A New Era: Large Subsea Multiphase Compressor - Driven by Subsea Adjustable Speed Drive

Abstract

The use of subsea processing equipment, which maintains, increases, and accelerates oil and gas production, is now more and more widespread in offshore subsea field developments. Furthermore, there is a strong drive for electrification of offshore fields, both subsea and topside, to lower emissions. To meet the technical challenges, a significant effort is put into research and technology development by academia and the industry. ABB, a specialist in electrical equipment and control systems, and OneSubsea, a specialist in subsea processing, have executed large development programs organized as Joint Industry Projects (JIPs) together with oil and gas operators. In this paper, we discuss how ABB and OneSubsea joined forces in testing and validating their respective subsea technologies as a full subsea system for subsea multiphase gas compression. This paper presents the world's first full-scale, combined subsea adjustable speed drive (ASD) and multiphase compressor (WGC6000) string test. In spring of 2020, both the ASD, and the WGC6000 reached Technology Readiness Level 4. The string test, with both units concurrently submerged, completed its witness test program in June 2020, with mapping of the WGC6000 speed and power envelope and a subsequent 24 h thermal stability run. The flawless test result confirms the strategic development road map for all the involved partners. The technologies presented in this paper are now fully qualified and available for commercial use enabling a paradigm shift in subsea oil and gas production.