Aker Solutions has awarded MAN Energy Solutions the contract to supply five subsea compressor units to the Jansz-Io field, located around 200 km off the north-western coast of Western Australia at water depths of approximately 1,400 m.

“We are extremely honored to be part of this next exciting chapter for the energy industry and look very much forward to continuing our successful collaboration with Aker Solutions,” stated Dr. Uwe Lauber, CEO of MAN Energy Solutions. “Pioneered in Europe, our groundbreaking, subsea solution is now forging a path towards more sustainable gas production. Thanks to our unique subsea technology, recoverability and project efficiency can be enhanced while reducing the carbon footprint.”

“This award signifies a major leap for our world-leading subsea gas compression technology. Aker Solutions looks very much forward to working collaboratively with partners such as MAN Energy Solutions on this major development. This award confirms our leading position within subsea technology and system integration globally,” said Kjetel Digre, Chief Executive Officer of Aker Solutions.

The Jansz-Io field was first discovered in April 2000 and is a part of the Gorgon project, one of the world’s largest natural gas developments. The Chevron-operated Gorgon Project is a joint venture between the Australian subsidiaries of Chevron (47.3 percent), ExxonMobil (25 percent), Shell (25 percent), Osaka Gas (1.25 percent), Tokyo Gas (1 percent) and JERA (0.417 percent).

At the heart of subsea operation

MAN Energy Solutions’ scope of work for the Jansz-Io project comprises the supply of five Subsea HOFIM^® compressor units, each with compressor frame size RB 45 with integrated MAN motor, size M43. Three compressor systems will be installed into the subsea modules while two further will serve as spare units.

The Subsea HOFIM^® compressor was specifically adapted for underwater use. All components are designed to be as robust as possible to counteract the risk of corrosion inside the machine. Hermetically sealed and oil-free, the system uses seven-axes active magnetic bearings and a high-speed motor. This design means a large number of components are not required, including the gearbox, lubrication- oil system, instrumentation and valving as seen on conventional topside compressor solutions.

Reduced carbon footprint by shifting compression subsea

Compressor systems are used to maintain output and enhance recovery as reservoir pressure at gas-producing fields drops over time. Placing the system close to the reservoir at the seabed typically reduces the energy consumption by about 20-60 % per year, because of a lower pressure drop in the pipeline downstream.

Compared to conventional compression solutions installed on platforms above sea level, subsea gas compression represents a lower-carbon alternative. The size and weight of the subsea solution is significantly smaller than a platform infrastructure, which results in a reduction in the use of steel and other materials, as well as associated health and safety risks.

Aker Solutions collaborated with MAN Energy Solutions in the delivery of the world’s first subsea compression system to Equinor’s Åsgard field. Since start-up in 2015, two Subsea HOFIM^® compressor systems have been operating at full load and have reached well above 80’000 hours of operation as per September 2020 with an availability above 99%.

“The Jansz-Io order is the direct result of the close collaboration between Aker Solutions and MAN Energy Solutions as Subsea Compression Alliance partners,” added Basil Zweifel, Vice President Sales & Project Management Upstream & Midstream at MAN Energy Solutions. “To make energy recovery more efficient, subsea gas compression solutions will increasingly become the norm. Moving subsea nonetheless demands extremely robust engineering and, ultimately, reliability. We are able to meet these demands with our hermetically sealed compression system, which operates uninterrupted and maintenance-free on the seabed, maintaining well pressure and cutting CO₂ emissions. Moreover, MAN’s Subsea HOFIM^® compressor is highly digitized and can be remotely operated, which makes it the ideal technology solution for unmanned operation.”