WINNING THROUGH TECHNOLOGY COMBINED WITH EXPERTISE
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MCDERMOTT: LEADING THE WAY IN THE LNG MARKET WRITTEN BY
MARCUS LAWRENCE PRODUCED BY
RYAN HALL
DLV108 offshore Western Australia for Ichthys project
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MCDERMOTT
Mark Lowman, VP for Projects and Operations in Asia Pacific at McDermott, discusses the company’s key differentiators and innovations in the increasingly competitive LNG market
O
Founded just short of 100 years ago, global engineering, procurement, construction and installation giant McDermott
is no stranger to evolving with the times. As global energy markets shift away from coal, McDermott 91
is truly capitalising on its longstanding liquified natural gas (LNG) expertise. Mark Lowman, Vice President for Projects and Operations for the company’s Asia Pacific (APAC) operations, believes McDermott adds great value to the market. “McDermott is one of the most experienced engineering and construction firms in the industry,” Lowman says. “We’ve been serving the LNG market for quite a few years; we built the first LNG regasification import terminal in the United States. Over the years, we’ve developed our processes and technologies with the goal of benefitting our customers. These include: new methods of liquefaction, tank installation, BTU (British thermal unit) reduction, and other proprietary processes.”
QMW fabrication facility, Qingdao, China
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MCDERMOTT
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“OVER THE YEARS, WE’VE DEVELOPED OUR PROCESSES AND TECHNOLOGIES WITH THE GOAL OF BENEFITTING OUR CUSTOMERS”
In APAC, where demand for LNG is spiking across its multifarious territories, innovative projects are front of mind. “Global demand is on the rise, with countries like China switching from coal to natural gas, and India following suit along with other countries. For contractors such as McDermott, that’s obviously good for business, but we have to meet that demand and advance our technologies to be able to offer our customers
Mark Lowman, Vice President, Projects and Operations, Asia, McDermott
a cost-effective solution that brings gas to the market quickly,” he says. “With 60 years’ experience in the sector, we think our expertise gives us an edge
CLICK TO WATCH : ‘THE NEW MCDERMOTT’ 94 and makes us a leader in LNG. But
sustainability. “The customer will have
what’s great about this is that LNG
constraints around what they can
offers natural and clean energy; it’s
develop and we, in turn, inherit those
an abundant bridge fuel to more
constraints,” he says. “In terms of
renewable energy sources. Most
increased sustainability, along with the
importantly, the key differentiator for
work we conduct with customers,
McDermott is that we can perform
we are also working on a number of
an entire LNG project from start to
initiatives.” One of those initiatives,
finish, from site selection concept
known as NET Power, is being realised
right through to the tank.”
through a partnership between
In addition, Lowman says that
McDermott, Exelon, 8 Rivers and
McDermott’s strategy is keenly defined
Occidental. “NET Power is focused
by the company’s close collaboration
on developing a new natural gas power
with customers, particularly in terms
technology that produces low-cost
of environmental action and enhanced
electricity while emitting zero carbon w w w.mc de rmo t t . com
SPECIALISTS IN GAS, WELDING AND SAFETY SOLUTIONS
Established in 1964, Leeden NOX is a full-fledged gas manufacturer and packaged gas provider, welding filler metals and equipment provider and a safety solution specialist. With these capabilities all integrated into one, we are able to deliver a unique value proposition for our end users. The company is a member of Taiyo Nippon Sanso Corporation, a leading global industrial gas manufacturer and the largest industrial gas producer in Japan. With its regional presence, together with its sister companies Matheson Tri-Gas in the United States of America and Nippon Gases Europe, Leeden NOX is able to support its partners in their global operations.
