Rolls-Royce ME business boosted by Dolphin contract
Posted: 13 January 2004
Rolls-Royce, a leading provider of gas turbines for global energy
markets, was confirmed as the supplier of six mechanical drive industrial
Trent Dry Low Emission (DLE) compression packages. The agreement
signed at a ceremony in Doha, Qatar is valued at $107 million and
forms a vital component of the approximately $3.5 billion Dolphin
Gas Project.
“This project marks two very significant ‘firsts’,”
said Jim Finley, Executive vice president Business Development for
Rolls-Royce Energy. “For Rolls-Royce it marks the first installation
of the industrial Trent mechanical drive packages. In addition it
is the first time that an international energy network will connect
the UAE, Qatar and Oman nations,” he said.
Based on the proven aero Trent aircraft engine, the industrial Trent
is the latest product for energy applications from Rolls-Royce,
and the most advanced aero derivative industrial gas turbine available
today. The Dolphin project installation, which will utilize state-of-the-art
Rolls-Royce dry low emission technology, represents the first application
of the product in gas compression service.
The Rolls-Royce industrial Trent packages will drive natural gas
compressors to provide front-end gas boosting for the underwater
pipeline, supplying gas from Ras Laffan, Qatar, to the Emirate of
Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates. Each Trent package will drive
a Dresser-Rand DATUM centrifugal gas compressor.
“Naturally we are very pleased to have been selected as a
major supplier to help facilitate the trading of natural gas between
these nations,” said Finley. “The announcement also
vindicates Rolls-Royce’s decision to strengthen its presence
in the Middle East which has grown and strengthened steadily over
the years. Today the company’s Middle East regional office,
based in the Dubai Airport Free Zone comprises a total of 12 executives
covering the full spectrum of Rolls-Royce’s global businesses.
Business units include Commercial Marine, Naval Marine, Energy,
defence aerospace, corporate and international.
The Dolphin project features a 400 km-plus sub-sea pipeline between
Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Shareholders in the project
are the Government of Abu Dhabi with 51 per cent, Total, 24.5 per cent, and Occidental
Petroleum, 24.5 per cent.
Initially two billion cubic feet per day of natural gas will be
transported to the United Arab Emirates. One of the largest energy-related
projects currently undertaken in the Middle East, it is projected
to produce and supply natural gas to the Emirates for the next 25
years, starting in 2006.
The equipment will be packaged at the Rolls-Royce Mount Vernon,
Ohio, USA facility, for delivery between the 2nd and 3rd quarters
of 2005.
About Rolls-Royce
Rolls-Royce plc operates in four global markets - civil
aerospace, defence aerospace, marine and energy. It is investing
in technology and capability that can be exploited in each of these
sectors to create a competitive range of products.
The success of these products is demonstrated by the company’s
rapid and substantial gains in market share over recent years. As
a result, engine deliveries have grown and the company now has a
total of 54,000 gas turbines in service worldwide. The investments
in product, capability and infrastructure to gain this market position
create high barriers to entry.
Rolls-Royce has a broad customer base comprising more than 500
airlines, 4,000 corporate and utility aircraft and helicopter operators,
160 armed forces and more than 2,000 marine customers, including
50 navies. The company has energy customers in nearly 120 countries.
Rolls-Royce employs around 36,000 people, of which 22,000 are in
the UK. Forty per cent of its employees are based outside the UK
- including 5,000 in the rest of Europe and 8,000 in North America.
Most of the engines in service will have operational lives of 25
years or more, generating an assured aftermarket demand for the
provision of spare parts and services. The company's strategy is
to maximise aftermarket revenues, which have increased by 60 per
cent over the past five years due to the development of a comprehensive
services capability.
Annual sales total nearly £6 billion, of which 50 per cent
currently comes from aftermarket services. The order book stands
at more than £17 billion, which, together with aftermarket
demand, provides visibility as to future activity levels.
For more information see www.rolls-royce.com
Posted by Richard Price,
Editor Pipeline Magazine
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