Foster Wheeler AG (Foster Wheeler) said that its UK-headquartered subsidiary, Foster Wheeler Energy Limited, a part of its Global Engineering and Construction Group, has received engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract from Gassco AS (Gassco) for the implementation of the blow-down system modification at its Zeebrugge terminal in Belgium.
Foster Wheeler was also granted the concept development and pre-engineering of the blow-down system at Gassco’s Dunkerque terminal in France subsequent to its completion of the study phase.
A blow-down system is used to safely depressurize the process areas of a gas terminal in the event of an emergency.
The Foster Wheeler contract values for both projects were not disclosed and will be included in the company’s second-quarter 2009 bookings.
The EPC work at Zeebrugge will be executed by Foster Wheeler’s Teesside operation at Middlesbrough in the UK. Foster Wheeler’s Upstream Oil & Gas Division in Reading, UK, earlier completed a study for Zeebrugge to review the blow-down system and to recommend options to reduce the risk of escalation in the inlet and process areas in the event of a fire, which study was followed by a pre-engineering contract. Completion of the project is expected toward the end of 2010.
The concept development and pre-engineering work for Dunkerque will involve further development of the proposed solution, identified in the completed study, to optimise the blow-down system to meet venting time recommendations for the fire-affected areas. This work will support Gassco in seeking approval to proceed with project implementation.
“These two awards from Gassco offer us an opportunity to build on our excellent working relationship with Gassco at both terminals, and demonstrate the added value, high quality and innovation delivered by our specialist upstream team in developing technically viable and cost-effective solutions to meet our clients’ objectives,” said Michael J. Beaumont, chairman and chief executive officer of Foster Wheeler Energy Limited.
Jan Deckmyn, HES&Q manager, Gassco, said, “Safety is the top priority for Gassco at its Zeebrugge and Dunkerque terminals. The work being performed by Foster Wheeler at these terminals will ensure that Gassco meets its objectives of safety improvement and compliance with all safety rules and regulations at these two locations.”