ATR Group is set to introduce new compressor technology to the Norwegian market following a £7 million investment in its rental fleet.
The company’s Power Solutions division is one of the only organizations supplying the DNV 2.7-2 NORSOK Z-015 and ATEX standard Zone II compressors to the Norwegian sector and has invested in an initial 20 units for use across its network of North Sea clients.
Designed to deliver a raft of improved safety and operating features as well as significantly reduced noise emission levels, the first compressors are scheduled for delivery in September 2014.
With a view to further investment to support the overseas arena, ATR is actively looking to expand into Holland as well as several other key strategic areas. In response to customer demand in the Caspian region, a further six units have been commissioned and are expected to be shipped to ATR’s facility in the region in Q3 2014.
The investment comes after 18 months of sustained growth across the Aberdeen-headquartered group as it meets a growing market demand for equipment and services.
John Cooper, director of ATR’s Power Solutions division, said, “The inspection, repair and maintenance market in Norway is as buoyant as it is elsewhere with a sustained program of rig fabric maintenance underway in addition to numerous barge campaigns and other activity.
“Within this environment operators are looking for increased flexibility and we are seeing a trend towards a move away from the older style compressor in favour of higher specification equipment capable of operating across hazardous and non-hazardous areas.
“We are pleased to be building on our heritage of bringing innovative, cutting-edge technologies to our customers. The addition of the NORSOK equipment complements our existing fleet of fully containerized Zone II and Rigsafe compressors that are supporting projects around the world.”
The Group operates throughout the North Sea and UKCS, Norway and the Caspian region, employing over 400 people. With a current turnover in excess of £60 million, it aims to increase this to £100 million in the next three years.
The safest option for combustion mitigation, the Zone II area rated compressors conform to all current industry standards for safe operation within open deck hazardous areas, including CE, DNV and ATEX regulations.
Operating at 1000 cfm at 10bar and weighing 15,000 kgs, they are capable of operating in ambient temperatures from -10C to +40C. The units are housed in 20 feet x 8 feet containers and come equipped with fixed firefighting systems and automatic release. They also operate at sound pressure levels significantly below the NORSOK standard of 83dB(A) at an average of 76.7dB(A) at 1 meter or to a maximum of 80.5dB(A).
The air compressor has been integrated with 3GHI Protection system to meet ATEX and NORSOK requirements for non-electrical devices used in potentially explosive atmospheres.
