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Utilising the expertise and resources available through its Tracer project services team, Tyco Thermal Controls has recently completed the supply and installation of power, control and heat-tracing cable systems for the Diesel Project at Neste Oil Oyj’s Porvoo Refinery in Finland,
The Porvoo Refinery focuses on the production of high quality, low emission traffic fuels and is one of the most sophisticated andefficient facilities in Europe. Back in 2003, Neste Oil Oyj took a decision to go-ahead with the Diesel Project - a major 700 million Euroinvestment in a new production line at Porvoo, to use residue oil forproducing sulphur-free, clean motor fuels, in particular diesel fuel.
Tyco Thermal Controls already had a contract to supply its Raychem self-regulating heating cable at the Porvoo Refinery. For the Diesel Project, it convinced the client that its Pyrotenax and Hew-Therm cabling products were able to satisfy all the technical clarificationsrequired to be the their source for mineral-insulated and polymer-insulated constant wattage cables. Accordingly, the main contractor, NesteJacobs Oy, awarded Tracer contracts to supply all the heat-tracing systems for process temperature maintenance and for the frost protectionof transfer pipelines, vessels and instrumentation.
Tracer’sexpertise in field services was also recognised and led to it winningthe two main installation contracts across the hydrogen unit and the residue hydro-cracking unit. In all, Tracer installed over 520km of power and control cabling and 320km of heating cables for the Diesel Project, along with the entire support infrastructure, and was involved incommissioning the heat-tracing systems.
Throughout the duration of the project, Tracer's unique construction database and manpowerflexibility were to prove invaluable. Significant delays to the pipingschedule had the potential to affect timescales for the cable systems’ installation and there was also a major increase of the power/cold scope which grew from an initial 250km up to the 520km. Tracer overcamethese by ramping up its crew from 110 to some 400 installers and 50 site staff in an acceleration period, which ensured that the client’s requested new timelines were met. The site team kept everything under control - even through adverse winter weather conditions when temperatures dipped down to -20ºC with considerable snow.
The installation team, working in this harsh environment, clocked-up over 470,000 man hours, without a single accident - a testimony to good practise, planning and safety management.
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