Statoil and partners have put the first subsea gas compression facility in the world on line at Åsgard in the Norwegian Sea.
Subsea compression will add some 306 million barrels of oil equivalent to total output over the field’s life.
Statoil said: “This subsea technology milestone opens new opportunities in deeper waters, and in areas far from shore.
“This is one of the most demanding technology projects aimed at improving oil recovery.”
Margareth Øvrum, Statoil’s executive vice-president for technology, drilling and projects, added: “We are very proud today that we together with our partners and suppliers have realised this project that we started 10 years ago.”
Recovery from the Midgard reservoir on Åsgard will increase from 67% to 87%, and from 59% to 84% from the Mikkel reservoir. Overall, 306million barrels of oil equivalent will be added.
Siri Espedal Kindem, senior vice-president for Åsgard operations, said: “Thanks to the new compressor solution we will achieve increased recovery rates both at Midgard and Mikkel, extending the reservoirs’ productive lives until 2032.”
The project started in 2005, and the plan for development and operation was approved in 2012. Overall project costs were just above £1.5billion.
In addition to improving recovery subsea gas compression will be more energy efficient than the traditional topside solution.
According to Statoil, the technology reduces significantly energy consumption and CO2 emissions over the field’s life.
“Subsea gas compression is the technology for the future,” the firm said.