The subsea compression process is said to boost recovery rate from the field as well as give more flexibility in terms of gas processing and above-ground infrastructure.
Installed on Gullfaks C platform at the seabed of Gullfaks South, the Gullfaks subsea compressor (GSC) is designed to add 22 million barrels of oil equivalent and extend plateau production by another two years.
Statoil Technology, Projects & Drilling (TPD) executive vice-president Margareth Øvrum said: "Subsea processing and gas compression represent the next generation oil and gas recovery, taking us a big step forward."
The GSC project is also expected to increase the production rate from 62% to 74% at the Gullfaks South Brent reservoir.
The startup follows commissioning of the first subsea gas compression facility by Statoil at water depth of 300m at the Ã…sgard field in the Norwegian Sea in mid-September.
Statoil said that the two projects, which are claimed to be the first of their kind, are designed for maintaining production at the fields when the pressure drops at the reservoir after a certain time.
Statoil operations west cluster senior vice-president Kjetil Hove said: "This is one of several important projects on Gullfaks for improved recovery and field life extension. We are searching for more candidates that are suitable.
The Gullfaks system comprises a protective structure, a compressor station with two 5MW compressors, and all equipment needed for power supply and system control on the platform.
"The Gullfaks wet gas compressor is a unique, compact and cost-effective solution. The concept may be standardized by applying well-known technology components," Øvrum added.
Statoil operates the Gullfaks license with 51% stake while other partners include Petoro with 30% interest and OMV with 19% stake.
Image: Installation work at the Gullfaks field. Photo: courtesy of Statoil.
