Rotork actuators will be installed on a new floating production unit (FPU) under construction for the Statoil Gjoa project in the North Sea. The semi-submersible vessel will operate in a water depth of 380m in the Norwegian North Sea area and will come on stream in 2010. Aker Solutions has been awarded the contract for the topside engineering and construction, which will be assembled on a hull constructed by Samsung Heavy Industries in South Korea and transported to Aker Stord, south of Bergen. To date, more than 100 Rotork IQ electric, CP pneumatic and RH and GH hydraulic actuators have been supplied to butterfly valve manufacturer Solent and Pratt for various applications on the vessel. Included in these, more than 80 RH rack and pinion hydraulic actuators will be used on ballasting butterfly valves in sizes 6in and 12in, manufactured in titanium and Super Duplex materials. These valves will be intermittently submerged at depths up to 45m during the operation of the vessel. This particularly arduous and critical duty demands special attention including the fitting of stainless steel IP68 Exi ATEX certified explosionproof switchboxes with position indicators, manufactured by K Controls. The valves, actuators and switchboxes are being packaged and tested at the Solent & Pratt factory in Bridport, UK.
