Aibel Builds Subsea Compressors Testing Facility for Statoil

Posted on Dec 19th, !1" #ith tags Aibel, Compressors, Facility, $e#s, $or#ay, Statoil, Subsea, Testing %

Aibel has built a new Krst testing facility for Statoil which is designed to test subsea compressors. This week the pilot compressor was hoisted into place in the test pool.

The compressor was supplied by Aker Solutions. It was set in a frame in Egersund before it came to Krst and was hoisted into place in the test pool on Tuesday photo! Statoil".

&'es, it #as lifted into place on Tuesday morning% (t #eighs )* tons, and represents an important milestone for the pro+ect,, says Ole Kristian Hal orsen, Pro+ect -anager in Aibel%

Simulates the seabed

Aibel #on the contract for the engineering, procurement and construction of the test facility for subsea compressors at ./rst0 in the summer of !11% The pressure in the reservoir decreases as the gas is taken out. Powerful compressors are required to send the gas on to the processing. Usually compressors are on the platforms, but now Statoil will try placing them on the seabed in the sgard field,! e1plains 2al3orsen% And before that happens, the compressors #ill be carefully tested at ./rst0% "e#ve built a test centre that consists of a big test pool and a complete new test facility. The electro$compressor will be placed in the pool for necessary cooling. Parts of the facility simulates that the compressor is below sea level. The voltage loss in electrical cables of lengths that are to reach the bottom of the sea is a large part of what has to be simulated. %igh$voltage work has therefore been a ma&or part of our installation,! says 2al3orsen%
The pro#ect has been named K$%A& SST Sub$Sea Test 'ro#ect". The test facility was handed o(er to Statoil in the summer. Aibel has put in )**+*** hours, work on the pro#ect photo Aibel".

Historical significance

A total of about 1*! Aibel employees ha3e been in3ol3ed in the #or4 on the test facility% The contract is #orth about $5. 6!! million% The ne# test facility is attached to the ./rst0 metering and technology laboratory, the .7lab% And no# the first compressor is in place%

-ow that the compressor is in place in the test pool+ Aibel has ./ days to complete the hook$up work. Then /0 days of tests follow photo Aibel".

'n all, four compressors will be made to start with. The first one is &ust a pilot, and will remain at ()rst* to be used for further testing. 't#s the ne+t three that will be going out onto the field. The first of these will come to ()rst* in ,anuary -./0. The offshore testing will begin early in -./1,! e1plains 2al3orsen, and continues8 The subsea compressors on sgard are a very important pro&ect in 2orwegian oil history. Today ma&or rebuilding often has to be done on platforms to make room for more powerful compressors. 'f they can be placed on the seabed in the future, it will be a milestone for the industry.! Krst Tysvr, Norway