Project Lionheart

Exxon Mobil, Texas, USA
ExxonMobil Corporation is an American multinational oil and gas corporation headquartered in Spring, Texas, a suburb of Houston. Founded as the largest direct successor of John D. Rockefeller’s Standard Oil, the modern company was formed in 1999 following the merger of Exxon and Mobil.

Fawley, Southampton, United Kingdom
PRINCIPAL CONTRACTORS:

Kirstall, Nantwich, United Kingdom
Kirstall is a qualified and professional column turnaround and shutdown specialist. Kirstall provides the highest level of services to the refining and petrochemical industry.
SCOPE:
Pipework and welding services for refinery upgrade.
ABOUT FAWLEY REFINERY:
Fawley Refinery is an oil refinery located at Fawley, Hampshire, England. The refinery is owned by Esso Petroleum Company Limited, a subsidiary of Exxon Mobil Corporation, which acquired the site in 1925. Situated on Southampton Water, it was rebuilt and extended in 1951 and is now the largest oil refinery in the United Kingdom, and one of the most complex refineries in Europe. With a capacity of 270,000 barrels (43,000 m3) per day, Fawley provides 20 per cent of the UK’s refinery capacity. Over 2,500 people are employed at the site.

Fawley Refinery, Southampton
Firefly Welding was appointed to provide pipework and welding services as part of the upgrade to the ExxonMobil Fawley Refinery in the United Kingdom. This complex project required extensive expertise in pipefitting and welding to support the refinery’s operations, particularly in upgrading high-pressure systems crucial to the refinery’s function.
Firefly contributed to the largest maintenance and upgrade project at Fawley refinery in two decades. Known as Project Lionheart, this £120 million initiative is a game-changer for the site, enhancing its operation and preparing it for the future.
The Firefly team joined forces with over 1,400 individuals from across the globe, contributing our expertise to this massive undertaking. Together, we clocked over a million work hours, ensuring everything was completed efficiently and safely.
For Firefly, this project represents more than just technical achievement – it’s about being part of a forward-thinking investment in energy resilience, skilled jobs, and long-term progress for the Fawley community.
Our welders adopted both manual and semi-automated welding techniques (using the Firefly welding bug).
Semi-Automated welding using Firefly Welding Bug
A heartfelt thank-you to the incredible teams we worked alongside and to the local residents for their patience and support. It’s benn an honour to help lay the groundwork for a more sustainable and secure future.