In December 2007, Tarpon was awarded a complex project to rebuild the Enerplus Resources Fund Giltedge Battery’s electrical and controls infrastructure after a large fire caused major devastation. Travis Read, Director, SCADA & Controls Engineering, credits teamwork as the reason that Tarpon was able to complete the project ahead of schedule and under budget. “A project of this complexity, adversity and strict time constraints, could not have been completed without the joint efforts of multiple groups working in unison,” he says. “The Electric & Controls division exceeded the client’s expectations and performed all tasks at an exceptional level.”

On November 29, the Enerplus Giltedge Battery, located north of Wainwright, suffered a fire that destroyed some process equipment/buildings and the majority of the facility’s electrical infrastructure. Tarpon provided an on-site damage assessment report and cost estimate to re-engineer and reconstruct the facility’s electrical and controls.

A detailed turnkey million dollar proposal was presented to Enerplus and its insurance adjustors outlining the precise scope to rebuild the facility. With work commencing in January and wrapping up in mid-April, the general scope included: the replacement of the main Motor Control Centre (MCC) and all its electrical contents; 120 meters of cable tray and associated supports; over 250 cables including the main service feeders; two additional MCC sub feeders; centralizing the facility’s electrical and controls; and, adding a new 21-metre heavy oil treater, complete with associated instrumentation and controls.

The project, which was under budget and ahead of schedule, required a great deal of coordination among more than 11 groups within the Electric &Controls division. Timeliness was a significant factor in completing the project, since the Giltedge facility was losing production for each day that it was shut down.