Equinor enlists Optime Subsea’s ROCS system to transform Rosebank production

January 22, 2024

(WO) – Optime Subsea has entered into a significant contract with Equinor for the delivery of its Remote Operated Controls System (ROCS). This contract represents a significant step forward for Optime Subsea, who will collaborate with operator Equinor and its partner Ithaca on the Rosebank field.

Jan-Fredrik Carlsen, CEO of Optime Subsea

The ROCS system, developed by Optime Subsea, transforms the installation of production tubing in subsea wells by eliminating the need for umbilicals. This results in significantly safer and faster operations while reducing the need for personnel in the red zone on the rig. This innovative approach holds particular value for deepwater fields like Rosebank.

Optime has already delivered multiple ROCS systems and observes that this is gradually becoming a new standard method for such operations.

"We continue to position ourselves by producing up to 10 systems per year to meet the future needs of the market," stated Jan-Fredrik Carlsen, CEO of Optime Subsea.

Equinor's Rosebank field is a deepwater field located west of Shetland in the British sector of the North Sea with challenging weather conditions. This requires advanced technological solutions to simplify installation and reduce installation time.

The planned operation for the implementation of ROCS on the Rosebank field is scheduled for June 2025. This marks the beginning of an exciting collaboration between Optime Subsea and Equinor, representing the first ROCS contract between the two companies.

"We are thrilled to have entered into this contract with Equinor and to introduce the ROCS system to the Rosebank field," stated Jan-Fredrik Carlsen, CEO of Optime Subsea. "Our technology not only provides increased safety and efficiency but also represents a crucial step toward a sustainable and innovative future for the subsea industry."

Lead image: The floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) unit for Rosebank, Petrojarl Knarr. (Photo: Altera/Norske Shell)

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