Electrical Insulation Materials and Insulation Systems for Subsea High Voltage Power Equipment

Reliable power supply and distribution components are of vital importance for subsea processing. The service experience and technologies from on-shore installations have initially been adopted for subsea applications. However, sufficient reliable high vol tage concepts to meet the need for enhanced oil recovery (IOR) and increasing the life of known oil fields (tail end production) are today lacking. Therefore this calls for technology improvements, where the knowledge and improvement of the long term perf ormance of high voltage power equipment is of vital importance. This can only be implemented by using qualified electrical insulation materials and systems. The Project addresses several important R&D challenges: Relevant electrical insulation materials with a high degree of cleanliness will be surveyed and the possibilities to improve the electrical properties by use of for instance additives and blends will be considered. Introduction of barrier materials in designs will be discussed. Relevant existing , modified or new candidate materials will be characterised by electrical, chemical and mechanical techniques during long term ageing in relevant and accelerated service conditions (high temperatures and pressures, fluids and different types of electrical stresses). The know-how from this activity will be used to propose test methods that will ensure long and reliable performance of high voltage power equipment at relevant service conditions. Maintenance of such equipment can be extremely costly, and this calls for reliable on-line methods for condition assessment. Different methods based on e.g. sensor and transducer technology will be developed (or adapted) and qualified, making it possible to include such devices in the design of subsea high voltage ap paratus. The close co-operation between SINTEF and NTNU shall also ensure recruitment of young students interested in electro technical matters, promoting the oil and gas sector as an attractive place to work