Temporary on-site power system allows full-scale testing of pump packages for deepwater platform

摘要

When Total E & P USA, Houston, contracted with Integrated Flow Solutions (IFS) to design and install two key pumping systems for the $195 million Matterhorn deepwater production facility in the Gulf of Mexico, it was critical that all offshore equipment operate reliably from start-up. This was particularly true of the two pumping packages, which handle water injection and oil export streams, respectively. IFS assigned high priority to pre-installation testing of all phases of both pumping packages, which were destined for installation aboard the Matterhorn offshore facility, a mini-tension leg platform (TLP). Prior to integrating the equipment aboard the topsides production module, Total and IFS required extensive tests to make sure the pumps and motor drives met project specifications and that final assembly of the packages would take a minimum of commissioning time. But there was a major challenge: The pumping systems' high horsepower ratings required more electric power than was available at the time at the IFS manufacturing facility.