The order includes all of the plant's control valves that have severe aerodynamic noise challenges, including export metering and gas-to-flare, in a range of sizes up to 20 inches and pressure ratings up to ANSI 2500.
Emerson’s extensive range of Fisher valve products made it possible to design and implement valve solutions to meet all of the plant’s process requirements, in terms of flow capacity, pressure and noise reduction.
In order to meet the plant's stringent noise requirements, many of the Fisher valves supplied will have WhisperFlo low-noise trims. The WhisperFlo trim combines several noise reduction techniques including a unique passage shape, multistage pressure reduction, exit jet separation and an expansion area, all designed to minimize the acoustic energy radiated in the audible range.
Emerson says its WhisperFlo solution represents state-of-the-art technology for applications demanding noise attenuation. A WhisperFlo cage with a correctly sized valve body can reduce noise levels by up to 40dBA compared to standard products.
Some valves will include Fisher’s advanced actuator systems for quick operation and all of the valves will be equipped with Fieldvue instruments with advanced diagnostics capability.
The Fieldvue solution – an interoperable diagnostic and communications solution designed for use with Emerson’s PlantWeb – helps identify faults such as increased friction, incorrect seating or sealing forces and non-linearity or dynamic errors.
Valve information can be accessed locally or remotely via a network, that Emerson says reduces the need to access difficult locations and minimises operator exposure to hazardous situations.
Delivery of the valves will commence in September 2005. Estimated value of the contract to Emerson is $2 million.
The offshore Ormen Lange field was proven through drilling by Norsk Hydro in 1997. The field will be developed with seabed installations at depths between 800-1100m, linked to the processing plant on land at Nyhamna.
The gas will be exported from the Nyhamna plant via a pipeline system to the receiving facilities at Easington in the UK. It is estimated that once full production is achieved, the Ormen Lange field will meet 20% of the UK’s gas demand.
The operator in the project phase is Norsk Hydro, and the main contractor is Aker Kvaerner. Production start is expected in October 2007. Operational responsibility will be taken by Shell.
