Shah ... rising to the challenges

GLOBAL management, engineering and development consultancy Mott MacDonald feels its business in Oman is in good shape while it maintains steady growth year on year.

“Competition within the industry has increased recently following the mass entry of new players. With a very steady order book, there are also a number of projects pending award which would add to our current project portfolio,” says Vinod Shah, managing director, Mott MacDonald Oman, in an interview with OGN.

The outlook for the economy looks good, he says adding that the Oman government has indicated an increase in the oil and gas budget and has plans to investment in the industry over the next five years through a combination of government and private spending.

Mott MacDonald, which has been present in Oman for over four decades, predominantly works for national and international companies in the oil and gas, water and power sectors.

“However, we also work for various ministries and EPC contractors as well and have been appointed to many large and medium sized projects,” says Shah.

The company is executing various projects for Petroleum Development Oman (PDO), Occidental Oman and Mukhaizna, Oman Gas Company, Oman Oil and Daleel Petroleum amongst others.

At present, Mott is also associated with Khudairi Group, North Oil Company (NOC) in Iraq for developing a complete Greenfield Gas Compressor Station at Ajeel Oil Field and also providing engineering, procurement and construction services for a 32- inch bypass stream in Sohar GSS.

“We are technical adviser for the IWP extension at Sur; providing survey, design and drawing works for 33 kV at Royal Camps in Ghubrah; upgrade of crude export facilities at Daleel petroleum station and Construction Supervision for temporary power generation to Oman’s main interconnected system,” he says.

Excerpts from the interview:

How successful has your steam injection programme in Qarn Alam been? What is the nature of the job? How has it helped Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) in its EOR efforts?

The Qarn Alam Steam plant is a joint effort between PDO, EPC contractor (Dodsal Engineering and Construction LLC), Mott MacDonald and various suppliers working in a ring fenced environment and under one roof.

Mott MacDonald has been successfully using Business Information Modelling (BIM) on this project – use a single, shared 3D model, cultivating collaborative working relationships. This ensured focused approach on achieving best value while minimising structural clashes and allowing for a faster project delivery.

This approach encouraged all parties to share suggestions and observations at an earlier stage which helped in achieving a smooth commissioning process.

The steam increases the temperature of the oil trapped underground, reducing its viscosity and dramatically increasing output from horizontal wells. This project won the Engineering Achievement Award at the 2011 Oil and Gas Middle East Awards.

• Original field recovery rate: 3 per cent

• Expected recovery rate with EOR: 20-35 per cent

• Net oil production increase: 60,000 bpd

What are the new technologies that you have introduced in Oman for oil recovery?

Our experience on new technologies started with EOR experience on the Mukhaizna Facilities Development Project with Dodsal Pte Ltd. This project was developed by Occidental in Mukhaizna, South-Central area of Oman.

Right on the success of Mukhaizna project we were awarded the Qarn Alam Steam Injection Project (On Plot) with Dodsal Engineering and Construction LLC, which further strengthened our association with PDO.

The Qarn Alam field is a fractured carbonate reservoir with the oil highly viscous and very little of recovery is feasible by conventional oil extraction technologies. But with EOR techniques such as “Thermally Assisted Gas Oil Gravity Drainage” technique (TAGOGD) being deployed here it is possible to enhance the recoveries. Steam is injected directly into the fractures through a battery of steam injection wells, to heat the reservoir and lower the viscosity of the oil and make it flow easily into the reservoirs. Later our EOR Polymer Flooding experience was developed further on the Marmul Polymer Flooding Project, world’s largest and first full scale polymer project at Marmul in south Oman. On this project, we were responsible for the detailed design for EPC Contractor SNF Floerger.

How many projects are you executing for Petroleum Development Oman (PDO)? Which are they? Kindly provide the details?

