Chinese state energy company Sinopec Shanghai Offshore Petroleum, which specializes in offshore oil and gas exploration and development, manages the Xihu and Pinghu oilfield development project in the East China Sea, conducts offshore exploration in the East China Sea, the South China Sea and the Yellow Sea, and also runs an overseas offshore exploration and development research project.
ABB, world-leader in turbocharging systems technology, provides state-of-the-art turbochargers that enhance power, drive efficiency and boost operational life for the engines in Sinopec’s exploration vessels.
In July 2019, an ABB TPL67-C33 turbocharger mounted on the left main engine of the customer’s exploration vessel in Qianhai Wharf, Shenzhen, suddenly stopped operating, leading to engine shut down. This meant that the vessel would lose half its power and fail to complete its current task on schedule.
On receiving an emergency service request call from the Exploration Branch of Sinopec, ABB established a special project team. The team’s impressive performance allowed the customer to resume normal operations of its exploration vessel while minimizing loss due to downtime.
Swift resolution
In a matter of hours, ABB discussed a repair solution with the customer while directly dispatching two service engineers from the nearest Guangzhou Service Station to the vessel.
They began the on-site repair work right away without any breaks. Working for nine hours straight, they disassembled and reassembled the faulty turbocharger. Half an hour later, a test run and recommissioning of the diesel engine were completed with the left main engine resuming its operations.
Flexible customer service
To guarantee the smooth implementation of engineering work in the future, Sinopec requested ABB to comprehensively overhaul the two turbochargers mounted on the vessel when the vessel was berthed at the Chiwan Wharf on July 3, which would help eliminate possible hazards and ensure the safe use and operation of the equipment.
ABB immediately responded to the customer’s demand and assigned one more engineer to support the on-site maintenance. At the same time, two additional engineers at the Guangzhou Service Station were placed on standby to inspect the returned turbocharger parts.
Leveraging their rich experience and technical expertise, the three service engineers carried out the repair together as quickly as possible. The on-site disassembly and overhaul of the two turbochargers were completed in a mere three days, including the inspection of the cartridge from one of the turbochargers at the service station.
Solid network
“We often have to face various emergencies during offshore operations, so we attach great importance to safety, reliability and efficiency. As our reliable partner and the global leader in turbocharging solutions, ABB not only has high-quality products, but also provides a solid guarantee to us with its strong service network and top-quality services,” said Sinopec’s Shipping Department.
ABB operates a powerful service network that extends service stations to Dalian, Tianjin, Qingdao, Shanghai, Zhoushan, Fuzhou, Shenzhen, Guangzhou and Hong Kong, providing timely on-site services and repair services in China.
From spare parts supply and equipment repair to spare parts exchange plan and turbocharger upgrading and transformation, ABB is devoted to providing a full range of services and technical support while constantly pursuing excellence in the midst of fulfilling its commitment to customers.
ABB Turbocharging (http://new.abb.com/cn) is at the helm of the global industry in the manufacture and maintenance of turbochargers for 500 kW to 80+ MW diesel and gas engines. Our innovative leading-edge technology enables our customers to increase their performance; producing lower emissions, and improving fuel consumption even in the toughest environments. Approximately 200,000 ABB turbochargers are in operation across the globe on ships, power stations, gen-sets, diesel locomotives and large, off-highway vehicles. We have over 100 Service Stations in more than 50 countries globally and a wide service portfolio that guarantees Original Parts and Original Service anytime, anywhere.
ABB (ABBN: SIX Swiss Ex) is a pioneering technology leader with a comprehensive offering for digital industries. With a history of innovation spanning more than 130 years, ABB is today a leader in digital industries with four customer-focused, globally leading businesses: Electrification, Industrial Automation, Motion, and Robotics & Discrete Automation, supported by its common ABB Ability™ digital platform. ABB’s market‑leading Power Grids business will be divested to Hitachi in 2020. ABB operates in more than 100 countries with about 147,000 employees. ABB has a full range of business activities in China, including R&D, manufacturing, sales and services, with near 20,000 employ-ees located in more than 130 cities, 44 local companies, and online and offline channels across around 700 cities. http://new.abb.com/cn
