As a part of five new initiatives to accelerate cutting-edge technology development, GE Oil & Gas has launched a Joint Industry Project (JIP) to develop a new and simplified subsea boosting system.
According to the company, the system has the potential to reduce lifecycle costs by up to 30% and improve operational flexibility for operators.
The initial phase of the JIP includes Statoil, Total and two other operators.
The new system, which draws on technology from the GE Aviation business, is named the Modular Contra-rotating Pump (MCP).
As GE explained, the MCP provides the potential to unlock and enable access to more oil in both new and mature wells in a simpler way by reducing the topside and subsea footprint by up to 50% and eliminating equipment such as the barrier fluid system needed in conventional subsea boosting systems.