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Remote Hot-tap on Åsgard- First Remote Retrofit Hot-tap operation

Kjell Edvard ApelandProject Leader Pipeline Tie-in & RepairStatoil ASAkjedap@statoil.comwww.statoil.com

Hot tapping – principle methodology

First registered patent in 1909 by plumber O.

H Netteberg of Drammen, Norway

SO – WHAT’S NEW?...

Source: www.furmanite.com

Subsea Hot-tap - Typical permanent works

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Statoil’s focused technology efforts

Leading in seismic imaging and interpretation – to increase discovery and recovery

Taking subsea longer, deeper and colder – to accelerate and increase production

Step change in well-construction efficiency – to drill more cost-efficient wells

Pushing reservoir characterisation and recovery to the next level – to maximise value

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Statoil Strategy - Remote hot tap technologyStatoil PRS Pool - Haugesund - Norway

• Emergency preparedness Pool for subsea pipelines

• Founded in 1987

• First Diver assisted Hot-tap in 1997

• First Pre-installed Hot-tap tees installed with Statoil operated pipelines mid 1990’s

• Initiated Remote Hot-tap development in 1999• Phase 1: Remote

cutting system• Phase 2: Retrofit

Tee technology

Objective:

• Remote operation / deep water application / high safety standard

Why important to develop subsea hot tap technology?

• Provide full flexibility/independence when selecting tie-in location - cost effectiveness - utilize spare transport capacity in pipeline systems

• Ensure distinct technology development in due time to capture business opportunities

Goals:

• Increased safety

• Reduced cost for future infrastructure development

• Increased depth and pressure capability

• Offshore training of PRS personnel – improved emergency preparedness for pipeline repair

Statoil Strategy - Remote hot tap technology

Statoil Strategy - Remote hot tap technologyCreating business opportunities

Diver assisted hot tap

Remote hot tapping

Retrofit Tee hot tap

Jotun1997

Gullfaks

2000

Tampen Link

2008

145 m

Ormen Lange x 2

2009

860 m

Åsgard SCP

2012

265 m

Gas infrastructure

Re-inforcement

2016

Qualification Program Outline & TimescaleDevelopment milestones

1999: Strategic development project initiated at Statoil PRS

2008: Deep water testing to 145 m water depth, first and successful offshore operation, 145 m water depth at Tampen Link, Statfjord

2009: Deep water testing to 940 m water depth in Sognefjorden, World’s deepest remote hot taps (2 off) at 860 m water depth at Ormen Lange field

2011: Deep water testing of Remote Tee Welding Tool to 350 m water depth

2012: Deep water testing and First offshore use of the Retrofit Tee Technology at 255 m water depth:

– Åsgard Subsea Compression

Remote Welded Retrofit Tee concept

• Remote installation of a structural reinforcement clamp containing the branch pipe

• Pressure barrier made by internal weld inside the branch pipe

• Welding system contains all functions for making and monitoring the internal weld

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Remote Welded Retrofit Tee conceptRetrofit Tee Weld Development & Test Program

API 5L X65 insert pipe with 5mm Inconel 625 cladding

Cooling pipes

Inconel – Alloy 59 welding consumeable

Mock-up for hyperbaric testing in chamber

API 5L X65 mother

In total 9 years of hyperbaric welding qualification

2,5 years Åsgard application targeted qualification

6 pass GMAW /MIG fillet weld

22 minutes of arc-on time required to perform the offshore welding

Remote Welded Retrofit Tee Installation EquipmentInstallation Equipment

• Retrofit Tee Installation Tool

• Pipe Handling Frame as carrier for the Tee installation module

• Tool weight ~35 Te

• Tee weight for Åsgard ~4 Te

• Maximum Tee Weight 30 Te

• Depth rating: 1000 m

• Upgradeable to at least: 2000 m

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Remote Welded Retrofit Tee Installation EquipmentInstallation Equipment

• Remote Tee Welding Tool

• Branch size: 12 inch

• Tool weight: 17 Te

• Launching system including Active heave compensation and AHC/CT guide wire winches

• Integrated umbilical for lifting, power, gas and control

• Depth rating: 1000 m

• Upgradeable to at least: 2000 m

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Deep Water Trials Sognefjorden 2011

• Remote Tee Welding Tool tested to 350 m water depth March 2011

• Test umbilical used

• Software and quality monitoring not completed

• Produced 2 complete 6 pass welds with excellent results!

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Deep Water Trials Nedstrandsfjorden 2012

• Performed landing towards test/mock-up pipeline on sea-bed (270 msw)

• Software and quality monitoring finalised and successfully used

• Problems related to jammed rotation occured during weld number 3 – recoverd, repaired and successfully completed the subsea welding

• Produced 4 complete 6 pass welds with excellent results!

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Launching RTWT in

Nedstrandsfjorden

The activated and welded Tee

recovered to the vessel deck

Åsgard SCP hot tap campaign 2012Offshore Installation Åsgard Field 2012

• Involved vessel: Skandi Arctic

• Mobilised 10. of August 2012

• Demobilised 11. of Sept 2012

• The newly qualified equipment performed 100%

• Vessel including tools and organisation performed 100%

• All offshore works successfully completed a few hours ahead of schedule

Offshore Installation video

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Video clip from offshore

• The new Remote Welded Retrofit Hot-tap Tee technology has been successfully qualified and field proven

• Remote Hot-tap technology provides the most flexible tie-in solution avoiding shut down of transport systems

• Large cost savings can be expected by the implementation of this technology, essential for marginal fields

• Enabling sales to new markets by use of existing infrastructure (subsea and onshore facilities)

• Hot-tap enables re-use or shared use of existing risers, useful where all riser slots/J-tubes are occupied

Future potential

Conclusions

ConclusionsHot tap connections – the most flexible development methodology in the future

• Optimised pipeline routing• Avoiding shut-down of critical transport system• Improved operational characteristics• Enabling new field developments and increased IOR

AcknowledgementsThe authors acknowledge the invaluable contribution of all the Åsgard Subsea Compression project team and the Åsgard Lisence partners:

Statoil acknowledge the vital contributions from the main contractors for the successful Remote Hot-tap testing and operation:

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Åsgard Subsea Compression Hot-tap

Kjell Edvard Apelandkjedap@statoil.comTel: +4790603869

www.statoil.com

2013-03-05