- World’s first subsea gas field to use subsea compression powered directly from shore, requiring less energy consumption, and eliminating the need for offshore facilities.
- ABB to supply variable-speed drives and subsea transformers to power subsea compressors.
- World’s longest variable frequency power step-out for subsea compression at 120 km.
A/S Norske Shell and the Ormen Lange partners1 will enhance production at the gas field through the deployment of subsea gas compression. The project is designed to unlock an additional 30-50 billion cubic meters of natural gas, increasing Ormen Lange’s overall gas recovery rate from 75 to 85 percent. This will be fed into the Norwegian gas export system, ensuring a continued and reliable supply to the UK and Europe.
OneSubsea®, the subsea technologies, production, and processing systems division of Schlumberger, has been appointed by Shell to supply a complete multiphase compression system under an EPCI contract. The compression system is to be installed on the seabed at 900m depth. The 120 km distance from shore to the installations sets a new world record for subsea compression power step-out.
OneSubsea has selected ABB to supply the very important parts and designs for the two long step-out systems to power the new subsea compression system. The scope includes specialized onshore variable speed drives and subsea transformers.
The interface to the national power grid at the onshore processing plant on Nyhamna is realized through transformers and switchgears, which will also be provided by ABB.
“We are very proud to support OneSubsea, Shell and its partners in contributing to the sustained production of gas from the Ormen Lange field, especially given that natural gas plays an important role in the energy transition in the medium term,” says Per Erik Holsten, country managing director of ABB in Norway and manager for ABB Energy Industries in Northern Europe.
Mads Hjelmeland, managing director of OneSubsea Processing AS, says: “Our pioneering subsea multiphase compression system will help oil and gas operators lower their carbon footprint and reduce energy consumption by compressing gas close to the wells, facilitating a leaner, cleaner, more effective and more sustainable gas production.”
ABB has supported the Ormen Lange gas field and onshore processing plant on Nyhamna since its inception in 2007 with automation, electrification, large variable speed drive systems, telecommunications, and simulator-based operator training systems. The now committed scope will be delivered in Q3 2022.
Ormen Lange ranks among the lowest carbon intensity fields in Norway, being powered by over 95% renewable energy from the national grid and processed in a closed system at the Nyhamna gas plant.
Ormen Lange gas field
- Ormen Lange is a fully subsea-to-beach gas field, located 120 km from the onshore processing and export facility at Nyhamna in Western Norway
- The gas is exported through Langeled, a 1200 km pipeline from Nyhamna to Easington, UK. The pipeline links to the Norwegian gas export system with the ability to reroute to continental Europe
Partnership holdings: A/S Norske Shell, operator 17.8%, Petoro AS 36.5%, Equinor Energy AS 25.3%, PGNiG Upstream Norway AS 14% and Vår Energi AS 6.3%
1 Ormen Lange Partnership: A/S Norske Shell (operator), Petoro AS, Equinor Energy AS, PGNiG Upstream Norway AS and Vår Energi AS.
ABB (ABBN: SIX Swiss Ex) is a leading global technology company that energizes the transformation of society and industry to achieve a more productive, sustainable future. By connecting software to its electrification, robotics, automation and motion portfolio, ABB pushes the boundaries of technology to drive performance to new levels. With a history of excellence stretching back more than 130 years, ABB’s success is driven by about 105,000 talented employees in over 100 countries. www.abb.com
