KBR (NYSE:KBR) recently announced  that it has been selected as Höegh’s preferred engineer to execute pre-FEED studies for two of its projects off the coast of Israel and offshore Australia.

KBR will provide the pre-FEED study for the King liquefied natural gas-floating production storage and offloading (LNG-FPSO) facility currently being evaluated for Noble Energy's giant Tamar gas field off the coast of Israel. KBR has developed FPSOs that are in use worldwide and is recognized as one of the world's leading providers of onshore LNG plants and FPSOs.

Höegh LNG awarded KBR a second FLNG pre-FEED study for an unnamed project offshore Australia. The four-month pre-FEED is intended to provide a Total Installed Cost (TIC) estimate for a two mtpa FLNG facility to enable further evaluation of the project. KBR will perform a cost estimate study, taking Höegh’s existing generic LNG FPSO FEED study and adapting the capex cost for the operator’s field-specific basis of design. Should the project economics prove viable, FEED could start as early as 4Q 2012.

With the acquisition of the US company SpectraSensors, Endress+Hauser is tapping into the market for gas analysis. This further reinforces the position of the Swiss Group in the area of analytical measurements and in the oil & gas industry.

SpectraSensors Inc with headquarters in Houston, Texas, and production facilities in Rancho Cucamonga, California, develops, manufactures and distributes laser-based gas analytical instrumentation. The devices are used in natural gas pipelines and plants, petrochemical refineries and chemical plants as well as for atmospheric monitoring. The company employs about 90 people and generates annual sales of approximately 30 million US dollars.

"With SpectraSensors we are expanding our range in the field of analytics to include liquids and gases. In addition, we are strengthening our position as a supplier to the oil & gas industry," confirms CEO Klaus Endress, emphasizing the strategic dimension of the acquisition. "Gas analysis will play an important role in many future key markets, for example in safeguarding energy supplies – a significant and growing business." The CEO also sees possible applications in other customer industries. He expects potential synergies in worldwide sales and services, in addition to technology.

ICONICS, Inc. proudly recently announced it has won the 2012 Microsoft Sustainability Partner of the Year Award. The company was honored among a global field of top Microsoft partners for demonstrating excellence in innovation and implementation of customer solutions based on Microsoft technology.

“ICONICS is extremely pleased and honored to have been selected for this prestigious global award from Microsoft recognizing innovation and success at providing software solutions that help customers reduce consumption and environmental impact,” said Russ Agrusa, President and CEO of ICONICS. Our Energy and Facility AnalytiX™ solutions reinforce the strength of our relationship with Microsoft, as well as our commitment to providing our customers and partners with cutting edge energy and sustainability solutions.”

Awards were presented in multiple categories, with winners chosen from a set of nearly 3,000 entrants worldwide. ICONICS, Inc. was recognized for providing outstanding solutions and services in Sustainability.

The Sustainability Partner of the Year Award recognizes the partner who delivered software and technology innovations built on the Microsoft platform that helped people and organizations around the world reduce their impact on the environment. Download the Word .doc format of this press release HERE

Yokogawa Electric Corporation announces that its subsidiary, Yokogawa India Ltd., has won an order from Jaiprakash Power Ventures Ltd. (JPVL)*1 in India to supply a control system for the Jaypee Nigrie supercritical coal-fired power plant*2 that is currently being built at Nigrie in Madhya Pradesh state, central India

The Jaypee Nigrie supercritical pressure coal-fired power plant will have a total output of 1,320 MW (two 660 MW units), and the first unit is scheduled to start operation in April 2013.

This order includes the CENTUM® VP integrated production control system for the power plant’s boiler and turbine auxiliaries. The production control system will be aptly supported by a water and steam analysis system, flue gas analyzers, and other field instrumentation to be provided by Yokogawa. To ensure efficient operations throughout the lifecycle of this power plant, Yokogawa will also supply a comprehensive solution consisting of a plant diagnosis and optimization software package and a high fidelity operator training simulator. Yokogawa India will be responsible for the entire project, including engineering, installation, and commissioning services.

For further details please click 'Yokogawa Wins Control System Order for Large Thermal Power Plant in India'