NOTODDEN, Norway – Optime Subsea is building 10 further Remotely Operated Controls System (ROCS) following Aker BP’s first application of the technology offshore Norway.
The ROCS is designed as a replacement for the heavy umbilical between the topside and seabed used to control the tubing hanger during completions of subsea wells. Without the umbilical, Optime claims, it also becomes possible to dispense with a topside hydraulic unit.
So effectively, the ROCS is up to 10 times lighter than a conventional system.
The technology is also said to provide time and cost savings (capex and opex) for conducting well completions. This, combined with the reduced weight, reduces the environmental footprint, and logistics costs.
In addition, it is a modular well access system that can be hooked onto any type of subsea well – horizontal or vertical – at any water depth and deployed with all types of tubing hangers. It can be applied for completion of new wells, recompletions of existing wells, and for P&A.
The ROCS can be used by any subsea field operator worldwide, added CEO Jan-Fredrik Carlsen.
The system is remotely controlled topside via a controls unit. Since it does not rely on communication through an umbilical or large topside equipment, it also consumes less energy than conventional equipment, Optime claims, with no need for personnel in the red zone of a drilling rig during operation.
When completing subsea wells, the tubing hanger is placed on top of the wellhead, as a seal towards the rest of the subsea well. Normally the tubing hanger is controlled through a dedicated hydraulic umbilical with a 20-30 ft control container, which when run is also clamped to the tubing for increased stability.
ROCS replaces these operations by remotely controlling a controls unit toward the wellhead. The system is mobilized in a single basket, prepared and made up onshore, allowing it to be run immediately when offshore, from a rig.
Aker BP used the system for completion of a production well on the Ærfugl field in the Norwegian Sea. It has since been applied to other wells.
The 10 new systems will be manufactured and assembled at the company’s main manufacturing site in Notodden, Norway.
05.05.2022
