EnergyMakers' Russ Capper interviews SBM Offshore's Group Technology Director Michael Wyllie about the company's very high pressure (VHP) fluid swivel technology. The swivel earned SBM Offshore a Spotlight award at the 2014 Offshore Technology Conference in Houston; the award is SBM's fourth in four years. The VHP fluid swivel allows FPSOs to be used in the development of ultra-high pressure reservoirs, which to date has not been possible where a weather-vaning system was needed in conjunction with fluid reinjection into the reservoir, SBM says. The swivel can reach operating pressures of up to 830bar, a 60% increase over current fluid swivels. SBM Offshore say it plans to conduct more qualification testing to reach operating pressures up to 1000bar.
