Moderated by: Kai Stoltz, GCE Ocean Technology and Kim Løseth, NUI As

13:20 - 13:40

ULTRA Low Density – Next Generation Wet Insulation System
Øystein Moholdt - Shawcor 

Wet insulation systems are used on subsea pipelines globally to maintain a certain temperature in the flow of oil and gas. Improving the insulation system will give a range of benefits both economically and environmentally. When minimizing the k-value by reducing the density of the insulation material, we can apply less kg of material. This reduction will minimize the environmental footprint of every pipeline in which this is applied.

Shawcor initially qualified use of styrenic based ULTRA wet insulation back in 2009. Compared to the widely used polypropylene insulation systems, this improved the insulation effect by roughly 20-25 % assuming the same insulation coating thickness, allowing for U-values below 3 W/m²K. Shawcor is currently improving the ULTRA portfolio with concepts that, by bringing the material density from 830 kg/m³ down to 650 kg/m³, will theoretically be able to reach U-values as low as 1.3 W/m²K.

Such a reduced density system enables the use of wet insulation at far lower U-value requirements than previously. It also significantly reduces insulation thickness which could in some cases reduce number of trips required for a reeling vessel. The reduced material usage and vessel time will contribute in the ongoing effort to move the industry in a more environmentally friendly direction.

We will present test results and methodology for this development program.

13:40 - 14:00

DC/FO: DC subsea control umbilical infrastructure
Ronan Michel - Alcatel Submarine Networks, FRANCE

Subsea controls architectures have been traditionally based on large size project-specific umbilicals integrating hydraulics, data, power, and chemicals. 

The submarine telecom industry has a unique expertise an extensive track record of delivering highly reliable, long reach, standardized solutions for DC powering transport and Fiber Optic communication.

Leveraging on this expertise, a new cost-effective subsea control infrastructure solution has been developed in partnership with Equinor, based on reliable super-structural and standardized DC subsea power and optical fiber communication cable network, so-called DC/FO™ system.

This innovative solution offers following key advantages:

• The same standard cross section can be used regardless of tie back length or power consumption demand,
• Extensions at sea, with standardized jointing technology, simplifying new prospects tie-back and enabling phased development,
• Open platform, connecting any Subsea Production System supplier equipment for electrical power and communication interfaces; Virtually unlimited reach beyond 300km,
• Large 100kW power supply capability enabling for new applications such as resident (UID™) Underwater Intervention Drone recharge and All-Electric trees, allowing further downsizing and cost reduction of legacy umbilical cross-section with the removal of hydraulic tubes.

A DC/FO infrastructure can deliver additional value to the operator: in particular fiber sensing services (in-well monitoring, assets integrity, reservoir monitoring, pipe monitoring, etc.) integrating ASN’s (Alcatel Submarine Networks) OptoDAS (Distributed Acoustic Sensing) or connecting to optical fiber transmission cable to shore.

The DC/FO solution is contracted by Equinor for Johan Castberg, Breidablikk, Northern Lights CCS (Carbon Capture and Storage) developments.

14:00 - 14:20

Subsea all-electric for subsea storage systems
Wilbert Ramos - NOV 

All-electric subsea initiatives started some years ago and despite the fact that the main technology components are available and field proven, the adoption of an all-electric system solution is still a challenge for both Operators and Suppliers. All-electric has the potential to make subsea systems cleaner, fully digital and in addition enables simplification of field developments. Furthermore, it makes it possible to decrease the carbon footprint of subsea fields by allowing the use of renewable energy as complete subsea fields can be monitored and controlled via electrical signals. NOV’s state-of-the-art subsea storage system enables distributed and/or centralized chemicals, ammonia and oil/condensate storage systems, which significantly decreases the umbilical and topside facilities costs.

Brownfield assets typically have space limitations in their topside installations (platform or FPSO) therefore the subsea storage system represents a key development block that enables unlimited additional capacity for storing specific fluids. This technology allows storage units nearby additional/future wells, thus enabling distributed field developments. For greenfield developments, NOV’s subsea storage system provides flexibility to have the required chemicals stored subsea permitting the implementation of unmanned production platforms where personnel on-deck shall be avoided.

All-electric subsea storage system enables the development of fully electric subsea fields, eliminating the need for hydraulic fluids subsea, chemical storage at topside facilities, hydraulic power units, hydraulic and chemical lines in umbilical, accumulators and large hydraulic actuators, resulting in an overall simplification from topside to subsea. This paper will present this synergy and technology status.

14:20 - 14:40

Opportunities for decarbonisation in the underwater sector
Richard Knox - Verlume, UK 

The evolution of the offshore industry driven by the energy transition presents a unique opportunity to embrace novel and innovative power generation, energy storage and energy management technologies. There are a wide variety of applications for a combination of these technologies within the wider so-called ‘Blue Economy’.

To explore the integration of power generation, energy storage and energy management with an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV), a multi-partner sea trial is being conducted which will be the first time ever that an integrated battery storage and wave energy system such as this will deliver energy to a subsea payload. The trial will take place at the US Navy Wave Energy Test Site off the Hawaiian island of Oahu in Q1 2022.

Verlume’s Halo seafloor battery and intelligent energy management system will be integrated with the AOPS, providing the seafloor base unit and the payload interfaces for power, data and communications. The Halo system will ensure continuous energy availability for remote subsea operations.

Verlume is also involved in a collaborative project developed by partners in the UKCS to combine a wave energy converter and subsea battery storage system, to deliver low carbon power and communication with subsea infrastructure such as subsea production control systems and residential ROVs and AUVs. Reliable local renewable power generation enables more environmentally and economically viable operations, for example in marginal fields.