The Otway Project and Thylacine platform were shut down from mid-January 2011 to mid-February 2011.

Valve Tech Engineering (VTE) played a pivotal role in bringing both units back into compliance – testing and overhauling over 150 various pressure safety valves (PSV) onshore and three in-situ choke valves offshore in a timely and cost-effective manner. The company was also involved in securing valve spares and providing logistical support onsite. Shane Booth was VTE’s representative onsite, supplying daily performance updates and managing labour resources throughout the operation, and getting the valves back in line and back into compliance.

Valve Tech Engineering has recently become service and sales agent for Dresser Consolidated and Masoneilan products throughout Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia.

In order to secure the PSV work, VTE had to supply complete PSV spares for all 150+ valves within an eight-week lead time. The majority of the installed PSVs at the Otway facility are satellite faced, which is not a standard stocked item and usually take up to 14 weeks to manufacture.

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To comply with Origin Energy’s short lead time, VTE flew Niall Mackinnon (Regional Aftermarket Manager) from Singapore to liaise with Origin planners, to guarantee VTE would meet the required delivery date on all spare parts. Consequently an order was placed on VTE for 450+ line items for consolidated valves alone.

Using the Dresser Emergency Response Unit in Deer Park, USA, VTE was able to meet the required delivery date.

Valve Tech has been supplying specialist workshop and onsite services to the power generation, upstream and downstream oil and gas, water and process industries for over 20 years.

About VTE

Valve Tech Engineering specialises in valve repair and onsite valve maintenance activities of any size and testing activity. VTE also custom designs and manufactures valves for severe service applications, and undertakes work from all market segments within Australia and Asia Pacific.

For projects in remote locations, the company can produce key flange-to-flange services such as tensioning, blinding, de-blinding and flange machining as well as core services to mechanical and safety valve maintenance activities.