A new integrated ABB control system for the BP Bruce platform and the Rhum field in the North Sea will help BP expand production and tap new sources of gas
A new integrated ABB control system for a North Sea gas platform will help BP expand production and tap new sources of gas. The ABB system has been designed in two parts, one half controlling the BP Bruce platform and the other for the Rhum field, which is being developed to operate with three wells. As part of the development, new gas processing facilities, including two Low Pressure (LP) booster compressors, have been installed on the existing Bruce Compression Reception platform.

The ABB control system for the Bruce LP booster compressors consists of an AC460 controller, serial links to the Emergency Shut Down system and compressor performance controllers, S800 I/O panels, application software for HVAC and LP booster compressors A and B and the use of an existing MOD 300 graphical interface for compressors and HVAC.

For Rhum, the scope is an AC800M controller, serial communications to Subsea Master Control System, serial communications to the AC460 controller and the use of an existing MOD 300 graphical interface.

Neil Logan, lead engineer for BP on the project, says: 'The major benefit of the system is that from an operator's perspective we have seamlessly integrated the new and old production facilities.

Instead of two separate control systems, we have one.

Operators will be more effective because they are not looking at two separate displays'.

Some of the customer requirements posed a challenge for ABB in the design of the control system.

Colin Heath, project manager for ABB says: 'BP requested that we keep all software for Rhum separate from the system for the Bruce platform'.

The ABB world wide resources meant that it could source software from its operations around the world and ensure that the two sides were kept separate, yet allowing an architecture that ensured the two parts could easily communicate and act as a single system.

The development of Rhum is seen as vital to boost the throughput on the Bruce platform, enabling the platform to be kept in high usage for the medium term.

Rhum has estimated resources of 31 billion cubic meters of gas, of which, 23 billion cubic meters is regarded as recoverable.

It is located 240 miles north east of Aberdeen, 28 miles from the BP operated Bruce platform and is a high temperature, high-pressure reservoir.