Brazilian oil and gas company Enauta has delivered the first multiphase subsea pumping system (MPP) from Norway to support oil and gas production at the Atalanta field in Brazil’s Santos Basin. The equipment, manufactured by OneSubsea, was loaded in Norway on January 21, 2024 and then shipped to Brazil. Enauta’s FPSO Atalanta, supplied by Malaysia’s Yinson Production, is expected to be installed starting in mid-2024 and will have a total of six production wells. The unit has a production capacity of 50,000 barrels per day and a maximum storage capacity of 1.251 million barrels.
Italian transmission system operator Terna has launched the Gavia autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) as part of a partnership with US startup Terradepth. The program aims to advance marine geophysical surveys to facilitate the development and safety of seabed infrastructure. Terna technicians tested the performance of the Gavia drone while conducting geophysical surveys near Casamicciola Terme. The partnership can test innovative technologies, such as subsea drones, which can complement traditional subsea inspection tools. Italy's National Grid development plan includes large-scale submarine infrastructure projects.
Marlink has upgraded its smart hybrid VSAT installation on PGS Ramform Hyperion to provide higher uplink speeds for offshore geophysical data transmission. The upgrade allows for GEO VSAT in excess of 250 Mbps, enabling instant data transfer from the ship to its landside headquarters. The upgrade reflects the high value of survey 3D, high-density 3D or 4D seafloor imaging generated by the vessel. Instant data transfer is transformative for PGS’s ability to quickly move large amounts of seismic data to the cloud.
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has selected 10 ocean energy-related research projects to receive $1.3 million in funding. These projects will gain access to testing expertise, numerical modeling, laboratory testing, tank/tank testing and expertise within the TEAMER facility network. Applications for RFTS 12 are now open and the TEAMER program aims to accelerate the viability of marine renewable energy by providing the best facilities and expertise.
The Viking Link, the world's longest land and submarine power interconnector, is operational and carries electricity between the UK and Denmark. The $2.15 billion project, a joint venture between National Grid and Danish system operator Energinet, will connect Bicker Fen substation in Lincolnshire to Revsing substation in southern Jutland. The line will be able to carry enough electricity for up to 2.5 million British homes, saving British consumers more than £632 million ($500 million) cumulatively over the next decade thanks to cheaper power imported from Denmark. Construction began in 2019 and took more than 4 million man-hours.
TechnipFMC has been awarded a “significant” integrated engineering, procurement, construction and installation (iEPCI) contract by Petrobras for the delivery of the Mero 3 HISEP project in Brazil’s pre-salt fields. The contract covers the design, engineering, fabrication and installation of subsea equipment, including manifolds, pipelines, umbilicals, distribution and field service life. The contract is worth more than $1 billion and complies with research and development guidelines set by Petrobras. TechnipFMC has advanced the qualification of the core technologies required to fully subsea deliver the HISEP process, including gas separation systems and dense gas pumps.
Tracerco has secured a million-dollar contract in the Gulf of Mexico to deploy its pipeline inspection technology Discovery on multiple oil and gas platforms. The project is part of an agreement between three major U.S. oil and gas companies that operate different risers on multiple platforms. Developed using subsea CT scanning technology to provide critical flow assurance and integrity data without coating removal, Discovery is already in use on more than 100 oil and gas assets around the world.
The informal agreement outlines a revised Building Energy Performance Directive that aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption in the EU building sector by 2030 and achieve climate neutrality by 2050. The directive requires all new buildings to achieve zero emissions and existing buildings to achieve zero emissions by 2030. Transform buildings to be zero-emission by 2050. The deadline for public buildings is 2028. The directive also requires EU member states to phase out fossil fuels in heating and cooling, with the goal of phasing out fossil fuel boilers by 2040.
Vienna is building Europe's largest green heat pump system and aims to become climate neutral by 2040. The scheme, which uses heat from wastewater at the Ebswien purification plant and electricity from the Freudenau hydroelectric power plant, is a pioneering initiative in Europe. The first phase of the project, which will cost around €70 million, will provide district heating to 56,000 homes. The three remaining large heat pumps are expected to double the system capacity by 2027, providing climate-neutral heating to 112,000 homes. Vienna's heating network is one of the largest in Europe.
Bulgaria is focusing on energy storage in its energy transition, investing in battery production plants and battery energy storage systems (BESS) to promote the establishment of hydrogen valleys. Sofia-based startup Hydrogenera has signed its first contract for a 1-MW electrolyser capable of producing 200 cubic meters of hydrogen per hour, or 436 kilograms of hydrogen per day. The company is part of the European Clean Hydrogen Alliance and the Hydrogen Global Initiative. The 1 MW electrolyser is expected to be delivered by the beginning of the second quarter at the latest. Hydrogenera has a 200 kW flagship model with an efficiency of 85%. The company raised €2 million a year ago and is considering an initial public offering next year.