zoomFrom Johan Castberg concepts; Illustration: Statoil

Alcatel-Lucent Submarine Networks (ASN), now part of Nokia, has been contracted by Statoil to undertake a concept study addressing the integration of ASN’s direct current, fiber optical (DC/FO) technology as subsea control infrastructure for the Johan Castberg field in the Barents Sea.

ASN’s DC/FO technology is developed and qualified in cooperation with Statoil, and has now been selected by Statoil for implementation at the Johan Castberg field, pending completed qualification and commercial agreement.

Reportedly, this technology brings an independent and flexible subsea control infrastructure, delivering power and high-bandwidth communication connections to submerged equipment.

Yohann Bénard, Oil & Gas General Manager at ASN, said: “We are extremely proud of the long-lasting cooperation established with Statoil for the development and the qualification of our DC/FO technology. DC/FO is a breakthrough technology now available to oil companies for the design of their subsea production architectures. Its selection in the base case for the Johan Castberg field confirms that such a solution meets the needs of advanced field architects. It also demonstrates that ASN can make a difference in the oil & gas environment, combining its world-class expertise in subsea product design and marine operations to supply very innovative, cost effective and highly reliable subsea communication and powering solutions.”