Undersea link brings reliable power to offshore oil field, lowers emissions

Zürich, Switzerland – ABB, the leading power and automation technology group, said 2006-05-08 it has won a contract worth $50 million from BP Plc in Norway to supply equipment for an underwater power link that will increase reliable and safe electricity supply and help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

ABB will supply the converter stations at each end of the 292-kilometer cable which will bring Direct Current power from Lista in southern Norway to the Valhall oil field in the North Sea where it will be converted to Alternating Current. The system uses High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) Light technology, an ABB innovation for delivering high-voltage power underground and underwater.

“Our technology will make more efficient use of energy and helps reduce production costs,” said Samir Brikho, head of ABB’s Power Systems division. “Last year we installed the world’s first system using the technology offshore, also in the North Sea, and we see further applications for it such as in offshore windfarms.”

The power link will replace offshore gas turbines and cut emissions of carbon dioxide by 300,000 tons per year, equivalent to the amount generated by about 30,000 households. It will also cut maintenance and reduce the weight of equipment on the platform.

The installation will deliver 78 megawatts of power when it starts operating in 2009, enough to run Valhall and other platforms in the field. Execution of the project is subject to approval of a redevelopment plan for the oil field that will be submitted to the Norwegian authorities in August.

ABB www.abb.com is a leader in power and automation technologies that enable utility and industry customers to improve performance while lowering environmental impact. The ABB Group of companies operates in around 100 countries and employs about 107,000 people.