Six exciting inventions we couldn’t have done without
Unmanned factories the size of a football pitch on the seabed? Drilling sideways for kilometres underground? Åsgard subsea compression is just one of our industry’s fascinating inventions.
Åsgard subsea gas compression
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In September 2015, Åsgard became the world’s first subsea gas compression facility to commence operation. Now, five years later, the technology from this project is one of our most important measures for delivering volumes from existing fields on the Norwegian continental shelf (NCS).
The technology will increase recovery from the Mikkel and Midgard structures by around 282 million barrels of oil equivalent.
With Åsgard subsea gas compression, we are one step closer to realising our vision of a subsea factory. Subsea processing, and gas compression in particular, are important advances to develop fields in deep waters and harsh environments.
Video on Åsgard subsea gas compression (2015):
See also this related article about Åsgard:
High flow
The Midgard and Mikkel gas reservoirs in the Åsgard field have been developed as subsea field installations. The wellstreams from both fields, located 50 and 70 kilometres away respectively, are sent in the same pipeline to the Åsgard B platform.
Analyses showed that by the end of 2015 the pressure in the reservoirs would have been too low to ensure stable flows and satisfactory production on the Åsgard B platform. Compression was needed to ensure high gas flows and recovery rates.
Åsgard subsea gas compression (Photo: Øyvind Hagen/Equinor)
Energy efficient
A large structure with compressors, pumps, scrubbers and coolers has been placed on the seabed close to the Midgard wellheads.
A dry gas compressor system will be used on Åsgard. Gas and liquids are separated before boosting. The liquid is boosted by a pump and the gas by a compressor. After boosting, gas and liquids are mixed into the same pipeline before transport to Åsgard B.
The closer the compression is to the well, the higher the efficiency and production rates become. By carrying out compression on the seabed, we also achieve benefits in the form of improved energy efficiency.
CHALLENGING technology project
The development of Åsgard subsea gas compression is one of our most demanding technology projects aimed at improving recovery.
We started testing the technology at the K-lab laboratory at Kårstø near Stavanger as long ago as 2008. K-lab is now being readied to test a full-scale model under water, where we also will simulate the power supply system from Åsgard A to the compressors on the seabed.
The technology represents a quantum leap which can contribute to significant improvements in recovery rates and the lifetime of a number of gas fields.
Video (in Norwegian)