High speed actuator deliveries help to get the gas moving in Egypt

10/05/2007


High speed actuator deliveries help to get the gas moving in Egypt

Rotork Fluid Systems has successfully completed a fast-track valve actuation contract for a new strategic natural gas distribution pipeline in Egypt.

The contract involved the manufacture of specialised gas-over-oil actuators for main line isolating valves on the 135 kilometre Shoukaur to Hurghada pipeline. Eleven actuators were required on a fourteen week delivery schedule within the period including Christmas and New Year.

Built at Rotork Fluid Systems' factory in Lucca, Italy, the scotch-yoke RFS Model GO 130 actuators will operate 24 inch Class 600 ball valves manufactured by Egyptian valvemaker Evaco. Rotork gas-over-oil actuators are specifically adapted for valve control in the remote locations traversed by pipelines by using the pressure of the gas in the pipeline itself to operate the valve. In addition to the standard gas-over-oil specification, actuators for this contract were fitted with valvemaker requested options comprising torque limiting devices to protect valve stems and integral back-up accumulators with a stand-alone capacity of four valve strokes.

The Shoukaur to Hurghada pipeline is owned by the Egyptian gas transportation company GASCO, who are organising engineering, procurement, construction supervision, commissioning and start-up. Construction of the USD 60 million project - which commenced in May 2006 and will be completed by mid 2007 - is being performed by Egyptian engineering contractor Petrojet. The completed pipeline will supply natural gas at the rate of up to 5 MMSCMD (5 million standard cubic metres per day) to the Egyptian provinces of Shoukaur and Hurghada.

Rotork Fluid Systems' performance in securing the successful completion of this important contract was applauded by GASCO Materials General Manager Mr. Karem Mahmoud during a recent visit to the Lucca factory.

In the accompanying photograph Mr. Mahmoud is pictured (left) with some of the actuators and Rotork Fluid Systems International Area Sales Manager Cristian Corelli.