ERA has been awarded a contract by the Abu Dhabi Gas Liquefaction Company (ADGAS), to carry out inspection and fitness for service assessments at its liquefied natural gas (LNG) Plant on Das Island in The United Arab Emirates. The contract, valued at approximately $1 million US dollars, is Phase 2 of a series of fitness for service programmes planned over the next few years.

Das Island is located offshore approximately 160 km north-west of Abu Dhabi City. It takes gas from surrounding gas fields and converts this to LNG and other products for export by tanker, primarily to Japan as part of a long-term contract with Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO). Annual production at Das Island is about eight million tonnes of liquefied natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas, pentane and liquid sulphur. ADGAS are rightly proud of their operations on Das Island and, as such, the continued integrity and availability of plant are key to their success.

ERA commenced on-site activities in October 2003, using state-of-the-art inspection techniques, and the work will proceed until early 2004. In conjunction with the inspections, ERA is performing a detailed fitness-for-service evaluation to API RP579. Under the contract, the condition and fitness-for-service of the plant are being evaluated and guidance provided for future operation of the plant.

Simon Brown, Head of Engineering Consultancy Services at ERA, explained: "We are delighted to be working with ADGAS on this prestigious project. The contract utilises a range of the inspection, engineering, materials and process skills available from ERA. It is also a good example of the type of project we can undertake worldwide for oil and gas, refinery, petrochemical and utility operations."