Statoil of Norway said that with its partners Petoro and OMV it has started the world´s first wet gas compression on the seabed of the North Sea Gullfaks field.
The technology will increase recovery by 22 million barrels of oil equivalent and extend plateau production by around two years from the Gullfaks South Brent reservoir, the company said in a statement.
In mid-September Statoil also started Åsgard subsea gas compression.
It is also possible to tie in other subsea wells to the wet gas compressor via existing pipelines. The station has already been prepared for new tie-ins.
The system consists of a 420-tonne protective structure, a compressor station with two five-megawatt compressors totalling 650 tonnes, and all equipment needed for power supply and system control on the platform.
Preparations had been made on Gullfaks C before the subsea compressor could be started, including modifications and preparation of areas as well as installation of equipment.