Qatargas, the world’s largest LNG producing company, has awarded a multi-million pound 10-year pipeline isolation equipment contract to UK-based process and pipeline engineering company STATS Group.

STATS will design, manufacture, test and supply a new range of high integrity Remote Tecno Plugs for 32-inch, 34-inch and 38-inch pipelines which will become part of Qatargas’ Emergency Pipeline Repair System (EPRS) for production facilities in the Arabian Gulf’s North Field, where gas and condensate is transferred by pipelines to Ras Laffan City for export.

This is the first project STATS have been awarded by Qatargas and the company’s most significant win to date in the Middle East. The company is recruiting an extra 20 staff to support the Qatari project and other major pipeline isolation contracts which are already secured in 2012 and beyond.

The installation of the Remote Tecno Plugs will provide positive isolation at the required location and provide a safe environment to carry out quick and effective repair on subsea pipelines in the event of a damage incident.

The Aberdeen-based pipeline isolation and integrity specialist will also provide call-out services to maintain the equipment in a state of readiness as well as field personnel to assist in any required deployment of the system.

STATS Group chief executive officer, Pete Duguid, said the Qatargas award would establish his company’s reputation as a global leader in EPRS development and implementation.

Duguid said: “To be awarded a contract of this magnitude underlines the confidence Qatargas has in STATS and our unique technologies and our ability to respond to all its pipeline integrity and repair issues.

“This award puts us in a very strong position to take advantage of the emerging EPRS sector in the Middle East and gives us a platform to establish our credentials as a leader in this type of work on a global scale.”

“Qatar is investing billions of dollars in developing a world class gas supply infrastructure and the operators are focussed on providing the highest standards of integrity across their assets. We are pleased to be able to support Qatargas in establishing a benchmark for other global EPRS projects,” he added.

Last year the company appointed Vikas Shangari as business development manager for the Middle East, based in Doha. In addition to supporting the Qatargas project, Shangari will focus on expanding the STATS brand and technologies in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and across the Gulf States. – TradeArabia News Service