The increase follows the test period for the ABB Optimize Control System, installed on the Phillips Ekofisk field in the North Sea.

The transportation pipelines had experienced terrain induced slugging, which was compounded by low production rates. The resulting large variations in oil and gas inflow disturbed the processing at the Ekofisk complex while oscillating backpressure experienced at the wellhead platform led to gas-lift problems as well as reduced oil production.

To solve the problem, the controller utilised the pipeline pressure as well as flow and temperature measurements from the control system to manage the control valve at the pipeline outlet, which removed the disturbances at the complex and enabled production to increase.