Equinor successfully tests latest ABB technology for reliable temperature measurement in challenging offshore conditions

Published:  19 February, 2025

High accuracy temperature measurement is crucial in all stages of oil production, from extraction to final distribution. ABB’s latest technology is reported to be helping Equinor achieve reliable temperature monitoring in the Johan Sverdrup oil field in the North Sea.

Johan Sverdrup is the third largest oil field on the Norwegian continental shelf and a major supplier of energy to Europe, accounting for roughly a third of Norway’s oil production.

The field is located in the Utsira High area, 160 kilometres west of Stavanger, in water depths of 110-120 metres, covering an area of 200 square kilometres.

Robust and reliable temperature measurement for offshore conditions

Temperature measurement is vital for the safety and efficiency of oil and gas operations. In wellhead applications, the mixture of oil, water, and gas flowing at high speed makes conventional invasive thermowell measurements challenging. Operators often use clamp-on temperature transmitters to measure pipe temperature as a proxy for process temperature, but these are prone to unpredictable errors in harsh offshore conditions.

A study by Equinor on the Johan Sverdrup oil platform revealed that conventional clamp-on measurements were affected by wind speed, insulation type, and sensor design, leading to deviations of up to 10°C with typical process temperatures of 65°C.

Need for stable clamp-on temperature measurement at Johan Sverdrup

Equinor sought a stable clamp-on temperature sensor to ensure reliable measurements in the challenging conditions of the North Sea. Trials were conducted with ABB’s NINVA clamp-on non-invasive temperature sensor, comparing it to invasive solutions under long-term field conditions.

The team used ABB’s performance predictor to estimate the difference between pipe surface temperature and bulk process temperature, finding minimal differences even in harsh conditions. NINVA was installed on a large diameter pipe and monitored for six months during the winter. Using ABB’s remote mount TSP341-N sensor and a TTF300 Field Transmitter, the dual sensor tip design compensated for typical errors of surface sensors, achieving accurate measurements.

The deviation between invasive and non-invasive measurements ranged from 0.8 to 1.5°C under nominal conditions, regardless of weather. During testing, 10 cm insulation was applied over the sensor, covering an area of approximately 0.5 metres in all directions.

Innovative engineering, dependable temperature measurement

ABB’s NINVA provides a safer and simpler approach to temperature measurement, eliminating the risks and costs associated with invasive thermowells. SIL2 certified, NINVA is suitable for safety-critical applications.

Equinor’s engineers reported: “With NINVA, we see a stable, plug-and-play clamp-on temperature measurement solution that can be used to infer the process temperature in some of our challenging applications.”

Discover if NINVA can support your temperature measurement needs by using the performance predictor on ABB’s My Measurement Assistant platform. 

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