Subsea Low Power Distribution for Subsea Processing Components, Suggested Solution, and Benefits

Abstract

This paper discusses the requirements for a "next-generation" low power distribution for subsea control systems and provides a description of a proposed new setup/architecture. The future seems to be all-electric for seabed installed equipment, moving away from the usage of hydraulic power to operate valves on the seabed. The increasing usage of subsea drones are another subsea located device consuming electrical power for charging in between active work periods. Location and topology of future subsea field developments has presented the subsea industry with new challenges. Some of these challenges include increases in the step-out length between new subsea installations and existing or new surface facilities, as well as water depth increases. New subsea fields tend to be smaller in size and scattered over a larger area in between the larger already discovered and producing fields. These smaller subsea fields are usually connected to an existing surface located production facility, in a so-called subsea tieback solution. The existing surface setup could have limited physical space available and/or limited amount of potential individual connections for the new subsea installation. In an already existing FPSO (Floating Production Storage and Offloading) installation the swivel could be a bottleneck for future expansions regarding the amount of electrically operated subsea equipment.