Wood Group GTS awarded turbine generator upgrade by Los Angeles Department of Water and Power

HOUSTON, April 2, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Wood Group GTS was awarded an $11.2m contract to re-rate one of Los Angeles Department of Water and Power's (LADWP's) Hitachi hydro turbine generators at the Castaic Power Plant, a pumped storage facility 50 miles north of Los Angeles. The work scope includes replacement of discharge and wear rings, extensive stay vane modification, turbine shut-off valve refurbishment and replacement of the generator stator.

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This contract will complete the upgrade of the sixth and final turbine generator, undertaken as part of the Castaic Power Plant modernization program. Over the last four years Wood Group has helped modify three similar turbines, increasing generating output by 21MW per unit and boosting total plant capacity to approximately 1,260MW. The modernization project also delivered increased unit efficiencies of approximately 2.7 percent in pump mode and 1.2 percent  in generate mode.  Work on the final turbine package commenced in late 2012 and is due for completion at the end of August 2013.

"Over the last several years we have established a strong working relationship with LADWP.  Our team works alongside Castaic Power Plant's maintenance personnel to ensure safe, effective and efficient utilization of resources," said Rob Duby, president, Wood Group Field Services, the Wood Group GTS business that did the work. "We understand how important this modernization program is for LADWP, ensuring a reliable and sustainable source of energy for its customers.  Wood Group is a proven maintenance partner, helping to maximize capacity from their existing power generating assets, to meet the energy needs of the Los Angeles community in an environmentally responsible manner."

Note to Editors

Wood Group GTS is a leading independent provider of rotating equipment services and solutions for clients in the power, oil & gas markets. Worldwide, these services include: power plant engineering, procurement and construction; facility operations & maintenance; and repair & overhaul, optimisation and upgrade of gas and steam turbines, pumps, compressors and other high-speed rotating equipment. www.woodgroupgts.com

Wood Group is an international energy services company with around $7bn sales, employing about 43,000 people worldwide and operating in 50 countries. The Group has three businesses–Wood Group Engineering, Wood Group PSN and Wood Group GTS –providing a range of engineering, production support, maintenance management and industrial gas turbine overhaul and repair services to the oil & gas, and power generation industries worldwide.  www.woodgroup.com

Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) supplies more than 26 million megawatt hours of electricity a year for the City of Los Angeles' 1.4 million residential and business customers. In addition to serving these consumers, the LADWP lights public streets and highways, powers part of the City's water system, and sells electricity to other utilities. LADWP is committed to providing clean, reliable water and power and excellent customer service in a safe, environmentally responsible and cost-effective manner. www.ladwp.com

For further information contact
Carolyn Smith, Corporate Communications - Eastern Hemisphere, Wood Group
Tel: +44 (0) 1224 851099, email: [email protected]

Bobbie Ireland, Corporate Communications – Americas, Wood Group
Tel: +1 (281) 828 3505, email: [email protected] 

Kay Newton, Marketing Manager - Wood Group GTS
Tel: +44 (1224) 367204, email: [email protected]

SOURCE Wood Group