Valve control package for major refit at Aramco refinery

Rotork supplies a valve control package of IQ actuators, Pakscan 2-wire digital control and In-Vision SCADA software for an important upgrade project at an oil refinery on the Red Sea coast in Saudi Arabia.

Rotork is supplying a valve control package comprising 352 IQ intelligent electric actuators with Pakscan 2-wire digital control and In-Vision SCADA software for an important upgrade project at an oil refinery on the Red Sea coast in Saudi Arabia.

Rotork's contract is a central part of the modernisation programme at the Saudi Aramco Rabigh Refinery awarded to Canadian engineering consultant SNC Lavalin, which will ultimately see the installation of a Yokogawa DCS to control the plant.

The project involves the removal of Rotork 'A' range actuators that have been operating for approximately twenty years and retrofitting the latest IQ intelligent actuators on the existing valves. Rotork's specialist Site Services Department will perform much of the retrofit design work, as Mike Dale, Site Services Manager, explains: "Rotork has over 40 years experience of retrofitting valve actuators. This valuable resource will be extensively used during the completion of the Rabigh project."

Equipped as standard with data loggers, the new IQ actuators will enable refinery maintenance staff to download comprehensive diagnostic operating information, using dedicated IQ-Insight software.

Pakscan will initially provide stand-alone digital control of the actuators on fibre optic loop networks supervised by five fully redundant 120 channel hot standby master stations, utilising In-Vision software. Following installation of the Yokogawa DCS, the Pakscan loops will be integrated into the plant-wide system, whilst the In-Vision will be retained for maintenance purposes. Each IQ actuator will be connected to the two-wire network via Rotork's Pakbox, enabling individual actuators to be electrically isolated and removed from the network for maintenance without disrupting network communications.

Rotork's Saudi based engineers will supervise the installation of the new actuators and Pakscan network, led by Dan Benson, Rotork's Area Manager for the Kingdom. Dan comments: "We are proud to be associated with such a prestigious Saudi Aramco contract and look forward to a close working relationship with the In Kingdom SNC office and Aramco project team. Rotork's ability to handle large projects in the Kingdom is enhanced by local workshop facilities, supported by our local agent Al Hugayet."