LFH Engineering, based in Scotland, has invested £250,000 ($348,411) to build a specialized pump for the oil and gas industry.
The company draws on the experience it has built in developing and producing diesel engine cooling systems for foreign shipping vessels, locomotives and emergency diesel generators for the nuclear industry.
LFH Engineering has a well-established history of pump design dating back to several decades, including pumps for water treatment plants and aircraft fuelling systems, which it also supports with pumps and spare parts.
With 75% of its overseas market, LFH Engineering has developed an enviable worldwide reputation for designing and manufacturing high-performance diesel fuel pumps that power large ships and locomotives for leading diesel engine manufacturers, including Bergen Engines Caterpillar and MAN Energy Solutions.
Having successfully met the demands of the world's leading diesel engine manufacturers over the last ten years, the company has now introduced a well-established test pump transfer system for the oil and gas industry.
The LFH-1000 electric centrifugal pump improves flow efficiency and solids control, processes and overcomes many of the operating difficulties associated with conventional pumping systems. The compact design can be mobilized easily and takes up less room than the older pumps. In addition, the centrifugal design maximizes fluid recovery and ensures a steady flow rate.
The CEO of LFH Engineering, Les Hill, says the company's experience in pump design, manufacturing and testing puts it in an enviable position to bring a new generation of pumps to the oil and gas industry. "Pumps are what we do – and in particular pumps that are engineered to safely withstand intense pressure, temperature and vibration, all of which can be seen in the oil & gas world.
"Our design calculations assess the capacity of the pumps to withstand a 10g shock load that is required for the nuclear industry, so that we can ensure that the performance we deliver is in line with the most challenging working conditions.
As part of its dedication to the oil and gas market, LFH has named business development manager Neil Williamson, who brings with him more than 20 years of experience in the oil and gas sector.
Neil adds: "The LFH-1000 has been under development for a number of years with feedback from major well-service companies, and we are now in discussions with oil and gas operators and contractors to use our pumping unit either on or off the coast.
"LFH may make small modifications to ensure optimal efficiency by working closely with the customer. LFH uses extensive finite element analysis to ensure that pumps are capable of operating at peak efficiency.
"This is a very exciting time for LFH, as we are sure that we have developed and installed a pumping system that is truly special and meets the needs of a wide range of offshore and onshore situations."
The Zone 1 electric centrifugal pump unit is accredited by ATEX and DNV 2.7-1 and is capable of handling 11,500 barrels per day (21.2 liters per second) at 489 PSI (33.7 bar).