Namibian-owned company, Skeltek Industrial Works (Pty) Ltd., employs two state-of-the-art Atlas Copco XAHS700 PACE compressors for the efficient, reliable and safe handling of dry bulk chemicals that are critical for offshore drilling operations and well-construction.
“We have successfully transferred thousands of tons of product with these Atlas Copco machines during the course of the drilling campaigns and we hope to continue operating with this high level of operational success,” affirms Anthony Diab – Director of Skeltek Industrial Works (Pty) Ltd.
“We are proud to support our customer’s operations in Namibia’s growing oil industry,” states Jonathan Cassell, APE Sales Engineer at Atlas Copco Power Technique. “Featuring advanced PACE (Pressure Adjusted through Cognitive Electronics) technology, we have designed the compact, fuel-efficient XAHS700 units to meet our customer’s requirements in terms of mobility, efficiency, and serviceability, a high flowrate and a strong focus on reliability. Integrated with Atlas Copco’s leading-edge FleetLink technology, these units enable real-time monitoring of performance metrics and operational parameters, empowering valued customers, like Skeltek, with enhanced control and efficiency of their operations.”
The XAHS700 PACE air compressors pneumatically convey the dry bulk chemicals, which are stored in pneumatic silos on the quayside, to the Platform Supply Vessels (PSVs), from where the material is delivered to the drilling rigs. Diab explains: “To affect the transfer process, the XAHS machines deliver compressed air to pressurise the pneumatic silos and create a form of fluidised bed. Once the pneumatic silo is at the desired pressure, the product is transferred from the pressurised silo through a piping network to a silo onboard the PSV.” He adds that, in line with sound worker-safety and environmental practices, the silo is vented to the atmosphere and includes a dust collection system to manage airborne particles during transfer.
“Taking the high stakes environment of deepwater oil exploration into consideration, we simply cannot afford any non-productive time due to equipment failure or equipment inadequacy as the repercussions are significant,” notes Diab. “We therefore rely on the Atlas Copco XAHS700 air compressors to do their job reliably and I can report with confidence that they tick all our essential boxes. We appreciate the mobility of the units as well as the high flowrate from a compact size unit. Added to this, the compressors show good fuel economy and ease of serviceability which are also primary considerations for us.”
PACE technology, a dynamic optimisation feature on these compressors, delivers considerable advantages to customers in this type of environment. Cassell unpacks this pioneering technology: “The simple and intuitive software package enables the end-user to tap into the electric engine to control multiple pressure and flow settings, matching them to their application needs.” He also points out that having multiple pressures on a single compressor eliminates the need for multiple machines offering significant savings on capital investment.
Diab weighs in on the PACE system: “It’s very useful when we are transferring products of different bulk densities by allowing the operator to easily preset different flow and pressure settings for the required demand in application. Additionally, the ease of operation of this PACE functionality is hugely beneficial to our operation.”
Further enhancing control and efficiency of their operations, Skeltek has embraced smart fleet management with the implementation of Atlas Copco’s remote monitoring solution, FleetLink, on their XAHS700 compressors. This intelligent telematics system enables the remote monitoring of machine location, performance and fuel usage. The FleetLink APP, which can be downloaded from the Google Play and Apple Stores, provides access to information from anywhere, anytime, keeping the customer digitally connected to jobsites, machines and teams. By having the latest fleet information at hand, the customer can optimise their fleet usage and reduce maintenance costs, ultimately saving both time and money. “We have seen clear benefits in being able to monitor unit performance and key operating parameters on the compressors,” affirms Diab.
Customer service and maintenance are values Atlas Copco ascribes to. “Ensuring seamless maintenance for our air compressors in Namibia is a priority,” states Cassell. “We have supplied service kits to Skeltek, and we are also ably assisted by our dealer who provides the necessary support and after-sales services to our customer. Commenting on service delivery, Daib confirms that they have been extremely satisfied with the after-sales support and parts- availability for these units. “I am sure we will be adding a few more to our fleet in the near future!” Having initially purchased their first two air compressors a few years ago from Atlas Copco’s Cape Town-based dealer, Demtech, and satisfied with the performance of the units, Skeltek decided to further expand their fleet with the acquisition of the two XAHS700 PACE machines and, more recently, a small air XAS97 compressor for workshop purposes. “We are proud to partner with Skeltek to assist our customer in enhancing offshore oil exploration off Namibia’s coast through the supply of our high-quality air compressors,” concludes Cassell.
