The UK rental division of Crestchic, a world leader in specialised loadbank manufacturing and testing solutions, is currently enabling the power testing of gas turbines on an innovative new oil and gas platform in the North of England by Apache Corporation.
The Forties Alpha Satellite Platform (FASP) is a topside development built at Offshore Group Newcastle’s (OGN) Hadrian’s Yard in Wallsend and represents one of the largest investments in the North Sea oilfield in recent years.
Crestchic is currently providing resistive loadbanks at 11kV to test two gas turbines, each providing 15 MVA to power the new development.
Chris Caldwell of Crestchic explained: “The platform is incredibly significant to the UK oil and gas sector and, as a company born in the UK ourselves, it is always gratifying to be part of such an important project that invests in the home market. We are thrilled to be involved and to have provided a tailored solution that met the specific power-testing requirements.”
Frazer Milligan of Apache Corporation added: “As the turbines provide power the entire Forties field via a power ring main system – it was crucial that we ensure they can cope with the intense power loads expected. We needed a robust and reliable testing partner and Crestchic was able to provide the solution we needed, fast.”
The FASP houses a total of 18 new production well-slots and will be a full processing facility including gas compression and power generation. It can be bridge-linked to the existing Alpha platform with an operating design life of 20 years. Built with significant UK content, the platform and associated structures was assessed, designed and built in just over 40 months; roughly a year quicker than other benchmark projects. Purchased from BP in 2003, the site is currently home to five self-contained production installations, Forties Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Delta and Echo.
Crestchic loadbanks are sold and rented to a range of customers worldwide, primarily in the oil and gas, marine, data centre and power generation sectors. Crestchic has a long history of supporting manufacturers across the globe and has consistently developed its worldwide offering in recent years with expansions into North America, Singapore, and Brazil.
For further information visit www.crestchic.co.uk.
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Note to editors: Founded in 1983, Crestchic is one of the world’s leading specialist manufacturers of loadbanks which are used in the testing of power supplies in the most demanding climactic and environmental conditions across seven continents. Operating from locations in the UK, North America, Singapore, Netherlands, France, Germany, Brazil and Dubai, the company is at the forefront of innovation and design, with thriving sales and rental operations and a loyal and growing customer base worldwide. For further information visit www.crestchic.co.uk or call +44 (0)1283 531645.