Intertek completes calibration contract for Papua New Guinea pipeline
14 Aug 2014
Intertek, the leading quality solutions provider to industries worldwide, has completed calibration services for Oil Search Limited (OSL) on its Papua New Guinea export pipeline in a contract worth £600,000 (2.8 million PGK/US$1 million).
The project saw Intertek calibrate pipe provers to support the operator in maintaining the high accuracy of its measurement and ensuring the correct metering of hydrocarbons prior to export.
Raymond Pirie, Vice President of Intertek’s global Exploration and Production business line, said: “Oil and gas companies need measurement traceability to determine the accuracy of their equipment. If companies don’t perform regular calibration, the financial implications can be considerable as there is no way to prove what quantities are being exported. This is also an essential element for hydrocarbon allocation.
“Intertek calibrated the provers at the Central Processing Facility in the Southern Highlands Province and the Kumul Marine Terminal in the Papua Gulf for OSL. We utilised equipment and expertise from our Aberdeen operation, overcoming many logistical challenges to access the more remote areas of the country.”
The crude oil pipeline is 170km long and carries hydrocarbon from the Central Processing Facility at Kutubu to the Kumul Marine Terminal. Calibration determined the volume of the pipe provers used to verify the metering of crude oil from the Central Processing Facility, which is sent to the Kumul Terminal for export.
Daniel Wood, Senior Projects Engineer at Oil Search Limited, said: “Intertek provided an effectively delivered calibration service. Their site technicians were flexible in trying conditions and their professionalism was a credit to the organisation and the people involved. Their work on site was of a high standard and their compliance to our company procedures was first rate.”
Intertek provides metering, allocation and calibration services to the oil and gas and cargo industries on an international basis through its Exploration and Production and Commodities global business lines. The solutions it offers include hydrocarbon accounting, flow metering services, calibration, metering consultancy and hydrocarbon accounting training.
Oil Search was established in Papua New Guinea in 1929 and is the country’s largest oil producer. Over 95% of its assets are in Papua New Guinea, where it holds oil and gas production and exploration licences plus a 29% interest in the US$19 billion Papua New Guinea LNG Project. This world class liquefied natural gas (LNG) development, which delivered its first LNG sales in May 2014, will quadruple Oil Search’s production volumes from 2015 onwards and transform the company into a major LNG exporter.
Oil Search has a comprehensive exploration and appraisal programme to underpin LNG expansion in Papua New Guinea and also has exploration interests in the Middle East and North Africa. It is listed on the Australian and Port Moresby stock exchanges, with a market capitalisation of almost US$14 billion.
About Intertek
Intertek is a leading quality solutions provider to industries worldwide. From auditing and inspection, to testing, training, advisory, quality assurance and certification, Intertek adds value for its customers by helping improve the quality and safety of their products, assets and processes. With a network of more than 1,000 laboratories and offices and over 36,000 people in more than 100 countries, Intertek supports companies’ success in the global marketplace by helping customers to meet end users’ expectations for safety, sustainability, performance, integrity and desirability in virtually any market worldwide. Visit www.intertek.com
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Metering and Calibration