Namibian-owned company, Skeltek Industrial Works (Pty) Ltd., employs two state-of-the-art Atlas Copco XAHS700 PACE compressors for the efficient, reliable and safe handling of dry bulk chemicals that are critical for offshore drilling operations and well-construction.
“We have successfully transferred thousands of tons of product with these Atlas Copco machines during the course of the drilling campaigns and we hope to continue operating with this high level of operational success,” affirms Anthony Diab – Director of Skeltek Industrial Works (Pty) Ltd.
“We are proud to support our customer’s operations in Namibia’s growing oil industry,” states Jonathan Cassell, APE Sales Engineer at Atlas Copco Power Technique. “Featuring advanced PACE (Pressure Adjusted through Cognitive Electronics) technology, we have designed the compact, fuel-efficient XAHS700 units to meet our customer’s requirements in terms of mobility, efficiency, and serviceability, a high flowrate and a strong focus on reliability. Integrated with Atlas Copco’s leading-edge FleetLink technology, these units enable real-time monitoring of performance metrics and operational parameters, empowering valued customers, like Skeltek, with enhanced control and efficiency of their operations.”
The XAHS700 PACE air compressors pneumatically convey the dry bulk chemicals, which are stored in pneumatic silos on the quayside, to the Platform Supply Vessels (PSVs), from where the material is delivered to the drilling rigs. Diab explains: “To affect the transfer process, the XAHS machines deliver compressed air to pressurise the pneumatic silos and create a form of fluidised bed. Once the pneumatic silo is at the desired pressure, the product is transferred from the pressurised silo through a piping network to a silo onboard the PSV.” He adds that, in line with sound worker-safety and environmental practices, the silo is vented to the atmosphere and includes a dust collection system to manage airborne particles during transfer.
“Taking the high stakes environment of deepwater oil exploration into consideration, we simply cannot afford any non-productive time due to equipment failure or equipment inadequacy as the repercussions are significant,” notes Diab. “We therefore rely on the Atlas Copco XAHS700 air compressors to do their job reliably and I can report with confidence that they tick all our essential boxes. We appreciate the mobility of the units as well as the high flowrate from a compact size unit. Added to this, the compressors show good fuel economy and ease of serviceability which are also primary considerations for us.”
