ABB secures $21m deal for UAE oil pipeline project

With a length of 400km and a diameter of 48inches, the pipeline from Habshan in Abu Dhabi, which links to the Abu Dhabi Company for Onshore Oil Operation (ADCO) facility, will transport an estimated 1.5 million barrels of crude oil per day to the main terminal in Fujairah in the northern Emirates.

The pipeline will develop a reliable export capability on the eastern seaboard of UAE and reduce shipping congestion in the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow waterway through which Persian Gulf oil producers ship their crude exports.

Construction on the fast track project began in early 2008 and is scheduled to be completed by August 2011.

"As a proven performer in the oil and gas industry, ABB is proud to be a part of this landmark project in the UAE,"

said Bjarte Pedersen head of the Process Automation Division in the Middle East and Africa for ABB.

"Our comprehensive automation system will help the owner, International Petroleum Investment Company (IPIC), get the maximum value out of their control system investment, while providing a secure evolution path forward to help them maintain their competitiveness and reach their productivity targets in the years to come."

As part of the agreement with CPECC, ABB will supply a range of electrical equipment, including 33kV gas-insulated switchgear, ring main units, capacitor banks and resistors. ABB will also deliver, protection panels, fault monitoring systems and substation control and monitoring systems, all of which are based on ABB's System 800xA - an award-winning solution which has the unique capability to integrate the process, electrical and safety systems into a single system.

ABB's System 800xA solution has improved industrial productivity, safety, and operational profitability for customers in virtually every industry and every region, from process industries such as oil and gas, petrochemicals, cement, and mining to traditional electric and water utilities to alternative energy production such as solar and bioethanol.

ABB is a world leader in power and automation technologies that enable utility and industry customers to improve their performance while lowering environmental impact.

The ABB Group of companies operates in around 100 countries and employs more than 120,000 people.