During 2015 the world’s first subsea compressor will be completed at the Åsgard field off mid-Norway, Statoil announced.
The Åsgard field comprises the Midgard, Smørbukk and Smørbukk South discoveries.
According to Statoil, Åsgard ranks among the largest developments on the Norwegian continental shelf, embracing a total of 52 wells drilled through 16 seabed templates.
The subsea gas compression technology will boost falling gas pressures from Åsgard’s two subsea satellites, Midgard and Mikkel.
Analyses show that towards the end of 2015 the pressure in the reservoirs will become too low to avoid unstable flow and maintain a high production profile to the Åsgard B platform.
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 technology will increase recovery from Mikkel and Midgard by around 280 million barrels of oil equivalent.
Subsea World News Staff; Image: Statoil