Emerson to Automate BP-Operated Shah Deniz Compression Project

Emerson Automation Solutions 13 minutes ago

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Integrated control and safety systems will support remote operations, helping to improve safety, reliability and production on a normally unattended offshore platform

BP is extending its collaboration with Emerson to maximise gas recovery and improve processing efficiency at the Shah Deniz field.
Emerson’s integrated control and safety systems will provide process control, safety shutdown, fire and gas detection and power management.
Emerson’s end-to-end project delivery approach is designed to reduce complexity, cost and risk across the full project lifecycle.

BP has awarded global automation leader Emerson a multi-million-dollar contract to deliver automation technologies for the Shah Deniz Compression project off the coast of Azerbaijan.

The contract strengthens a long-standing relationship between the two companies and will see Emerson provide integrated control and safety systems for a new offshore compression platform. The technology is designed to support remote operations while improving production, safety, reliability and platform availability.

Emerson has previously served as the main automation contractor for BP’s Azeri Central East and Shah Deniz Stage 2 developments. The latest contract builds on that experience as BP progresses the next stage of development at the Shah Deniz gas field in the Caspian Sea.

Shah Deniz Compression project targets additional gas recovery

The $2.9 billion Shah Deniz Compression project includes an electrically powered, normally unattended offshore production platform. The facility is being developed to access low-pressure gas reserves and maximise overall recovery from the Shah Deniz field.

The new platform will feature four 11MW compressors and will operate as a central compression hub for gas received from the Shah Deniz Alpha and Shah Deniz Bravo platforms.

Rather than requiring permanent personnel offshore, the platform is designed for remote operation from BP’s onshore Sangachal terminal, located 55 km south of Baku. This operating model places greater importance on reliable automation, integrated process control and safety systems and the ability to monitor and manage critical offshore equipment remotely.

For offshore oil and gas operators, integrated control and safety systems can play an important role in maintaining safe and reliable production where access to a platform is limited. Safety-related control systems are used across offshore installations to support functions including emergency shutdown, process shutdown and fire and gas detection.

Emerson integrated control and safety systems

As part of the project, Emerson will supply its DeltaV™ Distributed Control System and DeltaV Safety Instrumented System.

Together, these integrated systems will provide process control, safety shutdown, fire and gas detection and power management.

The systems will provide real-time visibility of critical offshore operations and enable operators to monitor and control the platform remotely. For a normally unattended facility, this capability is particularly important as it can help support safe and efficient operation while reducing the need for routine offshore intervention.

The approach also reflects a wider move towards increasingly integrated automation on offshore assets. The North Sea technology landscape, for example, identifies control systems and automation as an important technology area for offshore installations, with increasing levels of automation capable of helping to reduce operating expenditure.

By bringing control, safety and power management functions together within an integrated automation architecture, the Shah Deniz Compression project is intended to improve operational efficiency while supporting the platform’s long-term reliability and availability.

Digital engineering supports project delivery

Emerson’s approach extends beyond the initial supply of automation hardware and software. The company says it optimises projects across the full lifecycle rather than focusing solely on upfront capital costs.

This approach is designed to improve schedule predictability, reduce cost and complexity and provide greater flexibility when project requirements change.

Cloud engineering services and digital twin technology will also be used to connect virtual testing, system integration and operator training within a single workflow. This can allow project teams to test and validate systems before deployment while providing operators with an opportunity to develop familiarity with the control environment ahead of commissioning.

For large and complex offshore projects, these capabilities can help reduce some of the risks associated with late-stage engineering changes and system integration. They also support a more connected approach to project engineering, commissioning and operations.

The emphasis on lifecycle delivery is particularly relevant to offshore automation projects where the cost and operational impact of changes can extend well beyond the initial construction phase. Integrating engineering, testing and training activities can help project teams identify potential issues earlier and improve the transition from project delivery into operational use.

Long-standing BP and Emerson collaboration

Emerson has been involved in the Shah Deniz development for more than a decade, having previously acted as the main automation contractor for BP’s Shah Deniz developments.

Commenting on the latest contract, Ram Krishnan, chief operating officer of Emerson, said: “Emerson has served as the main automation contractor for the Shah Deniz development for over a decade, demonstrating how our proven, end-to-end execution model delivers well beyond the initial build,”

“We are pleased to continue our collaboration with BP, deploying advanced systems to enable remote operations and significantly expand the production profile of Shah Deniz.”

The continuation of the relationship demonstrates the importance of proven automation technology and project execution experience for large-scale offshore developments. It also allows Emerson to build on its previous involvement with the Shah Deniz field as the development moves into its next phase.

Shah Deniz project to add significant gas production

The Shah Deniz Compression project is expected to enable approximately 50 billion cubic metres of additional gas and around 25 million barrels of condensate production and export.

The scale of the expected production increase underlines the importance of reliable compression and automation infrastructure. By compressing lower-pressure gas from the Shah Deniz field, the new facility is designed to support continued recovery and extend production from the field.

Construction is scheduled to be completed in 2029. First gas compression is expected from the Shah Deniz Alpha platform in 2029, followed by compression from the Shah Deniz Bravo platform in 2030.

The project therefore represents a significant next step in the development of the Shah Deniz field, combining offshore gas compression with remote operations and integrated automation and safety systems.

For Emerson, the contract further expands its role in the project and demonstrates how integrated control and safety technology, digital engineering and lifecycle project delivery can be applied to complex offshore oil and gas developments.

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Emerson Automation Solutions

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Meridian East, Meridian Business Park, Leicester, Leicestershire LE19 1UX GB

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