Lloyds List: Shell signs Subsea 7 and Flowserve for new pumps: “Anglo-Dutch group Shell has discovered several oil and gas fields in deep and ultra-deepwaters around the world that could be developed using seabed multiphase pumps. These systems could be particularly applied to develop heavy oil fields and Shell has found viscous oil in deepwater fields in Brazil.”: Tuesday 18 October 2005

SHELL has signed up Subsea 7 and Flowserve to develop and test seabed multiphase pumps for ultra deepwater oil fields, writes Martyn Wingrove.

Aberdeen-based Subsea 7 and North American group Flowserve will begin building a demonstration prototype early in 2006 with pumps manufactured in Brantford, Canada with final testing undertaken in Vernon, California.

Under this contract, Subsea 7 will provide the project management, system architecture and installation services, leaning on Flowserve's experience with pumps, motors and seals.

Anglo-Dutch group Shell has discovered several oil and gas fields in deep and ultra-deepwaters around the world that could be developed using seabed multiphase pumps.

These systems could be particularly applied to develop heavy oil fields and Shell has found viscous oil in deepwater fields in Brazil.

'The Flowserve double suction, twin-screw multiphase pump is the hydraulic instrument for subsea pumping,' said Kirk Wilson, vice-president for Flowserve's pump division.

Subsea 7's technology manager John Mair thinks this venture will lead to new technology hitting the market to help boost pressure for multiphase flow through subsea pipelines.

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