• We are currently working on an off-plot delivery contract through Al Turki Enterprises LLC. Mott MacDonald is providing detailed engineering, project management services, procurement and site support until 2018;

• We were awarded the Engineering Services Contract by Wood Group - CCC Limited (Oman Branch) to support (design and engineering) them on their on-going EMC South Contract with PDO;

• We are providing detailed engineering services for the Nimr-E polymer field trial project for Gulf Beijing Hengiu;

• We are integrating a heat recovery steam generator with existing facilities in Amal. This will be unmanned and instead will be remotely operated and monitored from a steam control room;

• Mott MacDonald is completing the design and engineering for the Off-Plot Amin Water Injection Development Project. Our role is to design and ensure that the facilities meet all specifications, standards and performance parameters and achieve complete integration with the existing systems;

• We are providing Feed/detailed design for a 35 km pipeline and station modification in Burhan West, after the successful execution of the Burhan Phase-1;

• Mott MacDonald is providing engineering design services for the 156 kms Barik to BVS 8 Loopline Project for Petroject; and

• Mott MacDonald has been entrusted with a high end study for soil investigation and piling for Harweel area.

You have been named owner’s engineer for the $350 million Ghubrah Independent Water Project (IWP) in Muscat? What is the nature of your work?

We are reviewing the contractor design of the new 42 MIGD seawater desalination plant. We will also supervise construction and the testing of the plant during the subsequent phases.

Our appointment adds to our involvement in major desalination plants not only in Oman but also across the Middle East. We were the technical advisor to the Government for the Sur IWP, which was the first in the country and set the precedence for future projects. We are currently advising Oman Power and Water Procurement Company on expansions to both Barka I and Sur IWP, as well as to Majis for the new 20 MIGD SWRO plant being constructed in Sohar.

We also carry out major design work for the Public Authority for Electricity and Water and much of the water supply system in Muscat has been designed by Mott MacDonald.

We’ve completed important studies including the Water Supply Master Plan back in 2004 and the Water Balance for Oman, completed earlier this year. At the same time, we are designing a new sewerage scheme for Suwayq and carrying out study and design work for Salalah Sanitary Drainage Services Company in Salalah.

What are your projects with Oman Oil and Oman Gas Company? Are you involved in gas projects?

The Oman Oil Company SAOC and LG International Corporation consortium is developing a 120 MW power plant in Musandam. Mott MacDonald is providing early civil works and site levelling supervision services at the power plant.

Takamul, a subsidiary of Oman Oil intends to invest and develop a ferrochrome project and Mott MacDonald’s is presently supporting with the detailed feasibility study will include market scenario, market and financial forecasts and technical parameters. Similarly undertook detailed feasibility study for a Cooper rode project.

We were recently appointed to a manpower supply contract by the Oman Gas Company. We are deputing high profile engineering staff to further strengthen their in-house engineering team. Other Projects currently under execution for Oman Gas Company through EPC Contractor GPS are the 32-inch by pass stream at Sohar and upgrade of Manah NIE GSS facility.

Which are the other sectors where you have provided services in Oman? What projects?

We are at present involved in various power and water projects which include:

• 1500-2000MW Power Plant at Sur for Phoenix Power, a consortium of Marubeni and
other partners;

• Consultancy services, construction supervision upgrading of existing 132/33kV Shinas at the Sohar Grid Station for OETC;

• Providing engineering, procurement and construction services for grid stations and transmission lines at Madinat Nizwa and Al Kamil Al Wafi;

• Consultancy services for power analysis at Port of Salalah; and

• Design consultancy services for various water projects for PAEW.

Which are the foreign clients that you have tied up with? Kindly provide the details?

We are working very closely with a few well reputed international EPCM’s on forthcoming major projects, the details of which cannot be disclosed at present. We are also associated with Khudairi Group, North Oil Company (NOC) in Iraq on the Gas Compressor Station at Ajeel Oil Field project. In Algeria, Sudan, Saudi Arabia, Yemen we have tied up with local companies for various forthcoming major projects.

Kindly explain your involvement in the Mukhaizna field? What is the output there after your participation?

Occidental Mukhaizna (Company) is developing the Mukhaizna Field in Oman using Thermal Enhanced Oil Recovery technology. The Mukhaizna field site is located in the South-Central area of the Sultanate of Oman, approximately 660 km from Muscat and 560 km from Salalah, by road. The field encompasses two structures, North and South, with multiple layers of oil-bearing reservoir sands. Both structures have been developed to a very limited extent by Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) by cold production and a small steam pilot which was commissioned in 2005.