FMC Technologies and Siemens Power Generation (PG) are to develop and market joint solutions for subsea oil and gas recovery. This is the subject of a cooperation agreement, which the two companies signed in Oslo. FMC Technologies will bring its vast experience as the world largest supplier of subsea systems into the cooperation, with Siemens PG providing its complete range of solutions for compression processes in the oil and gas industry.
The electric drive centrifugal compression solution developed by Siemens will be installed in a FMC subsea module at depths of as much as 3,000 meters. Besides the extremely harsh conditions in these regions the compression of hydrogen sulfide and other corrosive gases encumbers operation of the systems. The systems therefore have to be adapted to these extreme conditions and sealed in a vessel, which hermetically isolates the compressor and motor. The systems should operate continuously for at least five years without needing any maintenance. This enables economical recovery of oil and gas reserves even at extreme depths. Possible areas for application are the Arctic ocean, Brazil, West Africa and the Gulf of Mexico. There are also projects on the Norwegian Continental Shelf where this technology can be applied in the near future.
Peter Adam, Vice President for Oil & Gas in the Industrial Applications Division of Siemens PG emphasized: "Against the backdrop of shrinking energy reserves worldwide with a simultaneous steep rise in demand, oil and gas recovery in ever deeper subsea and harsh regions is increasing in importance. The cooperation agreement with FMC Technologies which enables us to develop jointly the necessary technology is therefore of major strategic significance for us."
"The oil and gas industry is facing a number of challenges in the years to come in developing the future gas fields of the world, especially in the areas of long distance transportation of gas where underwater compression is required. With this cooperation agreement we have positioned ourselves to meet these challenges and enabled FMC to provide world class solutions within this demanding technological area," said Tore Halvorsen, Managing Director FMC Kongsberg Subsea AS.