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OUR LONG-TERM PARTNERSHIP WITH MCDERMOTT Leeden NOX began working with McDermott, when McDermott first began their operations in Batam, Indonesia in the 1970s. Today, Leeden NOX is honoured to be the partner of choice for McDermott, for their gas, welding and safety requirements. Our gas division first began supporting McDermott in their gas requirements at their Singapore facilities in the early 1970s. We extended this collaboration to McDermott’s yard in Batam, Indonesia thereafter with gases initially being sent from Singapore until we established PT National Industrial Gases Indonesia (PT NIG). Today, we are a total gas solution partner to McDermott in Batam, where we supply a myriad of gases that caters to McDermott’s cutting needs (namely dissolved acetylene, compressed natural gas and oxygen) and stringent welding requirements (namely shielding gases like compressed carbon dioxide, liquid argon and compressed nitrogen). Over the years, these gases play a significant role in the production process of topside platforms and jackets for their clientele, which are used in some of the world’s harshest environment today. PT NIG recently launched the San Arc™ welding shielding gas to increase welding productivity and deliver significant proven cost savings for mild steel, stainless steel, duplex stainless steel and titanium welding requirements. In areas where innovative welding solutions are needed, Leeden NOX is able to formulate unique San Arc™ gas mixtures for specific or special materials. Our wide range of industrial gases are often used in tandem with Leeden NOX’s welding filler metals, welding and cutting equipment, to deliver the best-in-class welding and cutting performance. As the choice provider of welding and cutting equipment to McDermott, McDermott recently invested in state-of-the-art Miller XMT 350 FieldPro™ & ArcReach SuitCase 12 wire feeders for their yard operations. When used together as a system, the Miller XMT 350 FieldPro™ & ArcReach SuitCase 12 wire
feeders delivers ArcReach Technology, that increases jobsite productivity and efficiency. This is achieved by eliminating the time spent tracing weld cables even at hundreds of feet back to the power source as weld operators are now able to make voltage adjustments at the ArcReach wire feeder.In addition, the Cable Length Compensation (CLC™) technology ensures that the voltage a weld operator sets is the voltage they get, by automatically adjusting voltage based on weld cable length. Coupled with the use of Hobart Fabshield 81N1 and Fabshield 81N2 flux-cored self-shielded wires, McDermott is able to conduct critical welding operations even in strong windy outdoor yard conditions. Leeden NOX places a strong emphasis on the importance of a safe, healthy and clean work environment, and offers safety solutions in the areas of personal protection, fall protection & rescue systems, emergency response and environmental protection. As the exclusive partner to several renowned international brands, Leeden NOX is proud to equip McDermott employees with Red Wing safety boots for their daily operations. The wide and keen adoption of quality gas, welding and safety solutions by McDermott demonstrates their vision towards the delivery of complete, innovative solutions for their clients, whilst instilling a robust and mindful Quality, Health, Safety, Environment and Security culture. Leeden NOX seeks to extend our excellent partnership with McDermott, as we further our collaboration in the areas of gas, welding and safety in the many years to come.
(65) 6266 4868 WWW.LEEDENNOX.COM
MCDERMOTT
emissions. This is based on an
“We’re looking at modifications for
innovative approach to carbon capture
fuel specifications, particularly with
and, in our view, has the potential to
gasoline octane,” says Lowman.
revolutionise the power industry,”
Lummus Technology, owned by
comments Lowman. As the construction
McDermott through the merger with
contractor for the project, McDermott
Chicago Bridge & Iron (CBI) in May
has already built the pilot plants in
2018, offers a product known as
La Porte, Texas, where the tech will
AlkyClean, which increases the octane
be put through its paces.
content of gasoline. It recently won the
Another initiative the company is
97
Environmental Protection Agency’s
enacting is called Clean Fuels—a
President’s Award. Lummus is also
response to combustion engines
integral to another sustainability-centric
becoming lighter and capable of
initiative: Chevron Lummus Global,
exerting higher compression ratios.
a joint venture between McDermott
NetPower
CLICK TO WATCH : ‘INPEX ICHTHYS LNG PROJECT’ 98
E XE CU T I VE PRO FI LE
Mark Lowman Mark Lowman is an accomplished, highly resourceful Executive Management professional with a wealth of experience in managing multi-billion dollar construction projects in the Oil and Gas industry from inception to delivery. Prior to his career in the oil and gas industry, Mark had a successful naval career moving from the ranks to Lieutenant Commander. Mark has been with McDermott International Inc. for seven years in a variety of roles, including as the Director of Fabrication in Batam, Indonesia, Senior Director of Commercial Asia Pacific, and Vice President of Project Execution in both Asia Pacific and in Houston. Marks holds a Master of Business from Deakin University and has degrees in Nuclear Engineering, Naval Science and Operational Studies, from Britannia Royal Naval College and Royal Naval College Greenwich.
