Page 42: of Offshore Engineer Magazine (Jan/Feb 2020)

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FEATURE Seabed Electri? cation laboratory tests, materials, components, sub-assemblies need multiple power cables or complex umbilicals and in and assemblies were subjected to realistic stress levels in ac- addition, electrically powered solutions enable around-the- cordance with lifecycle pro? les before the ? nal full-system clock visibility of system performance. By using ABB Abili- 3,000-hour shallow water test was carried out. ty, the company’s digital platform, more precise control and

All tests were carried out in accordance with API 17F advanced remote analytics can be performed, these digital

Standard for Subsea Production Control Systems and in- solutions delivering ABB’s deep domain expertise from de- cluded temperature, vibration, pressure and accelerated vice to edge to cloud, thus bene? ting oil and gas industry lifetime. The development f the project development fol- customers. Jeremy Cutler, Head of Total’s Energy Research lowed the recommendations and technology readiness & Development Center in Stavanger, Norway, said level (TRL) de? ned in DNV RP-A203, which provides a “This disruptive, transformative technology opens up systematic approach to ensure that the technology func- unexplored areas, and the power of the collaboration, tions reliably and within the speci? ed limits. which started with a clear de? nition of the scope of the work and combined the best talents in a fresh design from

BENEFITS TO INDUSTRY the bottom up, resulted in a ‘subsea factory’ concept em-

The successful testing of the ABB system has a number of ploying green power from shore to subsea maximizing the implications for the oil and gas sectors. The use of the sys- exploitation of potential subsea resources. Partnerships are tem means that the operating lifespan of an existing facility not new in the oil and gas sector – we compete in many can be extended through more cost-ef? cient tie-ins, requir- areas but we also collaborate – and in a big project like this ing minimal topside modi? cations. In addition, future de- the different parties can share the risk and share the re- velopments can be phased in and easily adapted through wards. An unmanned subsea factory facility provides many an inherently more ? exible system topology. With full pro- bene? ts, with clean offshore power, more ef? cient use of duction systems installed subsea, long tiebacks no longer energy and reduced carbon emissions.”

A simple power distribution topology ensures efficient operation of the ABB power distribution and conversion system. 42 OFFSHORE ENGINEER OEDIGITAL.COM