Saudi Aramco has achieved a landmark by energizing its largest Tie-in Platform with a 230 kilovolt 46 km submarine composite cable, “the longest of its kind”.

The Tie-in Platform, named ‘TP-20’ lies in Safaniya offshore field, and energizing it was the first phase of long-term plans to upgrade the Safaniya offshore field, referred to as the Safaniya Master Plan, the company explained.

TP-20 will be the main crude oil gathering and power supply hub for North Safaniya offshore field. It is designed to provide 152 megawatts (MW) of electric power via a 46 km, 3-core 230 kV submarine composite cable (power and fiber) from a Saudi Electricity Company, newly-built 380/230 kV onshore substation.

According to Saudi Aramco, this 46 km, 3-core 230 kV submarine composite cable is the longest of its kind in the world and was installed as a single piece without a field splice.

The entire length of the submarine cable was transported from the manufacturer on a deep water cable laying vessel. Then, with the help of a shallow water cable laying barge, the cable was installed from onshore to offshore TP-20, the company said.

With the complete 230 kV electrical substation, the weight of TP-20 exceeds 6,000 metric tons. The installation of TP-20 was performed using a unique float-over method.

Subsequent to the energization of TP-20, TP-18 and the nine wellhead platforms in central Safaniya field were also successfully energized under the same project. TP-18 is designed to provide 62 MW of electric power being fed via a 44 km, 3-core 115 kV submarine composite cable from a newly -built 230/115 kV onshore substation.

A complete electrical power system is delivering power to Safaniya’s remote offshore loads and has increased crude oil production more than 70 MBOD from the central Safaniya field, Saudi Aramco concluded.