By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Dec. 1 -- Statoil awarded Aker Solutions a 3.4 billion kroner contract, contingent on a final investment decision to be made in first-quarter 2011, to design and construct the Asgard subsea gas compression system for recovering additional gas from Midgard and Mikkel fields, off Norway.
Midgard and Mikkel gas reservoirs tie back 40-50 km to the Asgard B semisubmersible production unit (OGJ Online, Nov. 10, 2010). Water depth in the Asgard area varies from 240 to 310 m.
Aker Solutions' scope of the work for the subsea compression system includes a subsea compressor manifold station, subsea compressor station template structure, three identical compressor trains, all-electrical control systems, high-voltage electrical power distribution system, topsides equipment, and tooling, transport, and installation equipment.
Statoil expects that the compressors will help recover an additional 22 billion cu m of gas and 2.2 million cu m of condensate from the two fields. Statoil in 2011 plans to let other contracts for the Asgard work that involve facility modification, pipelines, marine operations, and other major procurement items.
Statoil said, "Subsea gas compression represents a considerable technological leap for the industry. With this technology in place we can considerably boost recovery rates and lifetimes for several gas fields."
Aker Solutions will manage the project from its headquarter in Oslo, while the equipment will be manufactured primarily at the company's facilities in Egersund, and Tranby, Norway, and in Aberdeen.
Aker Solutions expects to make final delivery of the subsea compressor manifold station and subsea compressor station template structure in 2013 and the compressor trains, controls, and power equipment in 2014.
Interest owners in Asgard are Petoro AS 35.69%, operator Statoil 34.57%, Eni Norge AS 14.82%, Total E&P Norge AS 7.68%, and Mobil Development Norway 7.24%.
