ABB Subsea Technology - Power for A New Energy Future

The use of subsea processing equipment, which maintains, increases and speeds up oil and gas production, is now more and more widespread on offshore subsea oil and gas field developments. Further, there is a strong drive for electrification of offshore fields, both subsea and topside installations, to lower emissions. To meet the technical challenges of these developments, subsea transmission, distribution and conversion electrical equipment are developed through the ABB Subsea Power JIP where ABB, Equinor, Chevron and Total are partners. In 2013, ABB and its Joint Industrial Partners, Equinor, Total and Chevron, began an expansive project to design and test a complete subsea electrification solution for the oil and gas industry. To enable operations at remote locations in ultra-deep waters ABB developed modular equipment - components and assemblies - that integrate to form a subsea electrification system. The system consists of variable speed drives (VSDs), switchgear and a protection and control system for the transmission, distribution and conversion of power to subsea pumps and gas compressors at a peak capacity of 100 MW to water depths up to 3,000 meters; and with transmission distances up to 600km with lifetime requirements for up to 30 years. Topside area is freed, power supply demands and greenhouse gas emissions are reduced. Illustrates a typical subsea processing facility.