Vallourec® Services: revamping Vallourec’s services portfolio to become leading pipe and service provider
Vallourec has long been known as a trustworthy provider of pipes and tubes for the Oil & Gas (O&G) and other industries, as well as more recently for low-carbon energy companies. Leveraging its strong service offering already implemented in some regions, Vallourec is now taking these services to another level at a worldwide scale with Vallourec® Services. With the reorganization of its service portfolio, the Group is positioning itself to become a leading pipe and service provider.
An essential component of any manufacturer’s offer is the product support it provides to its customers. But that proposition, as important as it is, is no longer enough. To be recognized as an exemplary services provider, companies need to focus on use along their products’ full lifecycle. That’s why Vallourec is reorienting its value proposition as a provider of pipes and services. To enhance its service offer, Vallourec is concentrating on three areas:
With Vallourec® Services, our aim is to support the customer throughout their use of our products, from procurement to final use, and even repurposing solutions for unused pipes. That’s why we’re reorganizing our service offer to help ensure the pipe’s efficient performance from material selection through to final use. In this way, we can guarantee our customers peace of mind and full support along the entire value chain.
Easy procurement
With the ambition to digitize all product sales, a few years ago Vallourec created Smartengo. This e-commerce site enables customers to purchase Vallourec products in stock or when semi-finished. “We’re always looking for ways to simplify the purchasing process for our customers,” Sylvie says. “And, Smartengo allows them to do just that with shorter lead times.”
Vallourec also provides customers the opportunity to manufacture parts using Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing (WAAM), considerably reducing lead time and waste.
Ensuring end-to-end operational efficiency
Vallourec’s engineering specialists aid customers from the conception stage, helping them design their wells. They provide them with product and material recommendations on a case-by-case basis.
By grouping traditional and new digital services together, Vallourec is helping customers prepare its products prior to shipping to their final use site. Subsequently, the Group helps them at their operations base and on the rig to properly implement the products—with maximum efficiency.
Meanwhile, Vallourec’s inventory services maintain the quality of stored products before delivery for final use. “After storage, and before delivery to the rig, our teams inspect all pipes to make sure there is no damage, and that all conditions are in place for a seamless run,” Sylvie says. “We can also ‘scan’ the pipes in the field to provide customers with specific actual pipe data. This also enables them to place equipment in the optimal position and/or boost specific downhole operations.”
In this way, Vallourec ensures all its products are ready for final use before sending them out.
And VAM® Field Service (VFS) technicians are always available to go to customers' wells, where they can provide running support services onsite. Aided by digital solutions, VFS technicians help secure operations and improve efficiency.
Offering repurposing services for the Circular Economy
Going further, Vallourec's global network of field inspectors can evaluate surplus pipes that customers have stored for a long time and end up not using on a project. After inspection, the expert-backed quality assurance teams can recommend if the surplus pipes will function without fail in their newly purposed role.
Once verified, these tubulars can either be run or resold via Behub-e, the online marketplace that Vallourec created for all industry players. Each pipe saved for reuse decreases waste production and reduces environmental impact.
“As we reorganize our services for our traditional customers in the O&G industry, we’re also embracing new business opportunities through forays into new energy markets,” Sylvie says. “Specifically in low-carbon activities such as geothermal, carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) and hydrogen, in line with Vallourec's developments in these industries with its dedicated portfolio Vallourec® New Energies.”
Digital twin pilot program puts innovation into practice
In the coming months, sales teams will increasingly promote these services as the new portfolio organization takes shape. Vallourec will continue to leverage its strengths for the benefit of customers throughout its products’ full lifecycle.
