News archive 2008
NOVEMBER 2008: GULF TRIALS
Following a period of discussion with interested oil and gas companies, an Abriox team visited the Gulf region to make the first installations of MERLIN remote CP monitoring units in the Middle East.
The units have been installed on transformer rectifiers and CP test posts in the United Arab Emirates and are monitoring oil, gas and multi-product pipelines. The transmission and distribution infrastructure in the region is expanding rapidly and new technologies for pipeline integrity are of great interest. However, new systems must be capable of reliable operation in the demanding climate, with its high air temperatures and dry soil conditions.
OCTOBER 2008: M C MILLER DISTRIBUTION
Abriox is pleased to have been appointed a UK distributor for M C Miller.
The M C Miller Company manufactures equipment and software for use by corrosion professionals all over the world and has been a recognised leader in the corrosion control industry for over 60 years. Its range encompasses products to prove the effectiveness of cathodic protection systems to the provision of specialised kits for corrosion testing.
In particular, M C Miller designs and manufactures state-of-the-art reference electrodes, including many that have been developed specifically for permanent CP monitoring applications. Both Cu/CuSO4 and Ag/AgCl electrodes are available, depending on the application. These will be a valuable supplement to Abriox’s MERLIN system in the UK and internationally. M C Miller
OCTOBER 2008: BUSINESS AWARDS WIN
The annual Chambers of Commerce Business Awards recognise the outstanding achievements of South Wales companies to the Welsh economy. A small panel drawn from the public, private and education sectors judge all entries and short-list three finalists in each category.
Abriox was short-listed in the “Most Promising New Business” category, sponsored by Kymin Financial Services. The judges’ criteria were: the rationale behind starting the business; objectives set for the business and progress to date in achieving them; and future plans and processes in place to attain these. We were delighted to win the award, which reflects three years of hard work by the whole Abriox team to achieve a market-leading position in our target segment within the gas and petrochemical industries.
The winners of the various categories are then assessed for an overall “Outstanding Business Achievement” award, sponsored by the South Wales Argus. Abriox picked up this award as well! Gerald Davies, Managing Director of Kymin, commented: “I was delighted that you also went on to win the Winner of Winners award, which I felt endorsed mine and the other judges’ opinion of your submission”.
The Celtic Manor Resort is the venue for the 2010 Ryder Cup.
SEPTEMBER 2008: FIRST ASIAN ORDER
Following an extensive tender exercise, Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC), based in Karachi, Pakistan, has chosen Abriox’s MERLIN system for monitoring cathodic protection on its network.
SSGC transmits and distributes natural gas as well as constructing high pressure transmission and low pressure distribution systems. The SSGC transmission network extends from Sui in Balochistan to Karachi in Sindh comprising over 3,200 KM of high pressure pipeline ranging from 12 - 24" in diameter.
AUGUST 2008: WWU SELECTS MERLIN
After a lengthy evaluation process, Wales & West Utilities (WWU) has selected Abriox's Merlin CP Monitors to be installed in the transformer rectifiers of the company's high pressure gas pipelines & pressure reduction installations.
Wales and West Utilities supplies natural gas to most of Wales and the seven English south west counties, including the city of Bristol. WWU’s distribution network consists of 34,000km of underground pipelines, transporting gas to more than 2.3 million industrial, commercial and domestic consumers and supplying almost half the energy needs of a region covering 41,000 sq km (one sixth of the UK).
Tony Perry, First Line Manager for Pipelines (South), commented: “This further initiative gives WWU the ability to remotely monitor its CP systems, increasing the company's already proactive approach to corrosion prevention within its network, with the benefit of reducing operational expenditure”.
JUNE 2008: NEW INTERNET-CPSM LAUNCHED
Abriox has made its popular CPSM software available over the Internet, enabling clients to view CP data from MERLIN monitors via their web browser.
Clients selecting this method access their CP data via Abriox’s iCPSM website. Data is held in a client-specific, secure database, hosted by Abriox, where it can be viewed and downloaded.
The great advantage of iCPSM is that multiple users can access their company’s data across the internet with no requirement for special software or set-up – and upgrades to the iCPSM software are immediately available to all users.
MAY 2008: ABRIOX EXHIBITS IN ASIA
Abriox exhibited at the NACE East Asia Pacific Regional Conference & Exhibition, 12-14 May in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
The theme of the Conference was “Managing Corrosion beyond the 21st Century”. Neil Summers (Abriox Managing Director) presented a paper on “Remote Monitoring of Pipeline Cathodic Protection Systems”.
We welcome enquiries from potential customers and distributors in the region.
APRIL 2008: MERLIN INTERRUPTER LAUNCHED
Abriox announces the release of an important new feature of our remote CP monitoring system – the MERLIN Interrupter.
The new product has been developed in response to companies wishing to permanently install a device for switching the output of their Transformer Rectifiers remotely. Now, from a cell phone in the field, CP technicians can open and close the TR output relay and remotely synchronise interrupter patterns from different TRs on a pipeline. This removes the need to visit the TRs to install (and afterwards remove) portable switching units for CIPS or DCVG surveys.
The MERLIN Interrupter uses the GPS system for precise synchronisation, is surge protected and fail-safe. The output pattern is remotely configurable and all Merlin units on a pipeline automatically maintain synchronisation with each other.
MARCH 2008: ABRIOX AT NACE NEW ORLEANS
Abriox exhibited at the NACE CORROSION Conference & Exhibition in New Orleans, March 17-20.
NACE reports that the event was a huge success and brought in a final attendance of over 5,700, one of the highest to date. A keynote address by Buzz Aldrin was received with a standing ovation.
For Abriox, the show was an opportunity to renew contact with customers – existing and prospective – in the United States. Many international delegates also visited the Abriox booth and were impressed with the performance and compactness of the MERLIN system.
FEBRUARY 2008: ABRIOX GOES TO PRESS
Two important industry journals have published articles on Abriox’s remote CP monitoring system.
World Pipelines (February 2008) has published an article by Kevin Young of United Utilities in which the implementation of the MERLIN system on a gas distribution network is described.
In the Journal of Pipeline Engineering (March 2008) Neil Summers of Abriox describes the important CP measurements and how compliance reporting has been facilitated by remote monitoring.
These articles can be downloaded from our Publications page.
JANUARY 2008: MERLIN MONITORS NEW LNG PIPELINE
MERLIN units selected to monitor Britain’s new and prestigious LNG pipeline.
National Grid operates 6,800km (4,160 miles) of high-pressure pipelines in the UK. The UK has more than 21 million gas customers and this number is rising daily. With North Sea offshore fields decreasing in output and demand for gas increasing, new terminals are being built to import Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG). The LNG will arrive by ocean-going tanker, be transferred ashore into storage tanks and then converted back into gaseous form for onward transportation.
National Grid is installing a new pipeline from the Milford Haven LNG terminal in Pembrokeshire, continuing through South Wales and Herefordshire into Gloucestershire and connecting there to the existing National Gas Transmission System. This work is important to ensure reliable and economic gas supplies to homes and businesses across the UK.
This is the biggest and most high profile pipeline project in the UK in recent years. The pipeline passes through the Brecon Beacons National Park. The integrity design is to the highest standards and Abriox has been awarded the supply of remote monitoring equipment to check and report CP levels on the pipeline.
Further details: http://www.nationalgrid.com/uk/Gas/Pipelines/milfordhaven/
