Subsea Gas Compression News

The “new normal” is a phrase tossed around often in offshore energy circles today as those servicing and operating in the sector grapple with the harsh realities of the prolonged industry downturn. Operators, service companies and equipment suppliers have been forced to adjust to oil selling at prices well below the $100+ per barrel mark seen in years past. As of this writing, Brent oil was hovering around $62 per barrel, and analysts expect prices will remain in this range for some time into the future.On top of this…

Both subsea compression trains at Statoil’s Åsgard field have achieved more than 25,000 operation hours with an availability close to 100 percent. The world’s first subsea gas compression facility features two MAN Diesel & Turbo HOFIM motor-compressor units. The Åsgard subsea compression system has officially reached the highest Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 7 with both trains surpassing 10,000 operating hours. The subsea facility demonstrated an availability close to 100 percent - the very few interruptions were caused by failure of the power supply from the vessel. “MAN Diesel & Turbo’s persistence in driving technology solutions…

The installation of the modules that collectively constitute Asgard subsea gas compression has commenced on the Asgard field. Innovative technology at a depth of 300 metres will create 282 million extra barrels from the Asgard field. A total of 22 modules will be installed and connected. These comprise two identical compressor trains weighing 1,500 tonnes each. During the summer this unique technology will be put in place in the large subsea frame that was installed on the field in summer 2013. The installation work is being carried out by the North Sea Giant vessel, which was rebuilt for the purpose. All the modules are provisionally stored at Vestbase in Kristiansund, from where they are shipped following commissioning and testing in Egersund.

Several key oil and gas developments in Norway will cost much more than earlier expected and fields with approved development plans are now seen 10 percent more expensive than originally planned, the oil and energy ministry said on Wednesday. Costs in Norway's offshore oil sector, already one of the most expensive in the world, have soared in recent years, weighing on the budget which provides generous tax breaks during the development phase. The government has already said it would reduce tax breaks for new developments and the oil ministry launched an investigation into why costs soar.

Brazil’s Petrobras has been one of the leading players in deepwater, subsea development projects since the turn of the century. These projects include pre-salt and post-salt plays, which require extensive and complex subsea engineering and construction efforts. It would be impossible for Petrobras to develop all of its projects alone, therefore much is done by specialized companies, mostly of foreign origin. “We could not have advanced in this project (pre-salt) conventionally, developing the production individually. We needed a global vision of the projects, starting from a high level plan,” said José Formigli, Petrobras’ Executive Director of E&P, speaking of the primary plan for the development of the pre-salt at the Santos Basin, the Plansal, which was created in 2008.

ABB recently entered a partnership with international energy company Statoil to develop power solutions for subsea oil and gas production. A key challenge they identify is to develop reliable long-distance power transmission technology and to build components that can function for several decades at depths of up to 3,000 meters. The subsea industry has gained worldwide importance as oil companies strive for increased recovery and venture towards remote and deep waters in the hunt for new oil and gas fields.

Statoil's second quarter 2013 net operating income was NOK 34.3 billion. Adjusted earnings were NOK 38.0 billion. "Statoil delivered an operationally solid quarter. We produced as planned, delivering record production from our portfolio outside Norway. We are on track and maintain our guidance for 2013," said Helge Lund, Statoil's president and CEO. "Our financial results were impacted by lower prices for liquids and gas and weak trading results. However, we have maintained good cost control and delivered strong earnings, particularly from our international portfolio. In the quarter, Statoil ramped up several fields. The company continues to have a high activity level in projects on the Norwegian continental shelf…

Aker Solutions & Statoil have been awarded the ONS Innovation Award for the Åsgard subsea gas compression system. Reservoir pressure in producing gas fields falls over time, causing gas output to decline. For production to continue and maximise recovery from the fields, gas pressure must be raised or production will cease. Until now the solution has been to install gas compressors on an existing platform, or to build a new manned compression platform. A more cost-effective alternative is to install the compressors on the seabed…

Expro has been awarded its single biggest power connector order to date with a contract worth in the region of £7.3million. Aker Solutions, of Norway, has ordered high-voltage subsea connectors for the subsea gas compression system the company is developing for Statoil at the Åsgard field, which is located 124 miles offshore of Norway, in the Halten bank of the Norwegian Sea. The Åsgard project is a significant win for Expro as not only is it Expro Connectors & Measurements single largest power connector order to date…

Statoil's third quarter 2011 net operating income was NOK 39.3 billion, a 39% increase compared to NOK 28.2 billion in the third quarter of 2010. "Statoil delivered strong financial results in the third quarter of 2011, reflecting operational performance in line with expectations and strong oil and gas prices throughout the period," says Helge Lund, Statoil's chief executive officer. Statoil presented the long term strategy and long term growth outlook on its capital markets day in June 2011…

Statoil awarded Aker Solutions an engineering, procurement, construction and installation (EPCI) contract for subsea compression topside modifications on the Åsgard field. The Åsgard licence has decided on a concept involving gas compressors installed on the seabed, so-called subsea gas compression. The purpose of the modification is to supply electricity to the Åsgard subsea compressor units, which will be installed in 2013. Åsgard is the first installation worldwide to employ subsea gas processing involving gas compression and this represents an important technological step change in the development of fields in deep and demanding waters and creates exciting opportunities for the industry.