Company News

CorDEX Instruments has appointed a new US sales manager to North America as a result of strong sales growth. Lang joined CorDEX from Fluke Corporation where he worked as Western Region Thermography and Infrared Windows Territory Manager.Based in Charlotte, North Carolina, Lang will be responsible for the promotion and sale of CorDEX’s intrinsically safe and explosion-proof equipment which has been designed for use in the global oil and gas industry.

The Board of Managers of ThyssenKrupp Stainless USA, LLC has announced the appointment of Michael Wallis, as Chief Executive Officer of the company, effective 15 June 2012.

 MRC Global Inc. (MRC) has signed a five year global Enterprise Framework Agreement (EFA) with Shell for the distribution of valves and automation services.

Occidental Petroleum Corporation (OXY) has appointed WCW (Willie) Chiang as Executive Vice President, Operations.

Nucor Corporation (NUE) has signed a Stock Purchase Agreement to acquire the membership interests of Skyline Steel LLC and its subsidiaries from ArcelorMittal, for approximately USD 605 million.

 Conductor Installation Services Ltd (CIS), an Acteon company, has been awarded a contract to provide a range of conductor installation services to Weatherford Colombia, on behalf of Equion Energia Ltd.

Fluor Corporation (FLR) announced that Lee C. Tashjian, vice president, Corporate Affairs, will retire from the company effective 29 June 2012. Tashjian will be succeeded by R. Clifton Webb, vice president of corporate communications for Savannah River Nuclear Solutions (SRNS).

PTSC Mechanical and Construction Joint Stock Company (PTSC M&C) has won a major detailed engineering, procurement, construction, installation, hook-up and commissioning contract valuing USD 113 million in Vietnam. The contract has been awarded by Lam Son Joint Operating Company, a joint operating company between PetroVietnam Exploration Production Corporation (PVEP, Vietnam) and Petronas Carigali Overseas Sdn Company (Malaysia). As per the contract, the scope of work includes 2 wellhead platforms namely Thang Long and Dong Do with topsides weighing approximately 1100 per each, 9mi infield pipeline and 87 ton PLEMs (Pipeline End Manifold) and PLET (Pipeline End Termination).

A consortium including Australian investment bank Macquarie Group plans to build a 10-million-barrel oil storage terminal in Louisiana, at a cost of USD 600 million.

Air valves are normally required on piping systems, for example, offshore fire fighting systems, to vent air from a pipeline/riser on pump start-up and admit air back into the system under vacuum conditions. Often they are overlooked, yet play a crucial role within a pipe/pump system. It is important that they are correctly specified with their function, size and location to help in ensuring that the system is operating efficiently.