px operates and is duty holder for the St. Fergus Gas Terminal 40 miles from Aberdeen. St Fergus processes natural gas from numerous UK and Norwegian offshore fields, on behalf of North Sea Midstream Partners as the owner of the St. Fergus Gas Terminal and FUKA pipeline.
The UK Government, via the health & safety executive (HSE), has designated St. Fergus as a top-tier COMAH installation due to its critical importance to the UK’s energy supply. The terminal must meet the Control of Major Accident Hazards (COMAH) Regulations ensuring that businesses:
“Take all necessary measures to prevent major accidents involving dangerous substances. Limit the consequences to people and the environment of any major accidents which do occur”.
They needed to put the right processes and systems in place to ensure safe, efficient and compliant operations. Their focus on innovation led them to use digital technology, specifically Arnlea’s software to meet this challenge.
Here’s what px’s Electrical Control and Instrumentation (ECI) Lead Steven McDuff had to say:
“St Fergus is a complex COMAH installation and we have full accountability for the safe, efficient and compliant operation of both the gas terminal and the pipelines. Working with Arnlea and using thier software enables that operation to function as seamlessly as possible.”
The criticality of St. Fergus allied with their drive for innovation and continuous improvement means px must ensure their systems are as up-to date as possible. So in 2019, the business was one of the first to upgrade to the new software release which included moving from legacy handheld devices to Windows-based tablets.The project included the supply of tablets and associated equipment for their inspection teams. The Zone 1 tablets are Windows10 supported and ATEX-certified.
This long-term relationship meant that the Arnlea team was able to understand px’s specific needs for the St. Fergus Gas Terminal. As a forward-looking business, px naturally recognises the role and changes digital technology brings. Although the upgrade was a big jump from the handheld devices their inspection teams used prior to the tablet version, the functionality was instantly recognised as being of commercial benefit to px.
Upgrading to the new software and tablets in good time, and ahead of many others, means that their inspection team is already using the latest tablets, rather than end-of-life legacy handheld devices, demonstrating they have truly embraced and appreciated the business value of Arnlea’s SaaS solution.
Ultimately, PX is now even more confident in ensuring safety and continuity of operations at St. Fergus, thereby helping secure the UK’s future energy supply.
The contribution that Arnlea's software has made to our inspection teams and technical analysis has been invaluable. The high service levels we receive from all at Arnlea made this contract renewal straightforward and the next logical step.
