RDC and Statoil Canada Invest in Kvaerner-Led Arctic R&D Project

The Research & Development Corporation of Newfoundland and Labrador (RDC) and Statoil Canada Ltd. are making a collaborative investment in a Kvaerner-led research and development project for subsea separation and storage facilities.

The objective of the project is to provide a method and a system to secure subsea oil separation and storage in waters where weather and ice conditions make traditional surface storage facilities unsuitable.

The project has been awarded after Kvaerner last year submitted a proposal as part of Statoil’s initiative “Arctic R&D Step Up”; and RDC’s ArcticTECH program; a private sector-led research and development (R&D) initiative in Newfoundland and Labrador to address global technological gaps in arctic and harsh environment oil and gas development.  Kvaerner will apply its expertise gained through decades of delivering international oil and gas offshore projects in deep waters, sub-Arctic and Arctic environments.

The purpose of the R&D project is to research the concepts of subsea tanks made in concrete. The tanks installed on the seabed will enable separation of gas and water from oil produced from an offshore field, and subsequent storage of oil during the production process.

“We are very pleased that our R&D proposal was selected by RDC and Statoil.  It shows the continued relevance of concrete as a building material for the oil and gas industry, and is an opportunity to research the application of concrete in subsea developments.  Concrete is particularly attractive now that the industry moves further north in harsh, ice infested and inhospitable environments,” says Bjørn Gundersen, executive vice president of Kvaerner’s Concrete Solutions business area.

The work will be carried out by Kvaerner’s organization in St.John’s, Newfoundland, supported by Kvaerner’s subject matter experts in Oslo, Norway.  The project will commence immediately and be completed within first quarter 2015.  The contract party is Kvaerner’s subsidiary Kvaerner Canada Limited.

Press Release, June 11, 2014; Image: Statoil