ABB, a leading international power and automation technology group, has signed a US$2.8 mn deal with leading contractor BlackCat Engineering & Construction to design and develop a major integrated Safety Integrity Level 3 (SIL 3) and process control system for a gas pipeline project in the Dukhan oilfield in west Qatar.

Safety integrity level (SIL) is a standard that allows customers to specify exactly how much protection is required for any given safety function. If a safety system is rated SIL 3, it means the solution provides the highest level of integration of safety and control. It also means it features an unique architecture that provides superior protection of the process, plant, personnel, and the environment while it optimizes overall process efficiency.

ABB will supply SIL 3 controllers for emergency shutdown, process control, and fire and gas systems as well as its SIL3-compliant System 800xA for new and existing plants on the field as part of an upgrade and development plan. The ABB system provides a host of new automation functions and gives operators at Dukhan secured centralised access to these functions. This will result in improved safety standards, less downtime for the gas transmission network, as well as lower operating costs.

According to Johan de Villiers, ABB’s country manager in Qatar: “This is one of the first projects where the process control and safety system are integrated on the same platform. ABB is very excited to be a part of this landmark project as it will be an excellent reference for the region's safety market and will also establish our 800xA solution as a reliable and serious contender for the safety market.”

ABB has been at the forefront of safety system development and delivery since 1979, when it commissioned the first emergency shutdown system on the Statfjord B offshore oil platform off the coast of Scotland in the North Sea.

ABB commemorated its 30 years of extensive safety experience in 2009; these safety system solutions have protected literally generations of personnel and processes.

ABB is a leader in power and automation technologies that enable utility and industry customers to improve their performance while lowering environmental impact. The ABB Group of companies operates in around 100 countries and employs about 117,000 people.