for providing innovative subsea hot tapping and high integrity isolation solutions which can address diverse and technical challenges.
“Our strategy of putting in the hard yards in terms of investing in our asset base in the Middle East and in employing and training locally based staff has put us in a strong position to expand further in the region. We are continuing to recruit more staff, not only to support this exciting project with NPCC, but also in response to a broader increase in regional project work following the uncertainties of Covid-related lockdowns,” he stated.
NMDC Group CEO Yasser Zaghloul said: "We are committed to developing a robust infrastructure in the EPC sector, which will benefit the industry, the country and our stakeholders."
"We will continue to invest in new critical infrastructure projects, leveraging our rejuvenated skills to meet our clients' needs, and we look forward to broadening our level of collaboration with key industry players like Stats Group to further solidify our position as the EPC major of choice for global NOCs," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
