The ?sgard Subsea Compression is a high capacity system, designed for large flow rates and pressure ratios. The project has worked towards high ambitions of reliable, efficient and flexible operation. The ?sgard Subsea Compression is a platform: To a large degree, the subsea compressor station extends towards the capacity and flexibility of a conventional topside compressor platform. More importantly, it provides a technology and experience platform for both more advanced and broader applications, yet also simpler and leaner solutions. This paper dives into the trial and tribulations from concept to detailed design, fabrication and testing. All were executed within the framework of one contract in an EPC execution framework. Examples will highlight critical activities, both anticipated challenges and issues not foreseen at the outset of the project. Lack of flexibility in future modification is a general objection to the subsea factory. The ?sgard compressor station has a long operational life and the production profile varies significantly throughout the whole life cycle. The paper will discuss how future functionality can be included in initial design or, if best suited, provisioned for future stages. Technology qualifications have been handled with the rigor and timing required in established industry practises. However, in an EPC execution framework, even smaller first of engineering or -designs will disturb the project’s pace; eventually demanding out of sequence work to recover quality and progress. The paper presents some first-of’s and discusses the dependency towards the EPC execution framework. This also includes external interfaces and main procurement activities. The compressor station is inherently more multidiscipline than a conventional subsea delivery. One could say that it represents a platform on the seabed in terms of process functionality. Therefore engineering tools, methodology and expertise from topside projects has been utilised in the work. The experience harvested by use of integrated systems for schematics, 3D modelling and engineering registers will be summarized and concluded. Finally, the organisation set-up and development for the various project phases will be discussed, in particular with respect to follow-up towards main procurement activities, fabrication, manufacturing, completion/testing and commissioning support.
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