Standardised solutions – a game changer in the Middle East's energy sector

• 30% reduction in project costs through standardised and modular solutions
• SNC-Lavalin will present technical session on modular construction for oil and gas projects at ADIPEC 2016

Abu Dhabi, UAE, November 6, 2016:  The oil and gas sector is under increasing pressure to reduce costs and enhance efficiency for energy projects. Against such a backdrop, standardised designs and modularised construction techniques are the best way for the industry to achieve this, according to experts at SNC-Lavalin, a top-tier engineering, procurement and construction group in the Middle East. 

“While it is not a new concept in the oil and gas industry, standardisation is fast emerging as the most efficient and economical option in the EPC sector in the Middle East.  Implementing standardised designs and adopting a modular approach to processing units can significantly reduce project budgets, project schedules and construction site work, sometimes by as much as 30%,” said Alan McLean, Executive Vice President - Oil & Gas, SNC-Lavalin Middle East. “This can really be a game-changer for an industry whose players need to spend less for the same output and to the same high standards. Our standardised solutions allow them to do this.” 

SNC-Lavalin will be present tomorrow at ADIPEC 2016 to show visitors the benefits of these standardised and modularised solutions through a series of highly informative interactive displays of its oil and gas projects at its stand number CN15 on the concourse. The company will also showcase its training and simulations capabilities using interactive virtual reality technology . On Tuesday, November 8, Peter Dennis will present an ePoster session on “Improving Electrical System Efficiency in Oil & Gas Facilities,” and on Wednesday, November 9, John Jeffers will deliver a technical session on “Achieving Predictable Outcomes for Modular Construction in Mega Projects” in Capital Suite 19.  

During the first half of 2016, SNC-Lavalin won contracts worth more than USD 1.1 Billion in the region, mostly in the oil and gas sector. Representative ongoing oil and gas projects include: asphalt production facility contract for Saudi Aramco’s Ras Tanura Refinery in Saudi Arabia, engineering consultancy for Oryx GTL in Qatar, oil processing facility  EPC work for Exxonmobil’s West Qurna 1 field in Iraq and a wastewater treatment project for LAFFAN Refinery 2 for QatarGas.

Mr. McLean added, “As we have observed, despite the low oil price environment, governments have prioritised energy investments to meet rising energy demand and maintain potential of existing assets. Additionally, there is a gradual shift towards alternative sources of energy, such as shale and solar. It is therefore more imperative for the energy industry to have access to innovative, robust but, above all, affordable project delivery options, such as modularisation and standardisation, to enhance all aspects of project delivery. These solutions help achieve much greater speed to market and at a lower cost, removing unnecessary levels of complexity without impacting the quality of delivery and output.”

In 2014, SNC-Lavalin acquired Kentz, a global engineering and construction solutions provider to form an oil & gas group of 20,000 people world-wide, with approximately 10,000 in the Middle East. Together, the firm is a tier 1 engineering and construction leader, offering client-focused, end-to-end engineering and construction solutions across upstream, midstream and downstream projects to many of the world’s leading energy companies.