Technip Germany

A world leader in engineering, procurement and construction for onshore pipeline systems with an emphasis on safety, innovative technology and getting the job done on time.

Paris-based Technip Group is a world leader in project management, technology, engineering and construction for the global energy industry. Technip serves various sectors of the industry, but the oil and gas market represents 97 per cent of the Group’s sales through its activities in three business segments; subsea, offshore and onshore.

From the deepest subsea oil and gas developments to the largest and most complex offshore and onshore infrastructures, Technip’s 23,000 employees offer world class solutions and innovative technologies to meet global energy challenges. With a presence in 48 countries, Technip has state-of-the-art industrial assets on all continents and operates a fleet of specialized vessels for pipeline installation and subsea construction.

Technip Germany, based in Düsseldorf, specialises in engineering, procurement and construction for onshore pipeline systems, underground gas storage, refineries and chemical/petrochemical plants. Its geographical spread includes German-speaking territories as well as locations in which German companies are operational, with its clients including the oil majors and large gas and water utility companies, among others.

With extensive experience in the implementation of refinery units, plastic production plants and other petrochemical products as well as base chemicals such as chlorine, Technip Germany combines Technip's technological know-how with the local requirements of EPC implementation in specific German speaking areas.

Technip Germany is one of the most experienced pipeline builders in the world, with more than 25,000 kilometres of pipeline in 35 countries, and a reputation of completing projects on schedule under the most adverse circumstances, including extreme climate conditions like permafrost, desert and monsoon, or difficult geological situations.

Technip Germany’s dedication to exceeding expectations was demonstrated in a recent project (outside of the oil and gas sector) to increase the throughput of the Fujairah Water Transmission System in the United Arab Emirates from 454,600 to 1,045,600 cubic metres per day. The large-scale project involved pipes of 64 inches in diameter—big enough to walk through—lined with cement mortar. Technip was responsible for project management, engineering and procurement (but not construction) and when the supplier of the pipeline’s stainless steel pumps—built to a unique design and the largest of their kind in the world—encountered a delay due to manufacturing failures, it took definitive action. “We recovered the time lost by chartering an Antonov aircraft, as we had to keep on schedule for our client,” explained CEO Mesut Sahin. The company paid to fly three pumps from Brazil straight to Fujairah airport in Abu Dhabi, rather than risk delay and inconvenience to the client.

A significant proportion of Technip Germany’s activities involve large-scale projects, so safety is always a priority. “All of our clients see safety as being of the highest priority,” said Sahin, “so a few years ago Technip developed the Pulse programme, which is not only a tool for us to follow but also a tool for our partners, subcontractors and clients. The results we have on safety are really excellent. It costs money at the outset—you have to invest to ensure that safety is not only a priority for everyone but a value that drives our decisions and day-to-day behaviours in our projects—but the payback is actually within a very short space of time.”

Based on industry best practice and research, Pulse aims to ensure that all Technip projects are performed with responsibility for health, safety and the environment; that everyone working on Technip projects embraces HSE as a core value; that the company’s behaviours demonstrate that HSE is a core value; and that Technip is the industry reference company for HSE.

This last ambition is well on its way to becoming a reality for Technip Germany. Pulse was launched internally at first, but was soon transferred to the company’s clients and subcontractors. “Full commitment starts with the company’s management, going down to the very last employee in our company,” explained Sahin. “Education and training takes place regularly and cascades from the top down. It is something we are very proud of developing—it has now reached a status where having trained our employees, the next step is on-site training, including our subcontractors and the client’s management team, in order to share the importance of this value.”

Under the Pulse initiative, Technip Germany enjoyed a notable achievement during the construction of a new hydro-desulphurisation unit within an existing refinery for an oil major in Spergau, Germany—over the course of more than 500,000 working hours, no accidents were recorded.

This achievement is all the more remarkable as, during peak periods, there were up to 300 people from various European countries on the construction site, with a number of different languages being spoken. Crane activities were carried out alongside other construction work at ground level; and a multitude of different technical tasks were being executed simultaneously. The work was also completed on time and under budget, prompting excellent feedback from the client—the best advertisement for any business.

The success of complex and demanding projects rests on the dedication of a company’s people—a core strength of Technip Germany. “We have one of the best retention rates,” said Sahin. “Over the last three to four years staff turnover has been at a rate of below three per cent, which is excellent in the market.”

Looking forward, the company is actively involved in R&D activities to prepare it for the industry’s growing inclination towards renewables. “Without neglecting our traditional business in onshore pipeline systems, underground gas storage and calcining plants, we are involved in developing technologies to support our clients in regard to renewable energy,” said Sahin. “The focus on clean energy is growing, not only within Europe but outside of it as well. Carbon capture and storage, technologies in CO2compression and transport, efficient reduction of emissions, solar and wind farms, will all definitely be areas of growth,” he concluded. www.technip.com