Profiles of the six finalists in the Oil & Gas category.
Apex Optimisation and Esso Australia
Hot Oil Process Control Improvement Project
In late 2010, Esso Australia commissioned Apex Optimisation to assess opportunities for improvement of the Hot Oil system process control configuration at the Long Island Point (LIP) LPG Fractionation Plant.
A number of improvements to the DCS control configuration, as well as a new multivariable predictive controller (MPC) were recommended to reduce Hot Oil temperature variance and improve overall efficiency of the two hot oil circuits onsite.
The final outcome was a very successful campaign of process control improvements which reduced energy consumption of 10.7% and 8.5% for the two hot oil circuits and resulted in an overall project payback period of less than 6 months.
Liquip
API800 bottom loading coupler
Liquip is an Australian manufacturer committed to providing high-quality equipment for specialist fluid transfer applications, with a reputation for excellence and market leadership in the tanker, trailer, terminal and aviation industries.
Its API800 bottom-loading coupler’s features include fast in-field replacement of all seals and is 1.4kg lighter than previous model with the same reliability.
It has allowed increases its margin per unit by 4.05% over previous models and increased revenues in the first six months after launching.
Technofast Industries
EziTite TR & CamNut Turbine Closure Systems
Technofast Industries is a privately owned, Queensland-registered company headquartered and manufacturing in Richlands.
Its CamNut System is the only alternative to current methodology which can be effectively used to tighten the typically massive bolts used in large steam turbines without either replacing the entire set of bolts or extensively modifying bolts, casings, or both.
EziTite TR High Temperature Hydraulic Nut has a number of significant features which are also the subject of Patents and PCT Patent Applications.
Schneider Electric
Santos GLNG Upstream Availability Project
The Santos Gladstone Liquefied Natural Gas (GLNG) Upstream Availability system provides Upstream Operations and Management personnel a view of the entire GLNG Upstream network integrating data and business intelligence for production operations, production control, availability/reliability, engineering, planning and commercial operations into a single system.
The automated data captured by the subsystem is greater than 70 percent compared to lower levels from manual collection.
New assets such as wells, compressors, compressors stations and even new fields can be commissioned and put online in the system within days rather than weeks.
When the business is fully operational, the system can handle over 4,000 assets and provide data to a huge audience.
Machinery Safety Systems
Machinery Inspection Operating Control System MiOCS
Machinery Safety Systems has developed an electronic pre-start system to replace hard copy log books traditionally used to record checks on components and the use of machinery.
The company expects that the MiOCS device will become essential tools for industry to improve pre-start checks and better manage the use of machinery.
The three key advantages are: (1) Identification of the Pre-Start person; (2) The RFID tags in their respective positions ensure the operator goes to each checkpoint; and (3) Users of the plant/machinery are recorded via the MCU.
The reporting via the PDA also captures real date/time usage of the plant/machinery.
Apex Optimisation and Kleenheat Gas
LPG Fractionation Advanced Control Project
The process scope at the Kleenheat Gas site in Kwinana, WA included two liquid extraction trains (each comprising an Absorber / DeEthaniser) and a single LPG Fractionation section comprising DePropaniser and Debutaniser columns.
The project scope of work included the selective addition of new instrumentation and redesign of DCS control schemes, retuning of all DCS controls and implementation of Multivariable Predictive Control technology.
The number of operator changes required on the plant has been drastically reduced whilst the payback on the project has greatly exceeded expectations.