Offshore staff
NORWAY — Optime Subsea has successfully tested and qualified a high-speed wireless communication system for completion of subsea wells.
The wireless communication system, part of Optime Subsea’s Remotely Operated Controls Systems (ROCS), was successfully tested at the Wintershall Dea-operated Nova Field, which is located about 120 km northwest of Bergen, Norway, in 370 m water depth.
“For the very first time, the complete wireless installation of the tubing hanger on the subsea tree was accomplished without relying on a wired drillpipe,” said Trond Løkka, Optime's chief innovation officer.
When completing subsea wells, the tubing hanger is placed on top of the wellhead as a seal toward the rest of the subsea well. Normally the tubing hanger is controlled through a dedicated hydraulic umbilical that runs from the topside to seabed and adds a large 20-ft to 30-ft control container topside. Optime Subsea’s ROCS has permanently removed the need for both the umbilical and the topside hydraulic unit.
For instantaneous data transfer from downhole to surface and back, Optime Subsea has until now relied on a wired drillpipe. Optime Subsea has replaced this data transfer method with wireless communication.
“Think Wi-Fi from topside to seabed to control well completion operations. We have proven that this is both possible and reliable,” Løkka added.
While the first operation was performed on Wintershall Dea’s Nova Field, operator Aker BP also has been instrumental in the development of the wireless communication system. The project has been driven by Aker BP, with Wintershall Dea participating in the testing.
07.14.2023
