Global subsea equipment solutions specialist Ashtead Technology said Feb. 13 it has completed subsea installation monitoring work to support the Northern Lights Carbon Capture Storage project (CCS) in the North Sea.
Developed by Equinor in partnership with Shell and Total, the Northern Lights project is the first of its kind in the region. The project aims to securely collect and transmit CO₂ from onshore sources and store this under the seabed.
This project marks the first occasion Ashtead Technology has been involved in a CCS program; providing a leading subsea services company with its integrated Deflection Monitoring System (DMS) and associated equipment. The DMS is a suite of structural monitoring systems to assist offshore construction operations, combining powerful software with modular technology.
Using the DMS, Ashtead Technology personnel and equipment successfully monitored the installation of an Integrated Satellite Structure (ISS).
Ashtead Technology’s dual independent DMS systems monitored and analyzed parameters such as structure deflection, heading, pitch, roll and suction can differential pressures in real-time. This method of real-time monitoring is vital during the placement of suction can-based subsea structures as it ensures any potential issues can be acted upon immediately, reducing the risk of structural damage.
During the placement of the structure, the DMS system was configured for autonomous independent operations, communicating data to one of the installation ROVs. Advanced positioning tools and measuring sensors enhanced the accuracy of the data collected, ensuring the reliability of the data.
The development of the Northern Lights project is made up of several processes. CO₂ from industrial sources in the Oslo fjord area was first captured, then liquefied and transported to an onshore terminal on Norway’s west coast. From there, the liquefied CO₂ was transferred by pipeline to a subsea offshore permanent storage location in the North Sea.
The CCS project is instrumental in helping to reduce CO₂ emissions and is a step towards the European Union’s (EU) efforts to limit global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.
“Our DMS has a strong track record in greenfield projects for oil and gas operators. It reliably and accurately provides real-time guidance during subsea structure placement work, anticipating any issues as the installation work progresses,” Allan Pirie, Ashtead CEO, said.
“This is the first time we have used its application in the CCS development market. We are very pleased to have seen this successfully completed and to have played a part in the Norwegian sector’s ambitions towards a zero-carbon future,” Pirie added.
Recommended Reading
CNX, Appalachia Peers Defer Completions as NatGas Prices Languish
2024-04-25 - Henry Hub blues: CNX Resources and other Appalachia producers are slashing production and deferring well completions as natural gas spot prices hover near record lows.
Chevron’s Tengiz Oil Field Operations Start Up in Kazakhstan
2024-04-25 - The final phase of Chevron’s project will produce about 260,000 bbl/d.
Rhino Taps Halliburton for Namibia Well Work
2024-04-24 - Halliburton’s deepwater integrated multi-well construction contract for a block in the Orange Basin starts later this year.
Halliburton’s Low-key M&A Strategy Remains Unchanged
2024-04-23 - Halliburton CEO Jeff Miller says expected organic growth generates more shareholder value than following consolidation trends, such as chief rival SLB’s plans to buy ChampionX.
Deepwater Roundup 2024: Americas
2024-04-23 - The final part of Hart Energy E&P’s Deepwater Roundup focuses on projects coming online in the Americas from 2023 until the end of the decade.