ABB: Leading Power and Automation Solutions in Oil & Gas and Beyond
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ABB is a world-leading provider in power and automation technologies for those in the oil and gas, petrochemical, marine, pulp and paper, metals and minerals industries, with increasing emphasis on sustainability and lowering the environmental impact of industry operators.
The ABB Group conducts business in over 100 countries, employing a total of 120,000 people, while the oil, gas and petrochemical sector of the business holds offices in 35 countries – utilising over 10,000 highly skilled workers globally. With a recognised history in the oil and gas market, the division continues to expand its industrial solutions for the hydrocarbon supply chain, providing an all-round approach to production, processing, transportation, storage and distribution.
ABB delivers a range of automation, electrification and technical systems, and services that enable customers to be more effective and competitive in the market. The superior portfolio of products and systems provides reliable solutions to the oil, gas and petrochemical markets. The organisation’s client base consists of all the chief oil and gas companies, such as StatoilHydro, predominantly in the upstream market, as well as the major EPCs. Its oil, gas and petrochemical business is focused across most countries involved in the market, with growing interests in the Middle East and Russia.
Per Erik Holsten, local business unit manager for the oil and gas division of ABB in Norway, highlights the reasons behind the company’s success: “ABB holds a complete portfolio, including a wide range of solutions within our comprehensive integrated operation offerings. We can cover all the ECIT (electrical, control, instruments and telecommunication technology) integration from one supplier with a single point of contact, providing solutions to enhance the performance of our clients. This incorporates increased productivity, boosted oil production and capital, and higher operational efficiency, as well as covering aspects such as energy efficiency.”
From conceptual design to detailed implementation, ABB uses its experienced knowledge of the industry to provide expert execution and service of distributed control and safety systems, SCADA (supervisory control and data acquisition), custody transfer and metering, instrumentation and analytical systems, telecommunications systems, power distribution systems and electrical drive systems for meeting customers’ demands.
The company’s worldwide engineering centres are constantly developing new and proactive technologies for the ever changing and demanding oil and gas industry. Across the globe the Group has participated in a number of complex projects including delivery of a power transmission cable from shore to the Troll offshore field. This project delivers 88MW of power to the platform, enabling the use of green renewable energy.
On Sakhalin Island in Russia the Group has delivered an $80 million telecommunication system delivering communication infrastructure across the length of the island. As one of the leaders in the field of oil and gas power provision, ABB is continuously looking for new contracts and involvement in progressive projects.
The company’s after-care and service concept is one of the key ways in which it sets itself apart from competitors in the marketplace. Providing world-class support ensures that a customer’s investment reaches maximum performance levels and continues to do so throughout the lifecycle. From spare parts and consulting to optimisation and outsourcing services, ABB’s service organisation helps improve equipment productivity, minimise costs and extend the useful equipment life. The company’s unique Service Environment programme takes full responsibility for the operation, service and support of safety and automation systems on both onshore and offshore installations, meeting the industry’s most stringent of demands. Per Erik outlines the programme’s latest developments: “The Service Environment concept is one that is driven by global service levels and, as such, we are launching the programme in the Middle East. The idea behind the concept is providing easy access to systems and information, as well as making the effective management of processes quicker – reducing response times and adding value. We have worked on a number of contracts with our main clients who implemented the Service Environment programme throughout their operations.”
Though ABB has seen sustained success in the oil and gas industry over the past year, benefitting from the global network from which it was founded, the company has been affected by the worldwide economic crisis. Across the whole industry a number of projects have been cancelled or have experienced postponements. However, ABB benefits from being active in a number of diverse markets – including utilities, paper and metal – which brings strength to its potential to survive the current situation, as Per Erik explains: “There are still developments happening and it’s important in this current climate to be 100 per cent focused on the projects that are going ahead, and remaining competitive in the marketplace. In the coming years we would like to grow to become the best in all of our key markets and with our technologies. In some cases we already occupy the top position and our aim is to build on this success, particularly in areas such as the Middle East and Russia. These are huge markets and we are looking towards both short and long-term goals.”
ABB AS
Services: Power and automation technologies