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Subsea automation
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One of the obvious problems posed by working in deep water
is that the equipment is inaccessible. This puts a premium on
the systems that tell an operator what is going on 3 km below
their feet, and allow them to detect and correct problems
before they interrupt the production process. ABB supplies
ultra-high-speed controllers for demanding subsea
applications through to highly flexible human-machine
interface (HMI) solutions for seamless integration to topside
control systems. Its System 800xA distributed control system
integrates subsea and topside equipment and allows
engineers to run their entire operation from one screen. It also
enables remote communication and monitoring and control
operations for subsea factories. Engineers can manage entire
operations from a modern onshore control room that may be
some 600 km away.
Long step-out system
Åsgard subsea gas compression project , long step-out,
2 x 15 MVA, 43 km, 120 Hz
ABB was commissioned to provide power to the gas
compression system. The Åsgard long step-out power system
consists of two compressor strings and two pump strings. The
subsea power system for the compressor string transmits
15 MVA of electric power at 34 kV/120 Hz over a 43 km subsea
cable. This is a world record for distance, voltage, power and
frequency between a drive on a floating production facility and
a seabed compressor. ABB is also responsible for delivery of
the topside high voltage power apparatus and the subsea
transformers.
Direct electrical heating
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Moho Nord, long step-out, 2 x 5 MVA, 7 km, 68 Hz Na Kika pipeline heating system
The Moho Nord long step-out system delivers electric power The Na Kika field extends across the Mississippi Canyon blocks
to two multiphase pumps. It consists of two separate step-out in the Gulf of Mexico. It has recoverable reserves of 300 million
systems (inner and outer system), where the power barrels of oil equivalent and a production rate of around
transmission from topside to subsea is via two separate 110,000 bpd oil and 500 million cubic feet of gas a day.
three-phase systems within the same subsea high voltage
cable. The long step-out system transmits 5 MVA of electric The pipeline is 2,500 m deep, and to prevent ice forming, ABB
power at 23.4 kV/68 Hz. ABB’s scope of work includes supplied a power and control system for electrical heating of
validating the power system design for the step-up the pipeline. A container was placed on board a vessel, the
transformer, VSD, step-down transformer, subsea umbilical subsea transformer was then lowered to the midline assembly
high voltage cables and subsea motors. ABB is also on the pipe segment and the pigtails connected by a remotely
responsible for delivery of the topside VSDs and combined operated vehicle. The umbilical and generators were
transformers and the subsea transformers. connected to the container and, following a circuit check,
power up resulting in up to 10 days heating time.
Topside
Input Variable Step-up
transformer speed drive transformer
Subsea power substation
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Gullfaks pipeline heating system ABB has entered a joint industry program (JIP) with the
Gullfaks is an oil and gas field in the Norwegian sector of the Norwegian oil and gas company, Statoil. The program will
North Sea, operated by Statoil. Gullfaks south is located on develop solutions for transmission, distribution and power
Block 34/10 and 33/12, at a depth of 130 to 220 m. The conversion systems designed to power and control subsea
recoverable reserve is 65 million barrels. pumps and gas compressors at depths of 3,000 meters and
over vast distances. The five year program is pivotal to the
Statoil required a reliable electrical heating system to prevent development of technologies required to power and control
the formation of hydrate and wax in the flowlines and large-scale subsea pumping and gas-compression projects
pipelines. ABB provided a direct electrical heating system planned for the Norwegian continental shelf, the Gulf of
comprising power transformer, compensation and Mexico and other places around the world. The JIP will provide
symmetration units, control and protection, along with design solutions for transmission of electrical power up to 100 MW
and in-house engineering. The benefits include longer over a distance of 600 km and to depths of up to 3,000 m. This
equipment lifetime, reduced site construction schedule and an is important for the development of remote oil and gas fields
environmentally-friendly solution. located far from other infrastructure.

Shore 120 km plus Asgard Platform 43 km Shore 600 km

Power plant Onshore terminal

100 km
Subsea
EATS TO SAFE TEMPERATURE
automation LINE H BY A
PIPE C
room APES TO SEAWATER IN CONTROL
ES C LED
NT MAN
RRE NE
CU R
Asgard project
310m Cable outer Pipeline
15MVA/189 Hz element near end
Piggyback cable Subsea Subsea medium- and low-voltage Subsea
transformer power distribution variable speed
Voltage: up Medium voltage power distribution drive
to 145 kV AC Voltage: up to 36 kV on 4-6 feeder For pumps up to
Subsea transformer Current: up to 1250 A 6 MVA and 7 kV
Direct electrical heating For compressors:
Power on pipeline is primary Anodes connect Low voltage power distribution 2-3 units in
conductor for current pipeline to seawater parallel-up to 18 3 km
Voltage: AC typical 230 V single
0°C phase, available up to 600 V in MVA
three phase DC: 24 V and 430 V

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FULLY LITTLE OR NO ENABLES REDUCED RISK OPTIMIZES INCREASES BETTER
AUTOMATED MAINTENANCE REMOTE AND OUT OF SIGHT PLANT COST OPERATIONAL
SYSTEM SMALLER OF THE PERFORMANCE EFFICIENCY SAFETY
FIELD CONTROL
PRODUCTION ROOM
Rock

Benefits of subsea automation Cap Rock

Oil and Gas

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LOWER RISK INCREASE IMPROVE EXTEND EXTENDS SHORTENS SITE INCREASES COST ENVIRONMENTALLY REDUCES LOWER RISK INCREASED EXTEND LIFE IMPROVE REDUCE LONGER LIFE HIGHEST
RECOVERY HEALTH, CAPACITY EQUIPMENT CONSTRUCTION EFFICIENCY FRIENDLY CAPEX AND RECOVERY AND CAPACITY HEALTH, CAPEX AND CYCLES RELIABILITY
RATE SAFETY AND LIFESPAN OF LIFETIMES SCHEDULES AND SYSTEM OPEX RATE SAFETY AND OPEX AND LOWEST
ENVIRONMENT OIL AND GAS RELIABILITY ENVIRONMENT MAINTENANCE
FIELDS

Benefits of long step-out Benefits of direct electrical heating Benefits of subsea power substation