The Ormen Lange gas field is located in the North Atlantic, 120 kilometers northwest of Kristiansund, where the depths vary between 800 and 1,100 meters. The reservoir is 3,000 meters below sea level, covering an area 40 km long and 8-10 km wide. The field does not feature any conventional offshore platforms. Instead, three subsea templates on the ocean floor are connected directly by two 30 inch, 120 km long pipelines to the onshore process terminal at Nyhamna.
ABB supplied automation, electrification, large variable speed drive system, telecommunications and operator training systems.
ABB also delivered a subsea transformer for pilot testing for Ormen Lange. The special subsea transformer is designed for transformers up to 100 MVA filled with mineral oil. The subsea transformer pressure compensator is made by a double inner metallic bellow, made by SMO, and an outer bellow made by rubber. ABB uses a two barriers design for the compensators that is qualified and tested for 30 years of operation. The transformer can be situated at depths down to 1,100 m.