Offshore staff
HELSINKI, Finland – Aker Midsund has contracted Wärtsilä to supply its vessel internal electrostatic coalescer (VIEC) systems for three new oil field developments in the North Sea.
The systems, designed to improve the speed and efficiency of the oil/water separation process, will be deployed on Statoil’sGina Krog and Mariner projects and on Det norske oljeselskap’s Ivar Aasen development offshore Norway.
Wärtsilä’s remit is to supply a complete VIEC system for all three separation packages, including all vessel internal cabling and tubing, penetrators and stainless steel frames, supports, and power distribution.
Wärtsilä says the VIEC breaks the emulsion without excessive use of chemicals or heat, which leads to increased production and lowered costs. It enhances the speed and efficiency of the separation process by forcing small water droplets to merge and form larger, faster sedimenting drops.
Prior to development of the VIEC, the company adds, electrostatic coalescer technology had not been available for use in inlet separators.
03/19/2014
