January 2008

MPE Announces Contract to Supply Sacrificial Anodes for the Shell Gumusut-Kakap Project

MPE Lindung Sdn. Bhd. announces the award of a contract to supply Malaysia Marine and Heavy Engineering Sdn. Bhd.(MMHE) with aluminium hull anodes for the shell Gumusut-Kakap project. Such marks a significant milestone for MPE as they are the only anode supplier in Asia Pacific to have been qualified by Shell International Exploration and Production, Inc. to supply sacrificial anodes for deepwater structures and pipelines, as per Shell's DEP 37.81.20.31-EPP

According to MPE's General Manager, Radin Hasilawati, "Shell's cold water anode audit is without a doubt the most stringent industry qualification for anode manufacturing. Only a few other anode foundries in the world are similarly qualified. Our Successful qualification and subsequent contract award is not only a proud moment for MPE, but as importantly, a proud moment for Malaysia, as yet another Malaysian manufacturer has proven itself to be second to none in the demanding world of deepwater exploration and production."

August 2007

MPE has formed a technical alliance with Thermal Spray Specialists, LLC (Hempstead, Texas, USA) to offer the region’s first self-contained, mobile, fully automated thermal spray coating machine. Production capacity of the MOTSU™ (Mobile Thermal Spray Unit) is up to 400 sq m per shift. The unit is capable of processing pipe from 4” – 24” OD in lengths from 6m – 28m.

A particularly unique feature of the MOTSU is that the rotators on the pipe conveyance system can be lowered and raised individually during operation; allowing the coating of pipe with connectors attached.

Both the automated process and TSS operators are Shell Qualified for thermal spray coating as per DEP 30.48.40.31-DWP. Previous projects for this equipment have included: Shell Ursa, Murphy Kikeh, Williams Blind Faith, BP Atlantis, Shell Tahiti, Shell Perdido and Shell Brutus.

MPE Opens New Anode Foundry in Kuantan
February 2007

MPE officially began anode production this month at their new anode foundry in Kuantan. Situated within PPSC’s pipe coating yard, MPE’s facility, “Plant 6”, is on a 6,500m2 site, with a built-up production area of 2,400 m2.

Unique to Plant 6 is a production process, developed in-house, that allows for almost continuous casting. Combined with all new, high-capacity, energy-efficient furnaces, Plant 6 has a sacrificial anode production capacity in excess of 6,000MT (metric tons) per year, making it one of the region’s highest capacity foundries. According to MPE’s Operations Manager, Chan Wai Sing, “Plant 6 is capable of producing twice the tonnage as compared to the old plant in Shah Alam, with the added benefit of a 50% reduction in manpower”.

Further improvements at Plant 6 include a fully-contained blasting room and full pipe-bending capabilities for offshore anode pipe cores.

By early April, MPE, through its newly created Indonesian subsidiary, PT MPE Deepwater, will also have in place a foundry operation in Batam, Indonesia to service offshore fabrication contractors based on the island.

And yet another production facility is in the works. This one destined for Port Harcourt, Nigeria. Planned for the second half of 2007, the Nigerian plant will be unique in that it will be the world’s first mobile foundry – otherwise known by its acronym, MOFU™ (Mobile Foundry Unit); allowing for the flexibility of on-site anode production practically anywhere in West Africa.