World's First Subsea Gas Compression Plant Now Online
Statoil ASA announced Thursday that the world's first subsea gas compression plant is now online at the Åsgard field in the Norwegian Sea. The move is a step closer to Statoil's goal of achieving a complete subsea processing plant (or "subsea factory").
Statoil said that the recovery from the Midgard reservoir on Åsgard will increase from 67 percent to 87 percent, while recovery from the Mikkel reservoir will improve from 59 percent to 84 percent, as a result of the new facility. The overall effect will be to add some 306 million barrels of oil equivalent to the total output of Åsgard during the field's life.
Statoil began the $2.3-billion project in 2005 and an estimated 11 million man-hours have been spent on it from start to completion. The firm said that more than 40 new technologies have been developed and employed as part of the installation.
Compression is a way to get fields to produce more oil or gas for longer as the natural pressure in a reservoir drops. Until now compression plants have been installed on platforms or onshore, but this new facility is under almost 1,000 feet of water.
In addition to improving recovery Statoil's models show that subsea gas compression will be more energy efficient than traditional topside solutions. The firm said that the technology significantly reduces energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions over a field's life.
With nearly 50 percent of Statoil's current production recovered through around 500 subsea wells, the firm plans to expand its use subsea gas compression and other subsea processing systems.
"Subsea gas compression is the technology for the future, taking us a big step closer to our ambition of realizing a subsea processing plant – referred to as the 'subsea factory'," Margareth Øvrum, Statoil's executive vice president for technology, drilling and projects, said in a company statement.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
Generated by readers, the comments included herein do not reflect the views and opinions of Rigzone. All comments are subject to editorial review. Off-topic, inappropriate or insulting comments will be removed.
- ITEM Club: More Jobs Losses Expected in NE Scotland due to Oil Slump
- Shell Q&A: What Makes an Ideal Employer in Oil, Gas?
- Shell Takes First Place in Rigzone's Inaugural Ideal Employer Survey
- UK Government 'Must Recommit' to Oil, Gas Sector in Autumn Statement
- UK Government Gives Go-Ahead for Fracking in NW England
- Falcon Oil Declares Commercial Flow Test Results for Shenandoah Well
- Japan Failing to Meet Corporate Demand for Clean Power: Amazon
- PetroChina Posts Higher Annual Profit on Higher Production
- UK Oil Regulator Publishes New Emissions Reduction Plan
- McDermott Settles Reficar Dispute
- Macquarie Strategists Expect Brent Oil Price to Grind Higher
- US, SKorea Launch Task Force to Stop Illicit Refined Oil Flows into NKorea
- Pennsylvania County Joins List of Local Govts Suing Big Oil over Climate
- Equinor Makes Discovery in North Sea
- Standard Chartered Reiterates $94 Brent Call
- India Halts Russia Oil Supplies From Sanctioned Tanker Giant
- Centcom, Dryad Outline Recent Moves Around Red Sea Region
- DOI Announces Proposal for Second GOM Offshore Wind Auction
- PetroChina Set to Receive Venezuelan Oil
- Czech Conglomerate to Buy Major Stake in Gasnet for $917MM
- US DOE Offers $44MM in Funding to Boost Clean Power Distribution
- Oil Settles Lower as Stronger Dollar Offsets Tighter Market
- UK Grid Operator Receives Aid to Advance Rural Decarbonization
- Chinese Mega Company Makes Major Oilfield Discovery
- VIDEO: Missile Attack Kills Crew Transiting Gulf of Aden
- Norway Regulator Blasts Proposal to Halt New Oil and Gas Permits
- Chinese Mega Company Makes Another Major Oilfield Discovery
- What Is the Biggest Risk to Offshore Oil and Gas Personnel in 2024?
- Vessel Sinks in Red Sea After Missile Strike
- Exxon Rights in Stabroek Do Not Apply to Hess Merger with Chevron: Hess
- Analysts Reveal Latest Oil Price Outlook Following OPEC+ Cut Extension
- Equinor Makes Discovery in North Sea
- Standard Chartered Reiterates $94 Brent Call