Russian Arctic digital substation 110 kV “Sever”

Gazprom Neft has completed the installation of major equipment for its “Sever (Northern)” digital electricity substation, which will provide standalone energy supplies to multi-well platforms (“cluster pads”) and residential amenities in the northern part of the field, located 26 kilometres away from the asset’s main infrastructure facilities.

This substation is the first oil- and gas-industry facility to be built under a national project from the Ministry of Energy of the Russian Federation — “Commissioning Digital Electricity Stations and Substations at New and Reconstructed Energy Facilities”. Its design and fitting-out was specially adapted — using innovative Russian-produced SF6 gas-insulation solutions (GIS 110 kV CJSC “ZETO”) — to ensure its effective operation under the extreme climatic conditions of the Arctic region.

The 110/10 kV double-transformer “Sever” digital substation has the capacity to ensure uninterrupted electricity supply to a population of 10,00 people. Added to which, innovative “smart” control and diagnostics systems mean only a minimal number of personnel will be required for servicing the facility — something of major importance to remote field facilities. Signal transmission is handled digitally, ensuring maximum automation in measurement, control, safety and security services. The performance and reliability of all systems will be monitored by specialists at the Novoportovskoye field’s gas turbine plant (GTP) control room, remotely. The Sever digital substation comprises 95% Russian-produced equipment (ZETO, CHEAZ, EKRA).