Shell Philippines Exploration, B.V. (SPEX), the operator and developer of the Malampaya Deep Water Gas-to-Power Project, recently opened the gates of the Malampaya Phase 3 (MP3) Fabrication Yard at the Keppel Subic Shipyard for university students to appreciate the pioneering energy technology that Shell implements in the country.
Around thirty aspiring engineers from Ateneo De Manila University, De La Salle University, University of the Philippines–Diliman and University of Santo Tomas were selected to experience the exclusive, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
MP3 is the first offshore gas platform to be built in the Philippines. With its technologically innovative capacities, the platform is enabled to "self-install" using a built-in jacking system beside the existing Malampaya offshore platform located in the West Philippine Sea near Palawan, by early next year.
MP3’s additional offshore gas platform, together with Malampaya Phase 2’s (MP2) additional deepwater gas production wells that were completed in 2013, will sustain the level of natural gas being harnessed by Malampaya to power up to 30 percent of the country’s electricity needs. The Department of Energy spearheads the Malampaya Project that SPEX operates on behalf of joint venture partners.
The students visited the fabrication yard’s pipe shop and dry dock gangway, where they appreciated a full view of the MP3 platform slowly coming to completion, especially the towering 1,500-ton gantry crane - the tallest in Southeast Asia - that was built to execute difficult heavy-lift activities for MP3.
The students also met the people behind Malampaya - some of the young and seasoned engineers of SPEX who shared the inspiring stories of their career journey.