GE upgrades Scotland subsea tree base

Offshore staff

ABERDEEN, UK -- GE Oil & Gas (NYSE:GE) has invested $6.5 million in its subsea manufacturing complex in Aberdeen, Scotland, and expects to create 20 new jobs at the site this year.

Improvements include:

· Increased structural capability in Test & Assembly 2 (T&A2), from 30 metric tons (33 tons) to 50 metric tons (55 tons), with new 50-metric ton cranes for heavier lifts

· A deepened gas pit in T&A2, from 3 m - 6 m (9.8-19.7 ft), new pressure test cells, and testing equipment. This provides added capability to build and test master valve blocks, small tree units, and large sub-assemblies such as flow bases

· Test & Assembly 1 (T&A1) has been structurally upgraded from 50 metric tons to 100 metric tons (110 tons), allowing for heavier lifts, with five new test cells installed;

Last month GE installed two 100-metric ton cranes in T&A1. This will enable handling of large-scale tree systems via a single crane, making manufacture of subsea production systems faster and more efficient, said GE.

The company says its goal is to grow its capacity for delivery of trees through the site.

2/5/14