Offshore staff

STAVANGER, Norway – Statoil has decided to replace the control systems in some of its older subsea wells offshore Norway, starting with the Vigdis and Tordis oilfields in the North Sea.

The changeover is designed to help these fields remain in production through 2030.

The first new control systems were inserted in certain wells on Tordis at the turn of the year. All remaining wells at Tordis and Vigdis fields (there are 26 in total) will undergo similar overhauls during the course of 2012.

“Statoil is the first company to use GE Oil & Gas’ new and advanced control system for subsea fields called SemStar 5, based on fiber optics and internet technology,” said Joar Kristensen, project manager for Tordis/Vigdis Control System Modifications (TVCM).

“The system is adapted to us who are the primary users and our test requirements have been part of the equipment qualification. Statoil has cooperated closely with GE in the development process.”

The new control system is designed for remote monitoring and operation from land, and features equipment for real-time diagnosis of seabed equipment, and sand monitoring and leak detection. Statoil believes it will be more reliable and will increase well uptime. Another plus for the company is the use of a more environmentally acceptable hydraulic fluid.

Tordis, which came onstream in 1994, is connected to the Gullfaks C platform. Vigdis, in production since 1997, is linked to Snorre A. To date Statoil has recovered 48% of the oil on Tordis, and 38% of the oil on Vigdis, 300 MMbbl more than was expected when development was planned.

SemStar5 is GE VetcoGray’s fifth generation control system for subsea production systems.

01/24/2012