Reliable operations are essential for the Malampaya natural gas production and processing facilities run by Shell Philippines Exploration B.V. (SPEX). Gas from the Malampaya field powers generating stations that provide up to 40 percent of the electricity for Luzon, the Philippines’ largest island and home to more than 48 million people.

Emerson recently upgraded automation technology to improve the reliability of the Malampaya operation, and by finishing the work ahead of schedule helped SPEX restore the supply of gas as planned so the Philippines would benefit from the continued use of reliable and cleaner-burning natural gas to power its economy.

As part of the automation upgrade, Emerson specialists helped SPEX execute a planned upgrade to address the impending obsolescence of the safety system on its onshore gas processing facility and a planned upgrade of the control systems, networks, and valve equipment on its offshore production platform.  Emerson experts worked closely with SPEX in planning the changes to ensure the shortest possible downtime, as well as the safety of more than 75 workers who would be involved.

“The Emerson team helped us complete the work without any safety or environmental incident, on time, and with the right quality,” says Bonifacio Lapuz, Turnaround Manager, who managed the project for SPEX.

Safety and operational performance at Malampaya also won recognition for SPEX as Shell’s Upstream Asset of the Year. “Our success reflects the collaboration of everyone involved,” noted SPEX managing director, Sebastian Quiniones. “Everyone worked as a team.”

Emerson has provided automation technologies and services for the Malampaya operation since its inception more than 15 years ago.

“We understand Malampaya’s importance, and we knew there was no room for cost, schedule, or technical risk,” says Ron Martin, president Asia Pacific, Emerson Automation Solutions. “But with our technologies and the project tools and expertise we’ve developed and proven on hundreds of similar jobs, we were able to deliver a reliable, on-time solution with the certainty SPEX and its customers needed.”

Tags: Emerson Process Management, Shell Philippines Exploration B.V. (SPEX)