Innovative De-Watering Pump Station Design
We spearheaded the conceptual design for a groundbreaking de-watering pump station, responsible for the creation of Europe’s largest drainage station located at the Afsluitdijk in The Netherlands. This ambitious project features two pumping stations, each equipped with three massive pumps, boasting a combined capacity of 235 m³/sec – enough to fill an Olympic swimming pool in just 10 seconds. Each 1.5 MW fish-safe pump weighs 90 tons, stands 12 meters tall, and has an impeller diameter of 4.6 meters.
Enhancing Pipeline Capacity
We took on the challenge of increasing the capacity of one of the world’s largest crude oil pipelines, which transports approximately 1% of the global crude oil supply. Embedded within the customer’s organization, we developed solutions to boost the transportation volume from 67 MTA to 82 MTA. This 1500 km, 1-meter diameter pipeline upgrade involved installing a new pump station, adding six new pumps to the existing 15 pump stations, and hydraulically upgrading 16 existing pumps. The project was executed under rigorous safety conditions, maintaining 24/7 pipeline operation through challenging climates and terrains. Additionally, we integrated an energy-saving module to reduce the energy consumption of the 420 MW/hr installations.
Extending Production Platform Life
This project aimed to assess the safety and operational viability of existing pumping equipment on a production platform, ensuring it operates without posing hazards to personnel. Our scope included a high-level review to identify potential unrevealed failures that could harm personnel directly or indirectly. We focused on five critical safety areas:
- Preventing equipment-initiated fires
- Reducing injuries from rotating parts
- Mitigating injury risks from sprays
- Addressing secondary safety impacts from equipment failure and unavailability
- Ensuring sealing systems comply with industry standards
Our thorough analysis and subsequent design adaptations have significantly enhanced the safety and longevity of the platform’s pumping systems.