Offshore staff
ZURICH, Switzerland – Aker Solutions has commissioned MAN Energy Solutions to supply five subsea compression units for the Chevron-operated Jansz-Io Compression project offshore Western Australia.
The Jansz-Io gas field, 200 km (124 mi) offshore in 1,350 m (4,429 ft) of water, came onstream in late 2015.
The company will supply five Subsea HOFIM compressor units, each with compressor frame size RB 45 with integrated MAN motor, size M43. Three compressor systems will be installed into the subsea modules while two further will serve as spare units.
The Subsea HOFIM compressor was specifically adapted for underwater use. All components are designed to be as robust as possible to counteract the risk of corrosion inside the machine. Hermetically sealed and oil-free, the system uses seven-axes active magnetic bearings and a high-speed motor. According to the company, this design means a large number of components are not required, including the gearbox, lubrication-oil system, instrumentation, and valving as seen on conventional topsides compressor solutions.
Compressor systems are used to maintain output and enhance recovery as reservoir pressure at gas-producing fields drops over time. Placing the system close to the reservoir at the seabed typically reduces the energy consumption by about 20-60% per year, because of a lower pressure drop in the pipeline downstream, the company said.
Compared to conventional compression solutions installed on platforms, subsea gas compression represents a lower-carbon alternative. The size and weight of the subsea solution is smaller than a platform infrastructure, which results in a reduction in the use of steel and other materials, as well as associated health and safety risks.
Aker Solutions collaborated with MAN Energy Solutions in the delivery of the world’s first subsea compression system to Equinor’s Åsgard field in the Norwegian Sea. Since start-up in 2015, two Subsea HOFIM compressor systems have been operating at full load. They have reached well above 80,000 hours of operation as per September 2020 with an availability above 99%.
08/31/2021
