CRC Evans, a leading provider of welding, technology and coating services, has successfully completed its work scope to deliver a range of welding services to support First E&P’s Alpha Project located offshore Nigeria.
Project Alpha is a greenfield development and entails development of the Anyala and Madu fields which lie 45 km off the Niger Delta, with production being tied back to a floating production, storage and offloading facility (FPSO).
Westfield Energy Resources contracted CRC Evans to provide full welding services to its pipelay barge, the S-lay vessel DLB Kenenna. In all, the company successfully completed more than 3,800 welds on two 20.8 km and one 5.5 km pipelines. The work was carried out in association with its regional partner, Ripen Marine Contractors.
In carrying out the work, CRC Evans utilized its flagship Dual Torch P-625 external welding equipment. Specifically designed for large, demanding projects or where high production is required, the dual-torch external welding system can double the production capacity compared with a single torch system. An onboard computer ensures precise control of welding parameters enabling storage of a real-time log of essential weld data for future processing.
The full work scope of the multiple-million contract also included project management and engineering, associated services and requirements.
An integral element of completing the work was training a local Nigerian crew at the company’s onshore facility in Nigeria, prior to vessel deployment. The company set up a training facility, which saw 20 welders and two bevel operators trained over the course of the month, to use welding equipment and adhere to company and project safety standards.
“With support from Ripen, we established the training facility and had it up and running in less than a week,” said Tom Feteris, Offshore Director, Zeewolde at CRC Evans. “This demonstrates our commitment and capability to quickly and efficiently set up a training facility in whichever country we work, to support the skills development of the local workforce.
“Aside from the successful completion of the work scope, this part of the story is just as important. We are absolutely committed to meeting local requirements and helping countries grow by expanding the knowledge base of local talent.
“We are proud of our contribution to this project and the opportunities we had to support and enhance the skills of the local workforce.”
Although CRC Evans has been working on projects in Nigeria for more than 20 years, the Alpha Project was the first time it had worked with Westfield Energy Resources. The performance on the project was so successful that the company has now awarded a new, larger contract to carry out welding services on a project in India later this year.
“We’re very pleased that we could support Westfield’s maiden project in Nigeria and that their satisfaction with the work that was completed resulted in them putting their faith in us to carry out a bigger project on their behalf,” said Mr. Feteris.
