The world is currently producing more hydrocarbons than those being replaced by new proven reserves. Future exploration and production will be deeper, colder and harsher - and the reservoirs more complex. You need to make sure your solutions represent best practice and the highest standards at all times. DNV can assist you in tackling frontier challenges from concept feasibility, through qualification of technology to certification of detailed design, helping you break barriers with confidence.

"Bringing gas to shore in waters up to 1,000 metres deep, the project stands out for its plethora of first-time achievements."

Critical issue
First deepwater discovery to be developed offshore Europe. Challenging conditions. Innovative concepts and designs to be evaluated.

Solution
Multi-disciplinary competencies and state-of-the-art methods and tools.

Key deliverables
Feasibility and concept selection studies. Intervention and repair strategies. Design assistance. Risk and costbenefit assessments. Technology qualification and assurance. Quality surveillance.

Value to client
In-depth insight to the opportunities and threats associated with the various field development concepts.
New solutions to overcome technology challenges. Right balance between capital expenditures, revenue and operating expenditures. Timely progress.

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Ormen Lange is Europe’s largest gas development and deepest offshore field to date. Due on stream in 2007, the field will be linked to the UK via the world’s longest subsea gas pipeline, and will supply the UK with up to 20 per cent of its total gas requirement. The project stands out for its plethora
of first-time achievements, not least in bringing gas directly to shore in multi-phase flow pipelines from subsea wells in waters up to 1,000 m deep.
Extremely rough seabed conditions, a 120 km long tie-back distance and demanding weather conditions add to the challenge.

DNV assisted on many frontier challenges from concept selection to more detailed design aspects, combining technical, operational and risk management expertise. A risk-based gas deliverability model was developed to assist in concept selection and optimisation. The model estimated annual gas volumes delivered and the maintenance and intervention costs associated with producing these volumes. DNV also consulted on maintenance and repair strategies and the technical design challenges related to extreme flowline free-spans and erosion issues on wellhead and
subsea components.

DNV carried out several technology qualification programmes on the downhole completions, verification of the detailed design on the pipeline to
the UK, quality surveillance onboard the pipeline lay-barge during installation, as well as risk and cost-benefit assessments of critical activities.
Furthermore, DNV consulted on the feasibility of future subsea gas compression solutions.