Aggreko complete largest load test in Middle East

Aggreko supplied National Petroleum Construction Company (NPCC) with two load bank packages totalling 35MVA in Abu Dhabi and Iran during the final commissioning stages of the Shell Nowrooz and Soroosh permanent production platforms.

The package which consisted of a 25MVA load bank and transformer was delivered to the NPCC fabrication yard in Mussafah, Abu Dhabi and an additional 10MVA load bank and transformer was supplied to NPCC fabrication yard Qeshm Island.

NPCC tested performance, synchronization and load sharing of the gas turbines installed on board the Soroosh Production Platform-1 Topside (SPP1-1 Deck) and the Nowrooz Production Platform (NPP2). The load bank package for the SPP1-1 Deck, was delivered, installed and commissioned within two days signing the contract. As well as providing 24 hour day availability, the Aggreko loadbank equipment is specifically designed to be mobilised and installed in a very short time span.

Munir Al Issa, Aggreko Sales Manager said "With the Soroosh and Nowrooz oil fields located 90 kilometres off the coast of Iran, thoroughly testing the load capabilities of the installed turbines at varying conditions was extremely important. Power failure once the platforms were mobilised to the oilfields would result in extensive and costly delays to oil production."

Al Issa continued, "We have completed a number of projects for Shell over the past two years including the Shell EA FPSO (Floating Production, Storage and Offloading) Vessel, the Soroosh Early Production Facility - ESP-1, and power for 'spin tests' on electrical submersible pumps (ESP's) for the Soroosh and Nowrooz oilfields. Due to our excellent performance on these contracts, Shell had no hesitation in recommending Aggreko to NPCC for their load testing requirements".