Neptune Energy installs world’s longest ETH production pipeline

Neptune Energy announced the safe and successful installation and testing of the world’s longest trace-heated subsea production pipeline at its operated Fenja field in the Norwegian sea.

The 37 kilometre electrically trace-heated (ETH) pipe-in-pipe solution will transport oil from the field to the Njord A platform, operated by Equinor.

The innovative use of the ETH pipe-in-pipe significantly reduced the potential cost of the development by enabling the field to be tied back to existing infrastructure.

Neptune Energy’s Director of Projects and Engineering in Norway, Erik Oppedal, said: “Completing the installation and testing of the ETH pipe is a great technical achievement and a major step forward in the development of the Fenja field. The ETH pipe-in-pipe solution is crucial for extracting the oil, and is a creative, cost-effective approach that permitted us to tie the field back to existing infrastructure.

“Norway is an important part of Neptune’s geographically-diverse portfolio and this is an excellent example of the company’s commitment to investing in the region and adopting advanced technologies to overcome challenges.”

The ETH pipeline was developed and qualified through a collaborative approach with TechnipFMC. Due to the high wax content of the Fenja field’s oil, the contents of the pipeline must be warmed to a temperature above 28-degrees Celsius before starting the flow after a scheduled shut down or interruption. During normal production, the temperature in the pipeline would be well above this temperature.

Ståle Ryggvik, TechnipFMC’s Project Director, added: “The successful completion of the Fenja ETH pipe-in-pipe installation has been made possible through our unique iEPCI™ project capabilities, close collaboration with Neptune Energy, and by leveraging TechnipFMC’s extensive experience in the technology. This technology has the potential to unlock future developments with challenging reservoir properties.”

The offshore installation was carried out across two subsea campaigns in 2020 and 2021 by TechnipFMC’s   vessel, approximately 120 kilometres north of Kristiansund, Norway, at a water depth of about 320 metres. The fabrication and assembly of the ETH-pipe was conducted by TechnipFMC.

Drilling of the Fenja production wells is scheduled to begin in fourth quarter, 2021, by the Deepsea Yantai drilling rig.

Partners: Neptune Energy (Operator, 30%), Vår Energi, (45%), Suncor Energy (17.5%), DNO (7.5%)