How to Pump Crude Oil Efficiently and Safely on Your FPSO

Many different pumps for oil production on FPSO, and one solution: NETZSCH

In January 2018, one of the world's largest oil companies decided to deploy just such a flexible production unit off the coast of Great Britain. Once the planned eight boreholes have been drilled, the FPSO will be one of the largest investments the group has made in the British North Sea for decades. Up to 45,000 barrels per day will be produced at the new site in the future. Efficient operation is important to the company, especially in view of volatile oil prices, so the company wanted the system to be profitable even at world market prices of less than 40 US dollars per barrel.

Efficiency is therefore also a priority for the technology used on the platform, both for the primary tasks associated with oil production and for secondary processes such as crude oil processing. The oil company's partner in charge of engineering and construction therefore turned to NETZSCH Pumps & Systems for the pumping technology. NETZSCH not only has a comprehensive portfolio of technology for pumping liquid products, it also has the required expertise in the oil and gas industry. NETZSCH is familiar with the challenges involved in pumping a wide range of products for the industry and offers the right solution for every application. The portfolio includes special technologies for extending the life of oil wells that are drying up, for increasing the efficiency of existing oil fields, and for the safe and efficient production of low-quality or high-viscosity crude oil. "We do especially well in the offshore sector– not least because NETZSCH concentrates its combined knowledge of the industry and its applications in a specialized business field with a global presence," says Ulrich Eibl, Head of the Oil & Gas Mid-/Downstream global business field at NETZSCH Pumpen & Systeme in Germany.

Eibl also knows that, on the high seas especially where every repair job comes with enormous costs, customers need very low-maintenance technology that functions simply, is reliable and has long life cycles. "After all, downtime on an FPSO quickly adds up to several million US dollars in losses per day", the pump expert explains. Eibl is also familiar with the dimensioning requirements, as every inch of space is used to operate platforms as efficiently as possible. The pumping system must therefore also have as space-saving a design as possible.