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“WITH 60 YEARS’ EXPERIENCE IN THE MARKET, WE THINK OUR EXPERTISE GIVES US AN EDGE AND MAKES US A LEADER IN LNG” Mark Lowman, Vice President, Projects and Operations, Asia, McDermott
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PROFAB
Completion & Production Solutions
We Power the Industry that Powers the World Established in 1998 and located in Batam, Indonesia. Profab is a recognized leader in the supply and manufacture of equipment for the Oil and Gas industry, Specialising in the manufacture of; Subsea equipment & Mooring Systems Process Modules, Skids & Well Head Platforms Pressure Vessels and Heat exchangers
Learn more
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and Chevron focused on helping
this philosophy has yielded modern
refiners produce high-quality transpor-
load transfer systems, reusable pallets
tation fuels. “The portfolio under this
and onshore modularization – an
initiative helps our customers maximise
increasingly important factor in location
every barrel of crude oil into higher-val-
selection for new plants, refineries and
ue products,” says Lowman. “That
the like. “We also have a digital twin,
means minimising waste and maximis-
GeminiXD, which enables customers
ing a limited resource.”
to reduce waste by offering a single
These efforts to mitigate the
source of truth,” Lowman says. “It has
environmental impacts of its projects
a nickname, Design Twin, and it consists
are ingrained in a sustainable design
of a software suite that provides 3D
philosophy implemented at every level,
design and modelling capabilities.
cutting emissions without negatively
It integrates inflight, outfield data from
affecting the bottom line. Internally,
different sources and it pulls all that
CLICK TO WATCH : ‘OPTIMIZING SUBSEA DESIGN SOLUTIONS’
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MCDERMOTT
AllAlloy Dynaweld Pte Ltd | T +65 6897 8878 | F +65 6897 7006 E sales@allalloy.com | W www.allalloy.com S I N G A P O R E • M A L AY S I A • I N D O N E S I A • M YA N M A R
MIS S IO N : Delivering high-end filler metals, welding systems, heating systems, accessories and consumables that will increase our customers’ productivity. Be our customers’ preferred partner by providing complete welding solution. MARINE, OIL & GAS FABRICATORS OFFSHORE PIPE LAYING CONSTRUCTORS POWER PLANT AND PETROCHEMICAL CONSTRUCTION WIND TOWER FABRICATORS Building our brand to mean creativity, reliability, technical superiority, friendliness and honesty to all our customers, partners and stakeholders.
104 together to become a single source of truth for design, procurement, fabrication and construction before handing over to the customer.” Lowman enthuses that, as a contractor, Gemini adds significant value to McDermott’s operations through increased efficiency and minimisation of errors. With such a deep portfolio across so many territories, incremental upgrades to efficiency resonate
“IN ASIA, WE ALSO SUPPORT THE REST OF OUR GLOBAL OPERATIONS IN TERMS OF ENGINEERING. WE HAVE A TERM FOR IT, MOPEX, THE MULTIOPERATIONAL PROJECT EXECUTION MODEL”
throughout McDermott’s operations. APAC, Lowman’s ward, represents one of McDermott’s most diverse profiles. “The region is unique in that
Mark Lowman, Vice President, Projects and Operations, Asia, McDermott w w w.mc de rmo t t . com
MCDERMOTT
every country is different,” he explains. “And that brings various challenges and opportunities. For example, in India, we’re currently executing two subsea projects on the east coast—one for Reliance Industries, the other for ONGC (Oil and Natural Gas Corporation). We’re designing the infrastructure and hardware for the seabed to enable us to pipe gas and hydrocarbons from the wellhead to the onshore terminal.” In addition, McDermott is conducting a tank-building project in a remote area 105
of the Philippines, a significant offshore platform project in Vietnam, and a further LNG endeavour, known as Ichthys, with INPEX in Australia. “We have a wide range and variety of works that we’re currently executing,” Lowman says. “In Asia, we also support the rest of our global operations in terms of engineering. We have a term for it, MOPEX, the multi-operational project execution model.” He offers a hypothetical example whereby a project for the North Sea would be executed in Asia, engineered out of the firm’s Kuala Lumpur office, supported by its Indian offices and manufactured at McDermott’s fabrication facility in Batam, Indonesia. “That’s
the power of the company, being able to unite the strengths of each region across the globe,” Lowman says. Lowman adds that McDermott’s evolution and expansion are driven by an unerring commitment to the customer, a firm ear to the ground of the market and a global presence that informs and empowers itself. “Since we merged with CB&I in 2018, McDermott has become a very different company. We’re a much larger, technology-led and integrated firm, with a formidable presence in offshore and onshore energy markets. We’ve effectively gone from 13,000 employees to 32,000, and we’re able to perform entire projects in-house.” As McDermott continues to grow, that comprehensiveness is sure to be a key differentiator in the increasingly competitive LNG space. Given McDermott’s demonstrable prowess, it certainly appears ready for the challenge.
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757 N. Eldridge Pkwy, Houston TX 77079, USA T +1 281 870 5000 www.mcdermott.com