Aker Solutions has joined forces with FSubsea to create a new company called FASTSubsea with an objective to help operators boost oil recovery from offshore fields.
Image: FASTSubsea aims to boost oil recovery in a faster, simpler and more environmentally friendly manner. Photo: courtesy of Aker Solutions.
FASTSubsea will aim at increasing oil recovery in a faster, simpler and more environmentally friendly manner by clubbing Aker Solutions’ multiphase hydraulic technology and FSubsea’s Hydromag technology to create a “topside-less” multiphase boosting system.
The Hydromag technology is a combination of permanent magnetic coupling with an embedded hydrodynamic variable speed function. It will be combined further with Aker Solutions’ MultiBooster semi-axial impeller design, which has built-in variable speed function and is barrier-fluid-less.
FSubsea CEO Alexander Fuglesang said: “Creating FASTSubsea enables us to increase our speed to the market, reduce risk and reduce investment in multiphase test facilities.”
According to Aker Solutions, the multiphase subsea pumping technology that is being used currently can potentially boost oil recovery rates by more than 20%. However, cost, space limitations and at times complex solutions mean multiphase pumps are installed in less than 30 of the 1,500 plus offshore fields across the world.
Aker Solutions said that conventional systems need a huge amount of topside equipment on a platform or FPSO and also usually require several kilometers of hydraulic umbilicals to connect the pumps with the platform.
The global engineering company believes that FASTSubsea can address such challenges faced by offshore producers. It further said that the pump-module solution being developed by the new company can bring down capex by half and facilitate subsea boosting at fields where there is no space for installing topsides.
Aker Solutions claims that getting more out of existing wells lowers CO2-emissions per barrel as well.
Aker Solutions chief technology officer John Macleod said: “Combining Aker Solutions’ subsea systems expertise and multiphase test facility with FSubsea’s Hydromag technology and lean mindset will benefit both companies.
“FASTSubsea has the potential to become a valuable addition to our portfolio of boosting recovery solutions.”
Aker Solutions and FSubsea will each hold 50% stake in FASTSubsea with the creation of the joint venture being subject to approval from the competition authorities in Norway.