ABB has completed its second power-from-shore system for Troll A, the world’s largest offshore gas platform, which is operated by Statoil and located in the North Sea about 70 km west of the Kollsnes onshore gas treatment plant, outside Bergen.
As with the first system, the purpose is to power two compressors that have been fitted to the platform’s topside to compensate for decreasing pressure in the reservoir. The 3000-ton compressor modules were fitted last year and began operation in October 2015.
Electricity is delivered using ABB’s HVDC Light technology, which takes AC current from Norway’s national grid, converts it to DC and transmits it to the platform using a series of 70 km-long cables. When the electricity reaches Troll A, it is converted back to AC to run the compressors. ABB provided the onshore and offshore converter stations, laid two pairs of DC cables as well as a three-phase AC cable for other power requirements. It also provided the 50 megawatts (MW)/60 kilovolts (kV) high-voltage motors that will operate the compressors.
“This project is an important milestone for ABB as our products are enabling increased production and safeguarding the delivery of natural gas to the European market. And with power from shore, the recovery increase can be achieved in a sustainable and profitable way,” said Per Erik Holsten , Managing Director for ABB’s Oil, Gas and Chemicals business.