MAN Energy Solutions will provide five subsea compressor units to Aker Solutions for the Jansz-Io Compression Project. Earlier this year, Aker Solutions was awarded the contract to supply Chevron Australia the subsea compression system for the project (See “Chevron Australia Says Yes To Subsea Compression,” August 2021 Gas Compression Magazine, p. 34).
MAN Energy Solutions’ scope of work includes 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 others will serve as spare units.
The subsea gas compression system will include a complete compression station with three compressor modules and two subsea pump modules, all-electric control systems and actuators, structures including mud mats, high-voltage electrical power distribution system, several spare modules and equipment, and various associated tooling. The project will be managed from Aker Solutions’ headquarters in Fornebu, Norway. Client interface and operational planning will be handled from Perth, Australia.
“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,” said 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.”
Approximately 7165 tons (6500 tonnes) of subsea structures, including the subsea compression station responsible for compressing the field gas, will be installed on the sea floor. The power and control requirements for the subsea infrastructure will be provided by a 29,762-ton (27,000-tonne) floating field control station, a normally unattended facility that is tied to the seabed by 12 mooring lines. Power for the field control station is supplied from Barrow Island via an 8.6-mi. (14-km) land cable connected to a 83-mi. (135-km) submarine cable.
“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,” said Kjetel Digre, chief executive officer of Aker Solutions. “This award confirms our leading position within subsea technology and system integration globally.”
The Jansz-Io gas field was first discovered in April 2000 and is located around 125 mi. (200 km) of the coast of Western Australia, at water depths of approximately 4593 ft. (1400 m). The Jansz-Io field is a part of the Chevron-operated Gorgon Project, one of the world’s largest natural gas developments. The Gorgon Project is a joint venture between the Australian subsidiaries of Chevron (47.3%), ExxonMobil (25 %), Shell (25%), Osaka Gas (1.25%), Tokyo Gas (1%), and JERA (0.417%).
The Jansz-Io Compression Project will use subsea compression technology to enhance the recoverability of the Jansz-Io field and maintain the supply of natural gas to the liquefied natural gas (LNG) and domestic gas plants on Barrow Island. The installation of compression and supporting infrastructure will also enable the future tie-in of other fields within the Greater Gorgon Area. The Jansz-Io Compression Project is part of the original development plan for Gorgon and will support the delivery of energy to customers in Western Australia and Asia for decades to come. The Jansz-Io field has been supplying gas to the Gorgon gas processing facilities on Barrow Island since 2015. After approximately 10 years of production, the reservoir pressure at Jansz-Io will decline, requiring modification of the existing subsea gas gathering network to maintain long-term natural gas supply.
“The Jansz-Io order is the direct result of the close collaboration between Aker Solutions and MAN Energy Solutions as subsea compression alliance partners,” said Basil Zweifel, vice president sales and project management, upstream and 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.”
