Fluor-Built Lignite-Fired Units Nation’s First with Selective Catalytic Reduction System
IRVING, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Fluor Corporation (NYSE:FLR) announced today that the 1,600 megawatt (MW) two-unit supercritical power plant, designed and built for Luminant in central Texas, has been named POWER Magazine’s “2010 Plant of the Year.” Fluor provided engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning for the plant with the two lignite-fired supercritical units reaching substantial completion in December 2009 and June 2010. The 2010 recognition is Fluor’s second selection in the past three years with its Newmont Mining TS Power Plant gaining “Top Plant” recognition by POWER Magazine in 2008.
POWER’s Editor-in-Chief Dr. Robert Peltier cited numerous winning characteristics that made the Oak Grove project unique: “Oak Grove has an array of modern air quality control equipment,” Peltier said. “It is the nation’s first 100 percent lignite-fired plant to adopt selective catalytic reduction (SCR) for nitrogen oxide (NOx) control as well as activated carbon sorbent injection technology to remove mercury.”
POWER also noted that the project incorporated two different supercritical boiler manufacturers that were melded into a single project; a unique and efficient “push-pull” fuel-delivery system was adopted, along with a tightly integrated team completing the project on-time and on-budget as key features of the Plant of the Year.
The Luminant-Fluor team also accomplished nearly 11 million safe work hours throughout the course of the project, an accomplishment noted by Luminant’s Mike Williams, chief fossil officer. “Safety was a top priority during construction and commissioning and the results were outstanding,” Williams said.
“We are proud that a Fluor-designed and built power plant for Luminant is being recognized for its excellence within the industry—especially in light of our 25-year positive business partnership with Luminant,” said Dave Dunning, president of Fluor’s Power Group. “Luminant is an important producer of electric power for Texas residents, and Fluor is happy to be associated with such an outstanding team effort that will provide new clean energy to Texas residents.”
“The two-phase approach using a lump sum engineering, procurement and construction contract worked well for both Luminant and Fluor,” said Von Thompson, Luminant’s vice president of major projects who was responsible for Oak Grove. “As evidence, the percentage of change orders for the overall project totaled less than half a percent of the budget at the end of the project—almost unheard of with a project of this scope and magnitude.”
“Our strength in evaluating different technologies from a constructability, commissioning and operations standpoint was a key differentiator for meeting Luminant’s needs for this project,” said James Mackey, vice president of Fluor’s solid fuel business line. “This unique opportunity to maximize our deep technical talent and resources along with our top-notch and safety-conscious construction expertise is what made this project truly special.”
At project construction peak, Fluor’s craft workforce reached nearly 2,400 with about 11 million hours executed for the project. Fluor’s home office engineering staff was led from Greenville, S.C., with support from its New Delhi, India operations center, totaling some 220 professionals. Its global procurement team purchased quality equipment items such as the chimney, high-alloy pipe and emissions control systems at competitive prices with competitive delivery schedules.
Fluor worked in conjunction with state and local entities as well as community and technical colleges throughout Texas to recruit and hire local talent for the project’s construction needs.
Fluor is Luminant’s alliance contractor for ongoing plant maintenance across its fleet. Fluor has provided ongoing engineering, procurement and maintenance services to Luminant for more than 25 years with more than 50 million work hours across the company’s sites in Texas.
About Fluor Corporation
Fluor Corporation (NYSE: FLR) designs, builds and maintains many of the world's most challenging and complex projects. Through its global network of offices on six continents, the company provides comprehensive capabilities and world-class expertise in the fields of engineering, procurement, construction, commissioning, operations, maintenance and project management. Headquartered in Irving, Texas, Fluor is a FORTUNE 200 company and had revenues of $22 billion in 2009. For more information, visit www.fluor.com.
Fluor CorporationMedia RelationsKeith Stephens, 469-398-7624orBrian Mershon, 469-398-7621orInvestor RelationsKen Lockwood, 469-398-7220orJason Landkamer, 469-398-7222