Power, precision and safety hydraulic tools

Deploying compact and ergonomic high-pressure tools supplied by Enerpac distributor Cape Industrial, STP&I are exporting 40 modules for Ichthys, which involves the largest construction project ever undertaken in Australia’s Northern territory.

Enerpac hydraulic jacks are used for support under equipment columns as well as levelling the module frames, the largest of which is 50 metres wide, weighing 5,000 tons.

 The total weight of product destined for Ichthys is approximately 300,000 tons, all of which must be fabricated to the world’s highest standards of precision and safety, as required by international oil and gas exploration and production company Inpex and, its joint venture participants which have contracted JKC to undertake the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) of the onshore LNG plant and associated infrastructure. Inpex is involved in more than 70 projects across 26 countries.

“The Enerpac hydraulic jacks allow us to adjust the height to within a millimetre. We need the modules to be precisely level when adding a column and the Enerpac tools are able to give us this precision every time,” says Mr Yutthapong Varasen, Equipment Manager at STP&I.

STP&I have relied on the safety and reliability of Enerpac tools for over 25 years as they lift and precisely position structures weighing thousands of tons. Enerpac tools used at STP&I include torque wrenches, bolt tensioners, hand pumps and hydraulic cylinders, which are deployed for diverse projects, including most recently the Ichthys Field, which represents the largest discovery of hydrocarbon liquids in Australia in 40 years, estimated at more than 500 million barrels (or 80 billion litres).

Australia is expected to become the world’s first or second ranked LNG exporting country by 2020, by which time Ichthys is expected to produce 8.4 million tonnes of LNG and 1.6 million tonnes of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) per annum, along with approximately 100,000 barrels of condensate per day at peak.

Enerpac hand pumps and tensioners in use at STP&I

 The onshore Ichthys LNG plant in Darwin will be like a giant refrigeration unit, cooling the gas to its liquid form (liquefied natural gas or LNG) which occupies just one 600th of the space occupied by the gaseous form, making it easier to transport. Offshore, the gas will undergo initial processing at a Central Processing Facility (CPF) to extract condensate and water, making the gas suitable for transmission through the gas export pipeline. A proportion of the condensate will be pumped with the gas to Darwin but the bulk of it will be transferred from the CPF to the floating production, storage and offtake vessel (FPO) for offshore processing. At 110 by 110 metres, the Ichthys CPF will be the biggest semi-submersible platform ever built.

Inpex actively seeks suppliers and contractors to the Ichthys project whose objectives are compatible with their own, including a commitment to delivering the highest-quality products and services, worldwide cost competitiveness in the marketplace, plus an unwavering commitment to safety.

STP&I are a major fabrication company, with three fabrication shops and one assembly yard located in Chonburi and Rayong, Thailand. Since their inception, they have placed a high emphasis on safety. Mr Varasen says Enerpac has always been able to meet his strict safety requirements when it comes to bolting and hydraulic tools.

“Enerpac have always given us a good service. Their products have been reliable and most importantly they meet all of the safety standards and requirements. We feel safe knowing that Enerpac are the industry leaders when it comes to these tools,” Mr Varasen said. Enerpac tools used at STP&I were purchased through authorised Enerpac distributor CAPE industrial, who also share a good relationship with STP&I.

“We like the range of tools and parts Enerpac has to offer. We perform a lot of different tasks in our fabrication workshops and Enerpac can supply us with all the tools to suit our needs. The service from CAPE has always been of the highest quality too,” Mr Varasen said.

From left to right, Krit Putyuak, Business Manager, CAPE, Francis Koh, Sales and Marketing Manager, Enerpac, Yutthapong Varasen, Equipment Manager, STP&I, Surawit Ketsakul, Yard Specialist Manager STP&I and Worawit Boonnaeb, Territory Manager, Enerpac. Right, the Ichthys project.

The Ichthys Project is a significant development for Darwin, and it will increase the capacity of Australia’s energy industry, as well as providing jobs and training, business opportunities, new infrastructure and advanced technology Enerpac tools deployed by STP&I include:

Enerpac bolting tools

Range of Enerpac Bolting Tools

Enerpac’s comprehensive range of mechanical and hydraulic bolting equipment provides precise and effective force to make tasks more productive, safer, and easier to perform.

Enerpac torque wrenches

Torque Wrenches to provide a safe and reliable controlled bolting solution for flanges with limited access. They are ruggedly engineered for maximum endurance and minimum downtime.

Enerpac bolt tensioners

Bolt tensioners to achieve known and accurate bolt loads across multiple applications, such as pipelines and flanges. A major advantage is that multiple bolts can be fastened at one time using exactly the same pressure from the same power source.

Enerpac hand pumps

Hand pumps designed for portability, durability and easy-of-use. Enerpac hand pumps are ideally suited for applications where durability is of utmost concern and where on-site pneumatic, petrol or electric power sources are not available or not required for reasons of safety, convenience or remoteness.

Enerpac hydraulic cylinders

Hydraulic cylinders for lifting, pushing or pulling are available in single acting, hollow plunger or low height to suit any high force application. Enerpac’s RC general purpose cylinder family is one of the world’s most widely used compact, powerful and ruggedly versatile high-pressure cylinder ranges.

Enerpac’s comprehensive range of bolting and hydraulic tools is designed to meet the strictest safety standards in the harshest conditions. STP&I have been able to rely on Enerpac tools to perform to their specifications, which is important in minimising downtime with major projects such as Ichthys.