Gullfaks Multiphase Booster Project
Authors: Vangen G. , Carstensen C. , Bakken L.E. 
Published: October 2008

A Poseidon Multiphase Pump has been installed and is present running on Statoil Gullfaks A platform in the North Sea, giving additional pressure to one of the wells. The main objective of this work has been to qualify the Poseidon Booster Technology, technically and operationally, and to prowide a reliable and industrial tool for multiphase boosting, either sub sea or installedtopside a platform. The paper gives a brief summary of the project and describes the Poseidon pump, the platform installation and outlines the experience and results from the ongoing qualification test.

The Gullfaks booster as delivered by Framo Engineering AS, has up to January 7995 accumulated 2400 running hours. The booster is fully integrated into the production systems on the platform. The daily operations are carried out from the central control room by the ordinary platform star. The objectives of the test program have so far been successfully fulfilled.

Multiphase booster technology combined with prograss in multiphase flow technology WIV have a significant impact on development and production of smaller oil and gas fields that today are assumed to be non- profitable.

Introduction

Background

A Poseidon Multiphase Booster System, P301, was in 1994 installed on Statoil?s Gullfaks A platform in the North Sea, and is presently providing additional pressure to one of the platform wells. At the same time, the multiphase booster is undergoing a six months qualification test program. The fabrication of the Gullfaks multiphase booster represents the industrialisation stageof a long term development plan for the Poseidon technology. This technology may prove to be a low-cost alternative for developing smaller oil and gas fields in thefuture. This work is the final stage of a long term R&D program that dates back to 1984.

The Poseidon project started in 1984 when the two oil companies, Statoil and Total in collaboration with IFP (Institute Petrole du Francais), established the Poseidon Group with the objective to develop cost effective multiphase boosting and transportation technology. One of the successful results from this R&D program was the Poseidon multi phase booster pump. (1)

The development of the Poseidon booster technology was organised into three different stages. (Fig. 1) The first stage was the R&D period with development of theory and design tools and model testing in laboratory scale. The second stage covered design and construction of a full scale prototype and was finished with installation and testing in an oil and gas field in Tunisia, Sidi El Itayem.

The third stage has been this industrialisation and qualification of the Poseidon pump. Pre-qualified pump manufacturers have been invited to tender. One pump should be build in Norway and one pump in France. Thecontract and a production license was awarded to:Framo Engineering, Norway for a pump to be installed at the Gullfaks A, andSulzer Pumps for an installation on the Pecorade field in France.

Thus, two Poseidon pumps have been build last year, and both have been subjected to a six month testing program under real life operating field conditions.