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South-America is the driving force behind the FPSO-market in the short to medium term. Within the continent, Brazil (Petrobras) is active due to the rise of deepwater projects and the relaxation of local content regulations; the country has emerged as ‘the promised land’ for global players in the FPSO-market.

The wellhead is a critical element in geothermal energy as it is the interface between the geothermal heat and the geothermal plant. With the current developments in geothermal, tapping into higher temperature and pressure wells, the wellhead and the operating valve have become even more important.

The rise of automation and smart technology is becoming increasingly prevalent in many industries and is expected to grow rapidly on offshore oil and gas platforms over the next decade.

Has 3D printing past the innovation phase? Absolutely, according to Jukka Borgman (Director, Technology Development) who says it is already being used to good effect in Metso’s valves.

If you need to weld valves and other piping components made of superalloys, do be aware that careful purging can be required to prevent deterioration of desirable properties such as corrosion resistance.

Oil price volatility is a major issue in our industry, affecting future demand and price focus. But for EPCs in the sector, it matters less than you might think on a short-to-medium term basis.

Research shows that a check valve failure may have led to the destruction of a Crew Dragon spacecraft during testing. However, the root cause could have been a nitrogen tetroxide leak.

Axial flow valves are often used in High Integrity Pressure Protection Systems (HIPPS) and present peculiar design features to suit HIPPS requirements: short stroke, pressure balanced disc and low internal mass to allow the use of compact actuators with fast response times.

When choosing a valve, two critical things to consider are quality and safety. In a technical paper that was recently issued by family-run company AS-Schneider, the limelight is put on cryogenic valves and how these can be utilized for safe transport and storage. Standard valves contract and expand when exposed to extreme temperatures, cryogenic valves however –providing the right materials are chosen – can withstand pressure at cryogenic temperatures.

Chevron’s six newest liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers feature stainless steel containment tanks specially designed to reduce boiloff during transport. As global exports of natural gas continue to rise at a recordsetting pace, the enhanced efficiency of Chevron’s new vessels will help the company remain competitive in an increasingly crowded market.