SBM Offshore discusses new fluid swivel

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.