Offshore staff

PORSGRUNN, Norway --Aibel has installed new pilot production technology at StatoilHydro's research center in Porsgrunn as part of the Demo 2000 test program.

Both modules have been installed in the test loop's main separator. The first is a low water content coalescer, a device for enhancing oil/water separation, which is designed to operate downstream of Aibel's established vessel internal electrostatic coalescer.

The device 'polishes' the oil so the remaining water is removed before being sent onshore.

The other new product is an oil-in-water profiler for use in hydrocarbon separators. Aibel describes this as a highly accurate version of the inductive level measurement system rod installed in the Troll Pilot subsea separator.

Laboratory tests, it says, show that the new rod does measure the oil in water concentration with greater accuracy.

At Porsgrunn, StatoilHydro will perform tests on the new products with real reservoir fluids in challenging conditions close to the operating environment of real offshore installations.

12/20/2007