ABB to power Asgard subsea oil and gas field

Offshore staff

ZURICH, Switzerland – ABB has won an order worth about $36 million from Aker Solutions to provide drives and transformers to their subsea power distribution system for the Asgard subsea oil and gas field operated by Norway’s Statoil. The order was booked in the third quarter.

ABB’s equipment will ensure reliable power, as well as optimized motor speed and control, for the world's first subsea gas compression system from onboard the Asgard A floating vessel off the northern coast of Norway. The electrical system will be able to transmit 15 megavolt-amperes and 189 hertz over a distance of 43 km (27 mi).

Once completed, this will be a world record distance as well as the highest voltage and frequency achieved between a drive on a floating production facility and a compressor on the seabed.

“The distance and voltage requirement of this operation make it a milestone project for the oil and gas industry,” said Veli-Matti Reinikkala, head of ABB’s Process Automation division. “ABB continues to build on its experience as the global leader in subsea electrification; our technology, project experience and engineering resources were crucial to winning this important order.”

10/14/2011