FLOWSERVE
Space is a premium commodity on a floating production , storage and offloading unit ( FPSO ). Offshore oil and gas is a key market for Flowserve , which leads the world when it comes to flow control , but outside that industry it ’ s not always understood what a critical role pumps , valves and actuators play on a production platform , nor the amount of room these take up on an oil rig .
“ The most expensive real estate in the world is the back of an offshore platform ,” says Ronaldo Marques , Vice President – Supply Chain , and he should know , having over a 25-year career led strategic procurement and supply chain for some of the most recognized O & G companies . These include Texaco , Chevron , and most recently Shell , where he was responsible for an annual spend of $ 9bn . He joined Flowserve in April 2017 , attracted by the opportunity to make a real difference in a company that recognized the need to integrate its supply chain operations and bring this vital aspect of the business into the heart of its strategic decision making .
Let ’ s look again at the FPSO example . Pumps and valves are the core of the equipment , but the smart part of the installation is the actuator which controls the flow . More than a million of Flowserve ’ s Limitorque division actuators have been installed around the world , and some have been in operation for more than 50 years . Their ruggedness and reliability are legendary . Recently a client constructing a new FPSO found there was not enough space on the platform to accommodate the large conventional actuator selected to operate it . The Flowserve design allowed construction of the FPSO to proceed according to the originally planned layouts , with no need for costly and invasive redesign . It also ended up saving around 2,000 kg ( 4,400 lb ) in weight . Usually , production modules on FPSOs are installed in close proximity , explains Marques . “ Because FPSOs carry refinery-grade heavy equipment on a marine vessel , managing weight translates directly into savings in capital expenditure . Lowering weight by just one ton ( 2,200 lb ) can result in construction
74 February 2018