Kazakhstan, new export market for Groveley

17 February 2009

Hazard detection specialist Groveley Detection has supplied a specially-designed gas detection system to Kazakhstan Petroleum (KPO) for use on the Karachaganak Oil and Gas Condensate field.
The directly-placed export order - for a three-channel heated aspirator to detect hydrogen sulphide and smoke ingress via air intakes into a building - is the first of its kind for Groveley, which formerly supplied all its installations to this area through UK contractors.

Kazakhstan, new export market for Groveley

Groveley director Robert Bennet said: “We much prefer to deal direct with oil companies. We have never previously supplied direct to KPO, except with spares orders, although our products appear in hazardous areas in numerous areas in Kazakhstan. Oil Companies appreciate, whereas our units have higher upfront costs but have much lower long-term life cycle costs.”

Groveley has previously supplied 40 aspirators of different types to the Karachaganak field, one of the world’s largest oil and gas condensate fields. All components are approved for us in hazardous areas to the GOST K regional standard in addition to European ATEX standards.

Bennet said: “The site at Karachaganak is expanding and we hope to win increasing levels of direct business there. Some of our products have been there for several years and have gained a good reputation for reliability and ease of use.

“Our products are so easy to fit that most sites fit them themselves, keeping costs down still further.”
The latest aspirator is mounted externally and will operate in temperatures as low as minus 40 degree centigrade. To achieve that, the unit is lined and fitted with heating elements which switch on at temperatures below minus 10 degrees to keep the detectors operational.

It operates with Groveley’s heated, self-compensating duct probes. The company’s aspirators on the site monitor air intakes to plant rooms to protect personnel and equipment. If any flammable gas, toxic gas or smoke is detected, the building enters emergency mode and air intakes are closed to keep workers safe until the danger is over.