More than 50 guests turned out for the start of the world’s first full-scale subsea compression test at StatoilHydro’s Kårstø Laboratory (K-lab) at the Kårstø gas processing plant in western Norway on 21 April. ”This is a unique technology testing endeavour crucial for assessing subsea compression as a possible solution for offshore fields like Åsgard and Mikkel,” says Rolv Herfjord, StatoilHydro Åsgard Minimum Flow Project manager. “If the testing is successful, we can assess using subsea installations instead of offshore platforms.” “K-lab is a facility that can analyse, test and qualify various types of gas processing equipment – including subsea compressors and pumps, high-pressure separation units, multi-phase meters, valves and pipeline pigs – all in full scale,” says K-lab manager Trond Austrheim, StatoilHydro Technology & New Energy. K-lab is particularly well suited to carry out full-scale testing and qualifying of subsea compressors in realistic conditions. Two compressor prototypes – a MAN Turbo and Siemens unit – will be tested at K-lab over a two-year period. The MAN Turbo unit was installed this past winter and the Siemens compressor will be ready for trials in 2009. K-lab is 100% owned by StatoilHydro, but also does projects for equipment suppliers.