Phase two of Åsgard subsea compression enhances gas recovery, increasing production, extending field life, and generating 306 million barrels oil equivalent.
Equinor, together with its partners in the Åsgard and Mikkel licences, has launched phase two of the Åsgard subsea compression project in the Norwegian Sea. This initiative is aimed at sustaining production levels from the field by increasing the pressure in pipelines connecting the wells to the Åsgard B platform. According to Trond Bokn, Equinor’s senior vice president for project development, “In this project, Equinor, alongside partners and suppliers, has advanced and qualified the next generation of compressor modules. This technology enables us to recover more gas from producing fields. Effective resource utilisation is crucial to maintaining high and stable production across the Norwegian continental shelf.”
The Åsgard field has a long operational history. The first Plan for Development and Operation (PDO) for Åsgard was approved in 1996, with the Åsgard A platform commencing production in 1999 and Åsgard B following in 2000. In 2012, authorities approved the PDO for Åsgard subsea compression, and the first phase of this compression technology became operational in 2015. This installation was groundbreaking, representing the world’s first subsea gas compression facility, made possible through extensive technological development. The project was designed with foresight, recognising the need for increased pressure to offset natural reservoir pressure declines over time.
In phase two, the first compressor module was replaced in 2023, and now the second and final module has been successfully installed at a depth of 270 meters. Randi Hugdahl, vice president for Exploration and Production for Åsgard and Kristin, highlighted the system’s performance: “The compressor system has operated steadily for ten years, achieving nearly 100% uptime. To date, it has contributed to value creation of approximately NOK 175 billion from the field.”
The implementation of subsea compression across both phases is expected to significantly enhance gas recovery from the Mikkel and Midgard fields. Once fully operational, the system will raise the recovery rate to 90%, translating into an additional 306 million barrels of oil equivalent from these fields.
The ownership structure for the Åsgard licence includes Equinor Energy AS (operator) with 35.01%, Petoro AS holding 34.53%, Vår Energi ASA at 22.65%, and TotalEnergies EP Norge AS with 7.81%. For the Mikkel licence, Equinor Energy AS (operator) owns 43.97%, Vår Energi ASA 48.38%, and Repsol Norge AS 7.65%. This collaborative effort underscores the role of advanced technology and strategic partnerships in optimising resource extraction while sustaining long-term production.
