It has been an exciting time since Schlumberger took full ownership of Framo on June 29 last year.
Framo was founded in 1983, based on a vision of how key technologies and indigenous engineering could offer game-changing solutions within the subsea sector.
The company’s commitment to the industry has borne significant fruit, positioning Framo as the leader in its field.
This evolution has been as a direct result of working together in close partnership with clients; understanding the long-term challenges and developing technology solutions that address the market drivers, that is, mature infrastructure, deep water, high pressure and high temperature – all common discussion points today.
It was the successful working in partnership since the late 1990s with Schlumberger in metering and measuring systems that paved the way to today’s ownership. Moreover, what was previously known as Framo Engineering in Bergen has become the cornerstone of further growth in the increasingly important and strategic subsea domain.
The superb facilities built at Horsoy and which have been progressively commissioned since late last year are settling down as the now core centre of excellence for Schlumberger’s subsea business interests.
Horsoy is without doubt among the finest subsea engineering complexes anywhere in the world, and arguably the best, with no expense spared to ensure that it is capable of leading the way.
Some $150million (900million Norwegian Kroner) have been invested in the state-of-the-art Horsoy facility, which is due to open officially this autumn.
The core traditional Framo engineering values and technologies are growing from strength to strength, buoyed up by a robust offshore marketplace.
o Swivel and Marine Systems:
Framo still leads the technology front as the largest independent supplier of swivel systems; “indigenous to the core” of engineering.
o Metering and Measurement Systems:
From approximately the mid 1990s through to 2010, such technologies were still in the development and growth phase, regarded by some as being “nice to have” rather than a necessity.
That is no longer the case. Quite simply, metering today is a “must -have”, robust, reliable means of managing both joint and multi-outputs of production wells. In essence, this is about efficient well management and allocation.
o Pumping and Subsea Systems:
Framo is understood to be the only system supplier that has seabed pump systems operating routinely. There are 27 systems installed and operational, and over 1.6million operating hours of experience logged.
Not only that, but interest in the company’s systems is growing, with opportunities mirroring the hugely important subsea market, including increasing focus on the critical strategic issue of improved recovery rates from subsea production complexes.
Five new and current projects exemplify the success of Framo technologies, particularly on the pumping side:
o Wet gas compression – “Statoil’s Gulfaks 2030” project. The world’s first subsea “multiphase compressor”; no separation and liquid tolerant.
o Deepest (3,000m)/highest pressure (15,000psi) – the Chevron-operated ultra-deepwater Jack/St Malo development currently under way in the US Gulf of Mexico. Indeed, this hugely important project is attracting a renewed wave of interest among operators, including super-majors, in using boosting technology.
o Shell Norway has just awarded Framo the Draugen boosting project with the intention of raising hydrocarbons recovery rates and so increasing ultimate production from this consistently important Norwegian Continental Shelf asset. It seems likely that other operators will follow suit as they seek to maximise returns on producing assets.
o On the UK Continental Shelf, Framo has just delivered to the EON-operated Huntington development project, its 5th subsea production system which includes a total integrated package of controls, metering and scale squeeze; all contained in the company’s unique manifold solution. This is 50% lighter and smaller than a traditional linear design . . . “a simple low installation and OPEX solution” which offers flexibility.
o Also on the UKCS, CNR is about to take delivery of the Lyell replacement pump system; the original being supplied by others as a joint industry project. Framo is naturally very pleased to be engaged with this project in assisting CNR with its quest to prolong production from a field that was discovered in June 1975 and was brought onstream in March 1993.
Tony Laing, Framo’s UK regional manager, sums up: “Globally there is recognition of the value and benefits in the technology systems we offer, not only in the North Sea region.
“We have seen significant uptake, not only in the high-growth regions, but also mature provinces such as the UK, drawing upon our “Enhanced Recovery Solutions”, which ensure that production is optimised.
“‘Every penny is a prisoner’, as we say.
“It’s a case of our future today, as Schlumberger, provides the market with a most impressive opportunity.”
For those of you attending ONS this week, come along to our stand 329, Hall C, and meet the team, to discuss how we can assist you.