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Shell and Wood Unveil Smart Choke Technology Agreement

Wood is Shell’s exclusive partner for Shell’s Smart Choke technology, which suppresses riser-induced slugging.

Wood and Shell logos

Shell announced during the Australasian Oil & Gas Subsea event in Perth, that its Catalysts & Technologies unit selected energy services company Wood as its exclusive partner to implement its Smart Choke technology globally.

The oil company added that the agreement with Wood will facilitate wider implementation of field-demonstrated technology in suppressing riser-induced slugging, the provision of real-time monitoring solutions, and solidifying partnerships to enable cost optimization and successful delivery.

Shell described the technology as a low-cost, active slug-suppression device for pipeline-riser systems, adding that as hydrocarbon production assets mature, the accumulation and slugging of liquid can result in integrity and operational issues.

“Shell and Wood are applying specialized control algorithms that enable a Smart Choke to minimize issues and impacts associated with liquid management,” said Shell’s Central Upstream Engineering Manager Loek Vreenegoor. “It is one of very few systems that is field-proven by successful deployment on several Shell assets worldwide—notably extending the production lifetime of Shell fields.”

Vreenegoor said one example of this was when the company used the technology to bring back a field that had been shut-in and off the books due to slugging. The field was able to produce for several more years, which resulted in the company’s investment being earned back within a day.