Imtech Supplies HVAC System to Marathon Platform

On December 19, 2014, Heerema Fabrication Group (Zwijndrecht) awarded Imtech Marine the contract to supply the HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning) system to the 6,000-ton Alba B3 Greenfield compression platform, which is currently under construction for Marathon E.G. Production Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Marathon Oil Corporation.

Kees de Kruyf, Imtech Marine Sales Director Global Offshore, says: “A dedicated team from Imtech Marine is deployed on the project, and many of the engineers have more than 25 years of experience. Our project team worked very closely with engineering company, Iv-Oil & Gas, on fine-tuning the Basic Design of the system. Heerema Fabrication Group and Iv-Oil & Gas are jointly executing the EPC scope (Engineering, Procurement and Construction). We are ‘system responsible’, which is important, as HVAC works closely together with all the other disciplines: from Electronic and Instrumentation to Automation.” The HVAC system delivery includes air handling units, fan coil units, chillers, ducting and switchboards.

Maximizing loads

“Our experience about how to make the HVAC systems more efficient and specifically how to save weight is key. It helps main contractors developing and improving the Basic of Design (BOD) and the operators when they are building the jacket and increases the maximum loads that they can handle.”

De Kruyf: “For the Alba B3 project, Imtech Marine will also integrate various European and U.S. HVAC equipment and take into account the different mounting systems. At an early stage we had contact with Marathon Oil, Heerema Fabrication Group and Iv Oil & Gas regarding the BOD, as well as with U.S. equipment suppliers. Coupled with this, all equipment has to be ATEX-proof and certified.”

With more than 60 years in the offshore industry, Imtech Marine has supplied electrical, HVAC and Nav/Com systems to some 135 oil, gas and wind platforms and more than 100 offshore vessels worldwide. “We have built up extensive in-house offshore engineering knowledge and we have the practical experience as well. This is an important added value and saves time and money. In the North Sea for example, Imtech Marine has more than 120 platforms under maintenance agreements. We create the system designs or improve them, but we also know the platform processes, how to efficiently maintain equipment and what is needed on the platform,” says de Kruyf.

To be located in Equatorial Guinea, the Alba B3 compression platform will be bridge-linked to the existing Alba B2 platform. Imtech Marine is working towards the mechanical completion date and the load out in October 2015, by executing every step necessary to achieve this goal.