Honeywell to enable remote operations at Statoil's Valemon field
February 2012
News
Honeywell has announced that it has been selected by Statoil, the international energy company headquartered in Norway, to deploy its Experion PKS and Honeywell Distributed System Architecture at Statoil’s Valemon platform in the North Sea. The DSA will allow Honeywell to integrate Experion with Statoil’s existing Kvitebjørn platform to enable remote command of the facility, aiming to reduce overall costs and lowering the risks associated with resource recovery.
The Valemon field is located 160 kilometres west of the Norwegian coast and is one of Statoil’s largest development projects. The site contains recoverable reserves of 26 billion cubic metres of gas and five million cubic metres of condensate, which equates to over 1% of Norway’s gas reserves.
Honeywell’s Integrated Control and Safety System (ICSS) means work can be continuously controlled and the safety of subsea and topside operations monitored without the need for personnel on site. The entire operation can be operated remotely from the existing Kvitebjørn platform. Honeywell’s technology reduces the investments needed to achieve the goal of an unmanned platform as minor additional equipment and minimum engineering is required. The DSA will minimise production costs and increase safety for Statoil personnel, as well as reduce the risk of otherwise duplicated ICSS databases becoming inconsistent over time.
Guantak Park, purchasing manager, Samsung Heavy Industries, said: “We selected Honeywell because of the ability of its PKS to integrate seamlessly with existing technology. The robustness and functionality of the system gives us the ability to source solutions to maximise productivity safely and at low cost. It will impact positively on our competitive position.”
Orhan Genis, vice president, sales, Honeywell Process Solutions, EMEA, commented: “The use of Honeywell DSA and PKS technologies at Valemon demonstrates the industry’s recent step forward in resource recovery. The ability to work remotely is opening up the possibility of extracting large untapped reserves in locations, such as the deep North Sea, that were previously too difficult, distant or dangerous to reach, while also helping to drive down costs and increase efficiency.”
With production planned to begin in 2014, the gas extracted from the Valemon field will be sent via existing pipelines to supply European gas consumers. Samsung Heavy Industries is acting as the engineering, procurement and construction contractor for the project.
For more information contact Debbie Rae, Honeywell Southern Africa, +27 (0)11 695 8000, [email protected], www.honeywell.co.za
Further reading:
Rooibos heads to space in groundbreaking South African STEM initiative
News
Rooibos seeds will be sent to the International Space Station as part of a first-of-its-kind South African initiative combining space-based plant science with hands-on STEM education for learners in the Cederberg region and Cape Town.
Read more...
From the editor's desk: Turning the tide
Technews Publishing (SA Instrumentation & Control)
News
Our last few Sustainable Manufacturing guides have tracked the changes in the energy industry in South Africa. This year, I found that the story has moved on still further.
South Africa’s manufacturing
...
Read more...
Engineering a more inclusive future
News
Women engineers at Zutari are helping shape resilient communities across Africa and the Middle East, while inspiring the next generation to enter the profession in areas ranging from water security to large-scale urban developments.
Read more...
Schneider Electric inspires future women engineers
Schneider Electric South Africa
News
Schneider Electric welcomed female engineering students from its education partner Sedibeng TVET College, Sebokeng to its Midrand headquarters for its Mandela Day Mentorship Café initiative, transforming a day of service into a day of inspiration, learning and opportunity.
Read more...
Supporting an inclusive circular economy transition in South Africa
News
The Department of Science, Technology and Innovation has released its Circular Economy Science, Technology and Innovation strategy. The document sets out how research, development and innovation can support South Africa’s shift away from a linear economic model.
Read more...
Why sustainability and resilience matter more than ever to navigate the ESG backlash
News
ESG, once heralded as a pragmatic framework for embedding long-term resilience into business, is facing growing resistance. The backlash we are seeing may appear reactionary, but it should not distract us from the facts. In this climate, I often find myself returning to the core purpose behind sustainability - creating long-term value in a world of escalating uncertainty.
Read more...
Electra Mining Africa showcases the technologies shaping tomorrow’s industry
News
Taking place from 7 to 11 September 2026 at the Johannesburg Expo Centre in Nasrec, Electra Mining Africa will showcase thousands of products, technologies and services from more than 1000 local and international exhibitors.
Read more...
From the editor's desk: Building a better future
Technews Publishing (SA Instrumentation & Control)
News
This issue of
SA Instrumentation & Control includes our Sustainable Manufacturing Industry Guide, which has some great examples of companies actively contributing to a net-zero carbon future. It’s also
...
Read more...
Latest automation innovations on show at Electra Mining Africa 2026
News
Electra Mining Africa 2026 will showcase new developments in mining automation, AI-integrated safety systems, digital power solutions and CNC simulation technology, alongside a new outdoor Orange Zone exhibition area at the Johannesburg Expo Centre.
Read more...
Tech4Tomorrow Winter School inspires future innovators in Hammarsdale
News
Counter Space Learning hosted its Tech4Tomorrow Winter School, bringing robotics, programming and artificial intelligence to learners who might not otherwise have access to these technologies.
Read more...