Orteng Group Investing in Subsea, Rig Modules and O&G exploration

The Orteng Group has been investing in turn-key solution for energy systems and automation and is now reaching out to rig module construction and O&G exploration in Brazil.

Orteng AC Service, the technology branch of Orteng Engineering, has been introducing AUV´s, ROV´s and Manipulator Arms, through a partnership with ECA Hyatec. During the Rio O&G 2010, the Orteng booth was brimming with subsea tech products such as the AUV Alistar 3000, which is projected to undertake inspection missions using videos and a wide array of sensors up to a depth of 3000 meters. They also had manipulator arms on display and demonstrations of the equipment, including a manipulator arm serving champagne, just to show how precise the equipment is. These manipulator arms are mostly used in ROV´s and not only have great movement precision but also are very strong and durable, being rated for depth of 6500 to 7500 meters, depending on the model.

An encapsulated dry transformer, produced by Orteng MCT, another branch of Orteng Group, dedicated to manufacturing power transformers for electric energy transmission and distribution. As it uses no oil there is no possibility of leaks or flames and it is claimed that the equipment does not to need maintenance, therefore there is no need to interrupt operations.

The transformer was conceived to work in enclosed environments and restricted spaces. It´s reduced size and lack of oil and maintenance needs, make the equipment ideal for installation on oil rigs, and refineries. The transformers were launched in late 2010 and come in 150kVA to 5MVA power.

Orteng partnered with Brazilian construction giant Construcap in order to pursue the lucrative rig module building segment. As there are already over 40 rigs urgently needed by Petrobras and many more are expected to be ordered in the coming years, not only be Petrobras but also by other local and foreign players. Therefore many partnerships are being negotiated all along Brazil in order to try to secure some of these orders. Contrucap already has experience in the O&G sector and is already building a shipyard at the Suape Port in the Northeast state of Pernambuco, to build topside rig modules and for rig module integration.

The shipyard will have 400 thousand m², a 800 meter quay, with a depth of 16,5 meters and a 450 meter wide channel, which will allow it to service 2 FPSO at the same time. They will be capable of producing 35 thousand tons of steel per year and simultaneosly produce 40 modules. The total investment is of around $180 million and is expected to require 3,500 workers when complete.

Last but not least, the Orteng Group expanded to the O&G exploration segment in 2006, when it acquired exploratory blocks in the São Francisco Basin. Last August their investments began to pay off, with the discovery of hydrocarbons in the SF-T-132 Block. They have also have interests in the Parnaiba basin, having acquired 2D seismic data for a 440 k m² area, where they forecast to begin drilling in 2012.

Claudio Paschoa