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06/12/2011
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SKF group firm S2M has won a two-year contract to supply magnetic bearings and electronics for subsea compression trains used in the Åsgard gas field in the Norwegian Sea.
 The custom built bearings will be fitted on the motor compressor shaft systems responsible for maintaining gas pressure, and have been selected for their oil-free, frictionless and virtually maintenance-free characteristics.
Vincent Megret, SKF magnet systems unit director and S2M managing director, explains that they will provide optimum efficiency, reliability and performance, vital for smooth operation in deep sea operations, in a way that just could not be achieved by conventional mechanical bearings.
MAN Diesel & Turbo, Aker Solutions Norway and Statoil intend to install two hermetically sealed compressor units at a depth of between 200 and 300 metres on the seabed, for this part of the Åsgard gas field project. The units function by maintaining discharge pressure in the pipeline and compensating for falling suction pressure as the gas field is depleted.
Megret explains that used in specialised applications like this, these ultra-efficient bearings can operate at high speeds, require no lubrication and, as there is no component wear, provide virtually maintenance-free life.
"We are delighted to have been selected to contribute to this exciting project, which will open up new opportunities for subsea natural gas exploration," states Megret. "This demonstrates once again that SKF's leading-edge technology can answer the needs of our high-tech customers."
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Author
Brian Tinham
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