Field-proven pressure protection enables faster, lower-emissions path to first oil in the Gulf of America

Proserv, the global controls technology specialist, has helped unlock a commercially viable, infrastructure-led development for Beacon Offshore Energy’s Zephyrus field through the deployment of its High Integrity Pressure Protection System (HIPPS) subsea controls.

Beacon and its partners have signed a production handling agreement to tie the Zephyrus field back to existing subsea infrastructure in the Mars Corridor. By leveraging established facilities, the development is expected to reduce emissions, lower capital expenditure, and accelerate time to first oil.

A critical enabler of this approach is the integration of Proserv’s field-proven HIPPS controls into the nine-mile Zephyrus subsea tieback. Delivered in collaboration with Trendsetter Engineering, a specialist provider of subsea solutions, the HIPPS system allows a high-pressure well to be safely and flexibly connected to lower-pressure infrastructure.

The solution combines Trendsetter’s HIPPS module with Proserv’s SIL 3-rated subsea control system, delivering a highly reliable, localised safety function that automatically shuts in the well in the event of a pressure excursion. This enables operators to manage differing pressure regimes while protecting existing assets and maintaining operational integrity.

Matt Metcalf, Technical Sales Director at Proserv, said:

“Zephyrus is a great example of how infrastructure-led developments can be made both technically robust and commercially compelling. Our HIPPS subsea controls give operators the confidence to tie high-pressure wells into existing networks safely, helping reduce cost, minimise emissions and bring production online faster.”

Designed for use across greenfield, brownfield and infrastructure-led projects, the HIPPS solution can be seamlessly integrated with existing subsea architectures, supporting flexible tieback strategies in deepwater environments.

The Zephyrus development comprises two single-well tiebacks utilising a single HIPPS module with dual flow base capacity, connected to existing deepwater infrastructure. Building on continued success in the Gulf of America, Proserv and Trendsetter plan to deploy the proven HIPPS technology on future deepwater developments across the Americas.”