September 07, 2008

Corus Tubes delivers line pipes for North Sea pipeline ahead of schedule

Corus Tubes rose to the challenge of a recent pipeline project for Apache North Sea by delivering within an extremely tight lead time of just nine weeks in order to meet a lay vessel window of opportunity.

Corus Tubes manufactured and delivered a replacement pipeline for the Forties field, using high frequency induction welded coated line pipe which was laid using the reeling process.

Contracted by Apache to deliver 5.25 kilometer of steel line pipe for use in water depths of approximately 420 feet, the steel line pipe, which is 14 inch in diameter by 16 mm thick, was ordered, manufactured, coated and delivered within nine weeks.

The steel line pipe was manufactured in Corus Tubes' 20 inch mill in Hartlepool, which boasts the world's most powerful induction welding equipment. The pipe was then coated with three layer polypropylene at BSR Pipeline Services, a Corus joint venture operation with Ramco located on the same site as the pipe mills. The pipe was then delivered to Evanton, in the north of Scotland, where it was spooled onto the Apache lay vessel and laid using the reeling method.

Mr Tim Bird business director of Corus Tubes Energy said that "The project with Apache reflects our leading edge capabilities in pipe production and delivery. In the North Sea particularly, where oil and gas oil reserves are reaching maturity and the project life cycle is much shorter, many operators are demanding high quality line pipe which can meet their increased demands of short lead times, cost-effective prices and ultimately reliability and lay ability."

He added that "The success of the project with Apache and the speed at which it was delivered was not only due to our in depth knowledge and capabilities but also the commitment and teamwork from all those involved throughout the supply chain. In particular, our colleagues in Corus Strip Products in South Wales, the 20 mill team in Hartlepool, the commercial energy team in Corby and our joint venture facility, BSR Pipeline Services Limited, without whose co operation the project would not have been completed to such a high standard in such a challenging schedule."

The pipeline, which is located between the Charlie and Bravo platforms in the Forties field is now in place and is ready for tie in, the complete project taking only 95 days from conception to completion.