Emerson Helps Refiner Safely and Successfully Deliver Megaproject

November 15, 2018

Emerson has recently completed a $73 million contract for automation systems and cloud engineering services, helping North West Redwater Partnership design, execute and complete its first-of-a-kind Sturgeon Refinery. The Alberta, Canada refinery uses innovative technology designed to produce ultra-low sulfur diesel for local consumption as well as for export to markets that demand low sulfur fuel.

Using key elements of Emerson’s Project Certainty methodology, North West Redwater Partnership reduced global automation engineering complexity and completed the instrumentation and control scope for refinery automation. Emerson completed its entire scope of work with zero safety incidents.

The project team selected Emerson’s automation technologies and petrochemical project expertise to manage the refinery’s process control and safety system scope and help it safely begin producing diesel from synthetic crude oil in late 2017. The Sturgeon Refinery relies on an innovative, one-step process that, when fully operational, will convert diluted bitumen feedstock directly into ultra-low sulfur diesel while capturing carbon dioxide emissions.

“The unique nature of this refinery makes it important for us to manage all of the project components to minimize complexity,” said Jim Quinn, vice president of engineering for North West Redwater Partnership. “Emerson did an excellent job as the main automation contractor and continues to offer us exceptional support for the systems and services they delivered.”

As main automation contractor responsible for the entire instrumentation and control scope, Emerson provided integrated project management to reduce complexity and support North West Redwater Partnership with the alignment of multiple contractors. Cloud engineering using Emerson’s Remote Virtual Office technology enabled rapid mobilization of resources and collaborative engineering, ensuring on-time automation delivery from experts around the globe.

“We’ve built world-class project execution and automation delivery capabilities throughout Emerson, and this truly unique project demonstrates the results of that vision,” said Jim Nyquist, group president for Emerson’s Systems and Solutions business. “Combining Emerson’s cloud engineering technology and Project Certainty methodologies helped support North West Redwater Partnership in delivering innovation to the entire oil and gas industry.”

The Sturgeon Refinery uses Emerson automation software and technologies including DeltaV™ control and safety systems and AMS asset management software, as well as Rosemount™ instrumentation and Fisher™ control valves. The project team also leveraged DeltaV Operator Training Solutions and hands-on training to ensure operator readiness from the first moments of commissioning and start-up.

The refinery will process 79,000 barrels per day of diluted bitumen, while simultaneously capturing an estimated 1.2 million annual tons of carbon dioxide, which will act as a valuable feedstock to assist in enhanced oil recovery of up to a billion barrels of light oil that would otherwise have been unreachable.

For more information, visit Emerson.com/Project-Certainty.

Put to the Ultimate Test – Part 1: Torsion Tests by HELUKABEL

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Cables and wires in industrial robots and other moving machine parts are often required to withstand extreme stresses caused by torsion. Constant repetitive movements put materials under considerable strain. At the same time, operators expect components to function perfectly and reliably throughout their entire service life to avoid disruptions, outages and safety hazards.

For this reason, at HELUKABEL, we simulate intensive and continuous torsion stresses under realistic conditions with our high-tech testing equipment in Windsbach. We have several types of apparatus for doing this because some of our customers, for example those in the automotive industry, have very precise specifications for how a torsion test is carried out. The tests show that our cables and wires withstand speeds up to 1,000°/s, accelerations up to 2,000°/s² and torsion angles up to 720°. Hence, we make sure that each product always meets our customers’ high standards, and that they receive the impeccable quality they rightly expect from us as a leading supplier of cables, wires and accessories for more than 40 years.

What Is Torsion?

To learn the answer, click here

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Festo Didactic at the Forefront of Developing Canada’s Future Work Force

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With Canadian manufacturing suffering from a growing labour shortage, the participation of industry in skills development is emerging as a vital component in hiring and retention.

The needs are stark: The Canadian Exporters and Manufacturers Association says almost 40% of its members have jobs they can’t fill. Five years from now, 60% expect to be short-staffed, especially when it comes to skilled trades. Statistics Canada forecasts the country’s labour force growth rate will remain below 0.2% for the rest of the decade, below replacement levels.

This growing shortage is affecting companies of all sizes. Already, some manufacturers acknowledge losing out on contracts because they can’t find the manpower to fulfill them.

In reality, the challenge is two-fold: to replenish and expand the workforce to help close the gap between the number of job seekers and vacancies through 2030 when the last baby boomers reach age 65, and ensure workers get opportunities throughout their careers to upgrade or add to their skillset as current technologies evolve and new ones emerge. Festo, through Festo Didactic, one of the world leading provider of equipment and solutions for technical education, intends to help Canada meet this challenge on both fronts. In essence, the approach Festo has always taken is that the learning never stops.

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