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World’s first full-scale subsea compression
test at StatoilHydro K-labKim Laland/Bitmap
Project manager Rolv Herfjord (left) and K-lab manager Trond Austrheim cut the ribbon on Monday.
Kårstø, gas processing plant, western Norway
Petroleumworld.com, April 25, 2008
A full-scale testing and qualifying of subsea compressors in realistic conditions was given the green light on Monday at StatoilHydro’s Kårstø Laboratory (K-lab) at the Kårstø gas processing plant in western Norway.The MAN TURBO AG compressor unit is to carry out full-scale testing and qualifying of subsea compressors in realistic conditions over a two-year period.
”This is a unique technology testing endeavor crucial for assessing subsea compression as a possible solution for offshore fields like Åsgard and Mikkel,” says Rolv Herfjord, StatoilHydro Åsgard Minimum Flow Project manager.
Subsea compression could be a breakthrough in technology and the future solution for gas boosting of subsea completed gas wells. StatoilHydro has a number of fields that could utilize subsea compression. Subsea compression is another step towards the reality of someday performing all facets of hydrocarbon production, separation, transport and maybe even final processing from the sea floor.
“Åsgard is in many ways tailor made as a front runner for qualification of subsea compression as the compressor unit on the sea bed will serve a number of wells and thus distribute the cost for qualification on a large gas volume. In addition, the motor drive (frequency converter) can be located on the Åsgard B platform, and the installation of the subsea compressor station would be in a familiar depth,” explains Herfjord.
“If the testing is successful, we can assess using subsea installations instead of offshore platforms.”
StatoilHydro as allocated to Statoil K-lab more than 50 million dollars for this project andthe finances ha scome trough the Åsgard Minimum Flow Project which is evaluating subsea gas compression as a possible solution to boost the gas production from the Midgard and Mikkel area for the Åsgard/Mikkel License Partners (StatoilHydro, ExxonMobil, Total, ENI and Petoro).
K-lab is particularly well suited to carry out full-scale testing and qualifying of subsea compressors in realistic conditions. The MAN Turbo unit was installed this past winter and a Siemens compressor will be ready for trials in 2009.
Story from Petroleumworld
Petroleumworld 24 04 08
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