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Engineering Services

Paragon Angola

Local Company – Global Expertise

Established in 2004, Paragon Angola Engenharia e Servicos is an Angolan company formed as a joint venture that represents the best in local and global expertise for the oil and gas industry:

• Prodiaman LDA (through its investment in Prodoil Sarl), a diversified Angolan corporation with more than 370 employees and considerable experience in the oil and gas, mining, and related support industries
• UK-based AMEC, which provides high-value consultancy, engineering and project management services to the world’s energy, power and process industries.

Provides Angolan local content by developing in country capabilities to execute projects from the design to the execution phase and by striving to achieve improvement in the life of the local communities. This is achieved by investing in Angola, training local personnel, transferring technology and making use of existing Angolan companies.

Well-Equipped Execution Center in Luanda

Prodiaman has relocated to a new floor recently added to the office building. Paragon Angola has expanded to occupy the whole of the ground floor.

• Secured floor space for up to 100 persons (70 on the ground floor)
• Offices to accommodate client personnel
• Securing additional furniture, desk top PC’s, Laptops, PDMS / CAD stations
• Upgraded telecommunications, IT infrastructure, and satellite link
• Installed a new additional standby generator and power distribution
• Secured additional staff housing. Current houses (total of 31 rooms) are within close proximity of the office.

The PDMS Global modeling system allows personnel to work on 3D CAD models in collaboration with AMEC’s engineering centers worldwide. Twice daily updates ensure that all locations are viewing the most up-to-date version of each model.

Paragon Angola’s offices are equipped with a biometric security system. Computer, telephone and IT hardware is installed and networked through a local area server with satellite links to AMEC's global systems. Work for different clients and projects can be separated to meet confidentiality requirements.

Process/Piping/Mechanical Engineering and Design

The process staff are typically engaged in line size and pump calculations using:

• HYSYS (Steady-state and dynamic modeling program)

The piping/mechanical group is proficient in facilities layout, design, and stress analysis using the latest versions of PDMS, Caesar, and AutoCAD.

PDMS modules used:

• DESIGN (Equipment, Piping, Structural, PML (programming language)
• DRAFT (Drawing creation and Drawing production)
• ISODRAFT
• SPOOLER

The group also uses the 2D and 3D capabilities of AutoCAD to develop isometrics and general arrangement drawings as well as plans, sections, and elevations.

The Caesar II pipe stress analysis tool is used for the following:

• Static and dynamic analysis
• Wind and wave analysis
• Load and viewing plant models
• Seismic and support settlement analysis
• Hanger design

Structural Engineering and Design

The civil/structural group performs structural analyses in accordance with US, UK and European industry standard design codes such as AISC, API, ACI, BS, EC, NORSOK and DnV using the most current structural engineering software such as SACS as shown below.	The design team has extensive experience in the use of PDMS 3D models for design and drafting purposes as well as Point-Cloud, which provides comprehensive graphical clash-checking and electronic site verification.

Electrical and Instrument Engineering and Design

The electrical and instrument group uses AutoCAD to produce plant layouts, wiring diagrams, panel schedules, hook up diagrams and detail drawings.

For accurate layouts, plan cuts of the 3D model are imported into the drawing to provide accurate base layouts on which all additional information can be added. PDMS is used for locating cable tray routes, light fittings, cable transits, instruments, motors and pumps etc. in a 3D model of a clients plant or process facility.

The integrated steady state and dynamic modeling capabilities of PDMS enable the same model to be evaluated from different perspectives with full sharing of the process plant information.

Materials and Logistics Management

• Using Aveva’s Vantage Project Resource Management (VPRM) and AMEC’s Convero program, Paragon Angola provides real-time reporting information on materials status, from creation of material take-offs (MTOs) through final delivery or issue to a given site or project.
• The team has full access to all corporate SCM systems such as VPRM, Fusion, Convero and FTP portals for transferring large volumes of data.
• Provides logistics services, facilitates import of materials into Angola and for transfer of materials to the final delivery destinations, such as Luanda, Soyo and Lobito
• Provides receipt and inspection services of all materials entering the country, giving line item assurance that all materials are received in good condition, without any OS&Ds.
• Provides materials control systems for all materials entering the country through to final issue to the client / contractor. Materials control systems are tailor made to ensure that all client requirements are captured.
• The materials team also provides site-specific tracking tools and planners that are tailored to meet individual requirements.
• In addition to the materials control & logistics services, the materials management team is working towards providing in house purchasing capabilities to provide locally sourced materials and consumables within Angola using a list of preferred suppliers and vendors.

Disciplines and Applications Software

Commitment to Expanding Angolan Technical Capability

Paragon Angola’s training programs include the following:

• A six-month basic facilities design course covering fundamental practices for all disciplines.
• PDMS
• Basic PDMS skills
• Discipline-specific PDMS training for piping, structural, electrical, and instrumentation personnel
• AutoCAD
• Laser scanning software application
• Materials certification, identification, packing, preservation and storage
• Third-party Helicopter Underwater Evacuation Training (HUET), which is required for offshore site visits
• English language training in South Africa as well as in-house training
• Assignments to other AMEC offices
• Discipline customized training

Staff Development

Personnel training and development:

• Engineering design team balance of expat expertise paired with Angolan staff (mentoring)
• Personal development plans, skills matrix and experience logs in place with all staff
• Quarterly Personal Development Reviews (PDR’s)
• Competency development aligned to professional engineering requirements
• Full time PDMS administrator and trainer
• Training and experience on project operating procedures
• Development of procurement and material management skills
• Succession planning for identified Angolan staff into key positions
• Establishment of a global training plan for all personnel
• Submission of a HR plan to Min Pet

Innovative Collaboration between Universities, Operators, and Contractors

Paragon Angola brought the University of Houston (U of H) and Angola’s University Agostinho Neto (UAN) together (establish a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)) – to help Angola become self-sustainable by enhancing local personnel’s technical capabilities. This initiative was established to develop the next generation of leaders in Angola through cross-training opportunities, curriculum development, student transfer and adjunct professor opportunities. Collaborating with the US Embassy in Angola to support English Language initiatives – providing support /funding for the implementation of English Language Specialist (ELS) and English Language Fellow (ELF) programs with UAN

Representatives of AMEC Paragon and Prodoil Sarl, which together formed Paragon Angola meet with former U.S. Ambassador to Angola, Dan Mozena, at Paragon Angola's offices in Luanda. From left to right Andy Sallis, Vice President, Amec Oil & Gas and Director of Paragon Angola , AMEC Paragon Doug Innes, formerly Country Manager, Paragon Angola Kirk Barwick, Director of Angola Operations and Director of Paragon Angola The Honorable Dan Mozena, formerly U.S. Ambassador to Angola Terri Ivers, President-AMEC Paragon Pedro Godinho, Vice President, Prodoil and Managing Director, Paragon Angola

British Ambassador Richard Wildash (far right) meeting Paragon Angola executive Lohit Datta-Barua (left) and Terri Ivers, President-AMEC Paragon (center)

Training and team building for Angolan professionals are important to Paragon Angola. Please click on the photographs for further descriptions.

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Click on the link below to review in more detail the activities of Paragon Angola through its monthly newsletter:

• November 2008
• December 2008
• January 2009
• March 2009
• April 2009
• May/June 2009
• July/August 2009
• Sept-Dec 2009
• Jan-March/April 2010
• May-August 2010