DNV GL has launched a joint industry project (JIP) to standardise subsea processing systems with industry partners Petrobras, Shell, Statoil and Woodside.

Subsea development projects have been under substantial pressure due to cost inflation and the low oil price, prompting a need to simplify the industry’s approach.

DNV GL also is seeking additional collaborators for the project to drive standardisation, beginning with subsea pumping, to ensure benefits throughout the subsea supply chain.

The JIP participants will contribute their own standardisation studies and initiatives previously performed as well as current and future portfolio requirements, ideas on minimal industry specification and methodology for maturing technology gaps

DNV GL said, “Subsea processing is a relatively young and undeveloped field of technology, requiring operators to tailor-make solutions to meet field-specific requirements. If that technology could be better understood and harnessed, there is considerable potential for it to deliver increased value at reduced costs.

“Experience in the field already has grown significantly in recent years with subsea pumping developments from the JIP members (Petrobras, Shell, Statoil and Woodside) and other major operators.”

The JIP “subsea processing—standardisation of subsea pumping” seeks to deepen industry knowledge and encourage progress in this area by examining the potential for standardisation in subsea processing, beginning with subsea pumping.

Standardisation still allows flexibility to custom-make facilities at a system level through standard functional descriptions and specifications.

However, it also increases predictability in the value chain, thus lowering transaction costs and improving the speed of implementation, while still allowing freedom to innovate and employ new technology.

“One of the best ways to create value is by performing well in crisis situations. This JIP intends to contribute by taking the subsea processing and boosting to a higher value level. Petrobras experience with Vasps, Marlim, Mobo and other subsea processing systems clearly demonstrates that simplicity, delivery time and competitiveness are mandatory for future applications. The standardisation of parts and subsystems is one of the potential keys to achieve that. Common specifications will potentially increase the number of business cases for subsea systems and bring synergies to the surface” said André Lima Cordeiro, executive manager of Petrobras’ Research and Development Centre.

“Subsea boosting systems provide the ability to increase recoverable reserves and further increase economic viability of a project by optimizing production. For complex systems such as subsea pumping to be successfully and more widely deployed, overall system costs need to be significantly reduced. Alignment of operators and system suppliers through this standardisation initiative can make a significant contribution in achieving this cost reduction goal,” said Graham Henley, vice president projects, upstream operated and joint ventures, Shell projects and technology.

“With today’s low oil price, it is more important than ever to create cheaper, leaner and standardised subsea solutions. This challenge goes across the oil industry and collaboration is key. The industry needs to lower costs to enable more subsea developments and increase the use of subsea processing technology,” said Margareth Øvrum, executive vice president of technology, projects and drilling at Statoil.

“The oil and gas industry needs to reassess standalone host developments due to higher costs and look more closely at tieback opportunities. Subsea processing technologies enable long distance tieback opportunities for remote and marginal fields. Cost reduction through simplification and standardisation is key to ensuring application of these technologies” said Sean Salter, vice president of technology at Woodside.

Offshore