BHGE creates cost savings with Subsea Connect and Aptara™ TOTEX-Lite subsea system

Subsea Connect improves the economics of offshore projects and has the potential to unlock an additional 16 billion barrels of oil reserves globally.

Aptara™ TOTEX-lite subsea system incorporates lightweight, modular technologies designed for life of field and re-engineered to cut the total cost of ownership in half.

BHGE’s Subsea Production Systems (SPS) Catalogue is the industry’s first comprehensive SPS catalogue.

Baker Hughes, a GE company (BHGE) has rolled out new technology and an underwater development approach that is set to reduce costs and improve the productivity of offshore oil and natural gas projects.

Subsea Connect includes BHGE’s Aptara TOTEX lite subsea system, a suite of new lightweight, modular technologies designed for the full life of field. By combining planning and risk management, new modular deepwater technology, innovative partnerships and digital tools into a single offering, Subsea Connect can reduce the economic development point of subsea projects by an average of 30 percent and has the potential to unlock an additional 16 billion barrels of reserves globally.

With its fullstream portfolio and ability to make better connections across the development process, BHGE is uniquely positioned to influence approximately 80 percent of the costs associated with offshore projects. This provides an unparalleled opportunity to lower operators’ CAPEX and OPEX requirements and transform unsanctioned projects into commercially-viable ones.

Launched in 2018, Subsea Connect draws on technology from across the BHGE portfolio. Aptara includes pumps, flexible pipes, machines to divert oil and gas to pipelines known as manifolds, and towers of valves, gauges and chokes known as trees, that will be placed at underwater wellheads to control production. These technologies are modular, structured, compact and designed to be more responsive to changing conditions across the life of field, cutting total cost of ownership by up to 50 percent.

The new Aptara tree is 60 tons lighter than most models in use, reducing manufacturing, installation and maintenance costs. The new trees also have interchangeable caps that are switched out, based on changing conditions and the life cycle of a well. The name Aptara was taken from the Latin verb aptare — to adapt, fit or apply.

Neil Saunders, president & CEO of BHGE’s Oilfield Equipment business, said: “In recent years, our industry has made good progress in lowering the cost of subsea projects to the point where they have become more competitive with onshore developments. While the gap has narrowed, we are taking that to the next level with Subsea Connect, making long-lasting, sustainable change and driving value from concept to commissioning and over the full life of field.”

Subsea Connect has 4 pillars:

Project Connect: An independent workflow that begins with targeted project outcomes, offering customers flexible project assessment and management. Designed to eliminate project recycle, reduce cost and project overruns, and increase speed to Final Investment Decision (FID).

Reservoir to Topsides Technology Solutions: Fullstream capability, covering all aspects of a development, from the reservoir to the topside. This goes beyond the subsea scope and includes reservoir management, field development, well construction, topside optimization and subsea engineering.

Flexible Partnerships and Commercial Models: Leveraging relationships with the most efficient, established partners, together with innovative commercial solutions, designed to help improve project economics and unlock additional value.

Digital Enablement: Critical technologies layered with next-generation digital solutions to drive greater uptime and enhance productivity. Includes engageSubsea, BHGE’s asset lifecycle management solution, which helps to optimise the planning, execution, and connectivity of subsea projects.