One Team, One Goal

The Denholm Zholdas team completed a large oil and gas shutdown and at just six weeks’ notice!

Shutdowns are a necessary part of the maintenance cycle for oil and gas installations and an opportunity to thoroughly clean, repair and renovate particular pipework, thus ensuring efficient future production. To those not in the oil and gas industry this may not seem like such a big deal. However, when you consider that to close an entire installation for a month means lost production to the tune of several billion dollars, the need for the operation to be completed on programme becomes clear.
As a result of internal/political issues the contract was not awarded until end June, hence the short notice!

Scope of work
Basically, we had six weeks to mobilise personnel, equipment, get licences and local government protocols in place, provide accommodation, register and induct personnel in company and KPO policies and doctrines for this massive shutdown.

Work included inspection and HPWJ cleaning of over 160 vessels, internal and external scaffolding for all vessels in the scope of works, insulation removal and reinstatement, painting and coating, reinstatement of new flare tips, blinding and isolations of vessels and battery limits, supply of various equipment required for shutdown, bio-toilets, forklifts, vacuum trucks, supersuckers and cranes.

Rallying the troops
Our operations Manager, hastily set about getting things organised, training courses (in house) and for KPO, for expat and national personnel, assisted by the Aksai office staff and HR Dept, Atyrau. The national guys completed the various training and GGT (Local Authority approval) training, organising transportation to and from site for, at peak, 600 personnel, arranging transportation, meal times and the actual feeding of these guys - a severe logistical headache to say the least!

With accommodation sorted, we then had the unenviable task of buying bedding, mattresses, towels and sheets for the guys to sleep on. This was because the camp could not get up to speed at such short notice!

Extra challenge
We were overwhelmed by the amount of coating breakdowns found during inspection work. We had been aware of five vessels to be dealt with and had allocated manpower and equipment to cover this work. However, inspections revealed a further 16 vessels in need of abrasive blasting and coating. Thanks to the team, who worked long days, we were able to meet this huge additional challenge without adversely impacting the programme.

Overall, the KPO 2006 shutdown was very successful - completed on time and to equipment and manpower requirements.