Statoil has increased gas recovery rates from its Gullfaks oil and gas field in the Norwegian sector of the North Sea with partners Petoro and OMV through cost-effective wet gas compression.
The company said that the process will Increase recovery by 22 million barrels of oil equivalent, and also extend plateau production by around two years from the Gullfaks South Brent reservoir.
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Statoil technology, projects and drilling (TPD) executive vice-president Margareth Øvrum said: "Subsea processing and gas compression represent the next-generation oil and gas recovery, taking us a big step forward."
Statoil started Åsgard subsea gas compression in mid-September.
According to the company, the two projects represent two different technologies for maintaining production at a time when the reservoir pressure falls after a certain time.
Subsea compression serves as a vital technological leap to develop the concept of a subsea factory.
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By GlobalDataStatoil operations west cluster senior vice-president Kjetil Hove said: "This is one of several important projects on Gullfaks for improved recovery and field life extension.
"The recovery rate from the Gullfaks South Brent reservoir may be increased from 62% to 74% by applying this solution in combination with other measures."
The technology can also be used to tie-in other subsea wells to the wet gas compressor through existing pipelines.
A wet gas compressor does not require gas and liquid separation before compression. It simplifies the system, requiring smaller modules and a simpler structure on the seabed.
The system comprises a 420t protective structure, a compressor station with two 5MW compressors totalling 650t, and equipment that is required for power supply and system control on the platform.
Before the starting of the subsea compressor, the companies made preparations on the Gullfaks platform.
The Gullfaks licence is operated by Statoil with 51% stake, while Petoro owns 30% and OMV has a 19% stake.
Image: The technology will extend plateau production by around two years from the Gullfaks South Brent reservoir. Photo: © Statoil.
