N E W S   R E L E A S E  from  FURMANITE  INTERNATIONAL

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FIL/121:PW
15 March 2005

Furmanite wins BP Caspian subsea contract

Furmanite International, the specialist services company geared to maximising asset uptime, has been awarded a substantial contract by the Azerbaijan International Operating Company (AIOC) operated by BP to supply pipeline contingency repair equipment for AIOC subsea lines in the Azerbaijan sector of the Caspian Sea.

Under the contract Furmanite will supply and store locally, at its own Baku warehouse facility, high pressure pipeline repair clamps, connectors and various flanges, all meeting the stringent technical requirements for subsea application. The package will provide contingency measures for the 185km 30 inch oil pipeline and 28 inch gas pipeline between Central Azeri and Sangachal Terminal, and the 18 inch in-field gas pipeline between the Central Azeri and Chirag platforms, should repairs or modifications to the lines be required.

The high pressure repair clamps being provided are engineered to accommodate design pressures of over 140 barg for the 28 and 30 inch oil and gas lines, and 40 barg for the 18 inch gas line. They include Furmanite’s specialist cross-asset clamp design, developed to accommodate variations in nominal outside diameters and out-of-roundness that could otherwise prove problematic, given the varying pipe schedules that exist in the field, making the clamps a viable and high value contingency measure should the need for repair arise.

Morgrip high pressure weldless mechanical connectors for subsea use are also being supplied as part of the contracted package to provide rapid high integrity repair connections, also for the 18, 28 and 30 inch lines. A range of flanges, including swivel ring and weld neck, are also included for the same lines.

In addition, Furmanite is able to support the supply contract by providing storage capacity so the items can be held locally for rapid deployment if needed, and provide necessary maintenance and periodic inspection, as well as diver training for installation as and when required.

Commenting on the contract win Furmanite business development manager Mike Tucker said: “We are delighted to be able to provide this subsea pipeline contingency package for AIOC, operated by BP, with whom we have a proven track record demonstrating our understanding of their requirements and our ability to respond quickly and effectively. This, coupled with our on-the-ground presence and commitment to Azerbaijan, plus our full design capability, has put us in an optimum position to provide this package for the Caspian region.”

Furmanite expanded its presence in the Caspian earlier this year, with a new office in Baku, complete with warehouse and fully equipped workshop facilities, giving it an unrivalled engineering resource in the region. With a workforce of ex-pat engineers based in Baku and supported by Azeri personnel trained in Furmanite technologies, the company provides its full breadth of engineering services in the region, where it has successfully undertaken a number of projects.

For further press information please contact:
Sarah Manwaring-White, Keep in Touch Ltd
Tel: +44 (0)1451 844 488,  Email: sarah_mw@keepintouch.co.uk
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Issued on behalf of Furmanite International Ltd