Fluor Announces $20 Million Offshore-Platform Contract

Fluor To Help Build Offshore Platform For BP

Fluor Corp., headquartered in Aliso Viejo, Calif., recently announced that it has been awarded a contract worth approximately $20 million by BP. BP's Trinidad & Tobago operation has chosen Fluor to provide front-end engineering and design, project engineering, procurement and construction management services for an offshore gas-processing platform and other facilities.

Located in Trinidad and Tobago, the completed project will consist of an unmanned offshore platform designed to process one billion cu. ft. per day of natural gas, a sub-sea pipeline to a nearby platform and a land-based facility to collect and meter nearly three billion cu. ft. per day of natural gas. The project is scheduled for completion in June 2005.

Fluor has teamed with two Trinidadian companies to execute the project in an integrated environment under Fluor's leadership. It also has established an office in Trinidad, where a single, integrated work team will perform engineering, procurement and construction management for this project - a first in Trinidad for an offshore platform project of this size and complexity.

"Fluor is pleased to be able to continue its relationship with BP," said Jeff Faulk, Fluor's group president of the company's Oil, Gas & Power division. "But what we are most excited about is having the opportunity to share our expertise and passion to develop and train Trinidadians with respect to these services."

Encore to Acquire East Texas Gas Properties

Encore Acquisition Co. recently announced that it has agreed to acquire natural gas properties in Overton Field located in Smith County, Texas, for $82 million from a group of private sellers.

"The Overton Field acquisition and the Cortez acquisition, which closed two weeks ago, should result in continued growth through the drill bit for years, said
Jonny Brumley, the firm's president.

"At the same time, we continue to keep a high R/P ratio. Having a long-life profile and a great drilling inventory is as good as it gets."

NationsRent Launches Retail Financing Program

Fort Lauderdale-based NationsRent Inc. recently announced the launch of its retail finance program to assist customers with access to quick and easy equipment financing. In partnership with Captive Capital Corp., NationsRent has developed a unique solution that meets the needs of a wide range of customers, from the small contractor to the large regional construction company. The finance program offers a variety of flexible funding options.

NationsRent Customer Finance will function as an extension of the company's core business, enabling NationsRent to be a single source provider for all of their customers' equipment rental, sales, service and parts needs. To apply for financing through the program, customers complete and submit a credit application package through their sales representative. For more information log on to nationsrent.com.

Harris County Remains Nation's Industrial Construction Leader

Harris County, Texas, currently ranks as the number one U.S. county for industrial project activity, based on a survey conducted by Industrial Information Resources Inc. during the past year. The survey identified about 7,000 active projects at industrial process and heavy manufacturing plants in the U.S.

Branch Office Opening Announcements

Closner Equipment Co. recently announced the addition of a branch office in Manor serving the greater Austin, Temple and Waco areas. Established in 1946, Closner specializes in compaction and paving equipment. The company will provide sales, rentals, parts and service for their entire product line, which includes Dynapac, Barber-Greene (a division of Caterpillar Paving Products), Gomaco, Rosco, Mauldin and Lincoln. The store is located at 13800 FM 973N.

Rental Service Corp. opened its second San Benito RSC store in the upper Rio Grande valley in Pharr. The 1.5-acre site features a 6,500 sq. ft. building with a three-bay shop and showroom for display of equipment and supplies.The new store carries a full line of construction and industrial equipment for rent and purchase. The store also stocks tools, supplies and construction-related merchandise. The store is located at 3925 N. Cage Blvd.

Mod-u-Frame, a leading manufacturer and installer of panelized-framing systems for homes, multi-family structures, and light commercial construction, announced the opening of their Austin-based distribution facility.