Norwegian major Statoil is the latest addition to a Joint Industry Project (JIP) set to revolutionize subsea boosting pumps, the company said in its press release.
Statoil joins Aker BP, Lundin, and National Oilwell Varco in the DEMO2000 JIP. The project aims to bring the Fuglesangs Subsea Omnirise single-phase booster to market by early 2019.
Dynamic shaft seals not only fail all too frequently, they also require a constant flow of so-called barrier fluid, supplied by topside hydraulic equipment and delivered through umbilical lines that can stretch over many kilometers. Traditional variable speed drives also add considerable weight and volume topside, with projected subsea versions looking equally as bulky.
The Omnirise system gets rid of all these elements by employing a patented Hydromag Drive Unit, essentially a combination of a fixed low-speed subsea electric motor, a variable-speed torque converter, and high-performance magnetic coupling.
In CAPEX alone, Rystad Energy has estimated that Omnirise can provide savings of NOK 150 million on a single-well boosting installation, compared to conventional boosting systems.
With the risk of barrier fluid leakage eliminated, Omnirise promises environmental improvements as well. OPEX is also reduced, with less topside equipment to maintain. And when combined with Seabox, a proven water filtration system, Omnirise can be installed as a fully subsea solution.