The challenges that the oil and gas industry is currently facing, in terms of continuous cash constraint issues and a prolonged period of volatile and relatively low oil prices, have pushed operators and suppliers to seek new and cost effective technologies, in order to maximize hydrocarbon recovery for producing fields and reduce investments needed for new developments. Specifically for offshore fields located in remote areas and at long step-out, several issues have to be solved, ranging from pipeline cost and flow assurance methodologies to control and power supply.
This presentation will focus on the latest developments in Aker Solutions portfolio of processing and power transmission technologies for long step-out subsea applications, targeting to reduce field development costs and minimize related risks.
By leveraging the operational experience from recent projects and a close cooperation across the supply-chain with key technology owners, a broad range of new system concepts and technologies have been developed, from optimized subsea compression systems to AC power transmission. Results from the qualification work and testing for some of these technologies will be presented.
Subsea gas processing and boosting, recognized as one of the most promising set of technologies for long distance step-out offshore fields, is the application of hydrocarbon processing equipment at the seafloor for conditioning and pressure boosting of well stream fluids.
With the recent success of Åsgard Subsea Compression for Statoil and Ormen Lange Subsea Compression Pilot for Shell, subsea processing is attracting interest because of its ability to increase production, enhance reservoir recovery and improve field economics. In addition extensive technology qualification programs have been completed preparing a large number of components for use in subsea processing applications.
Flow assurance is one the governing parameters for the selection of the field development concept for long tie-backs, in order to ensure unobstructed and controllable flow from the wells to the processing facilities. This is achieved by correctly sizing and specifying the production equipment and the use of chemicals or heating, as well as designing operating procedures to be performed at start-up, during production, and when shutting down the system.
