Fluor Daniel Williams Brothers designed and built the world's first commercial turbo expander plant in 1963, becoming the leader in turbo expander technology, which is now the industry standard for removing hydrocarbon liquids from natural gas and refinery streams.
The project involved three phases. The first phase was a process selection study and an approximate cost estimate. Phase II was a more detailed engineering study with major equipment specification and cost estimation. Upon award of the contract, Phase III detailed final design. During the course of each phase, meetings were held either in the Soviet Union, United States or Japan to review the data, coordinate the work and reach agreement on major project decisions.
Fluor's role was to assist JSW in working with the U.S.S.R. Machinoimport and Ministry of Oil personnel in defining the scope of the work to be completed. Fluor then performed all project planning and management, process and detailed engineering design for each phase, prepared all specifications and drawings, purchased specific equipment and material not available in Japan, wrote start-up and operating instructions, approved equipment selection, trained U.S.S.R. personnel in operation and plant management, provided construction advisors onsite and assisted in starting plant operations.