PDO has announced the successful Omani manufacture of the largest process vessel in its 80-year history.
The 46-metre long vessel, which is four metres in diameter and weighs 240 tonnes, was fabricated by PDO contractor Special Technical Services (STS) at its Nizwa workshop.
It is the main component in the acid gas removal unit which is being built at the company’s Yibal Khuff (YK) mega project to remove carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulphide from produced hydrocarbon gas.
The vessel – known as C-4001 – is internally clad with stainless steel and took 16 months to complete, using imported raw materials from Austria.
A total of 22 Omanis were involved in the mechanical design and construction.
Designed by PDO and Petrofac Oman, it was part of an order of 21 large vessels awarded to STS by the YK project. The project is also employing Arabian Industries in Sohar to make further 14 large vessels, and one of those is nearly of the same size as C-4001. The orders were placed after a competitive tendering process between Omani and international companies.
STS has already fabricated even larger ones in Oman, up to 70 metres long, five metres in diameter and 800 tonnes in weight, using different types of materials.
Abdullah Al Jabri, delivery manager, Yibal Khuff facility, PDO, said that vessels of any size could now be fabricated and transported inside Oman with Sohar and Duqm ports now fully operational. Al Jabri added: “This is a great milestone for the project, as well as for the country, and proof there is no limit to what can be achieved by Omani workers if we set our minds to it.”
C-4001 will soon be transported to the site where it will be installed, along with hundreds of other major pieces of equipment, which are due to arrive in the months ahead.
The Yibal Khuff project is progressing well with 92% of the engineering work complete, and most of the procurement orders have been placed. Construction on site is also showing visible progress with the main pipe rack installed and the erection of equipment, tanks and piping in full swing.
