TotalEnergies, Equinor, Aker BP, DeepOcean, Tenaris and LS Cable & System have joined forces to commercialize an innovative subsea flowline heating technology. The solution is designed to reduce manufacturing and installation costs by up to 35% and carbon emissions by 30% through the separation of pipeline and heating installation.
Subsea tiebacks are vital to offshore oil and gas production, connecting remote subsea wells to processing facilities via pipelines. While they help reduce infrastructure costs and accelerate field development, they face significant challenges in cold, deepwater environments. Tie-back connections may face several flow-assurance challenges in subsea environment particularly with wax, hydrate risks and long pipeline distance, where heating may be required.
FlowHeat
The innovation, named FlowHeat, simplifies subsea flowline heating by enabling cables installation after the pipeline is laid. The technology also considers an alternative option of installing the cables in a reeled pipeline.
'The patented design represents a breakthrough in subsea pipeline heating, offering significant cost savings, improved efficiency, and environmental benefits. The key advantages include reduced topside weight, lower power consumption, and less complex installation. The cable is also repairable and enables real-time monitoring via optical fiber,' says Andries Ferla, DeepOcean’s Technology Director and project owner.
The FlowHeat system can be deployed after a pipeline has been laid and is suitable for distances of up to 30km with a potential to increase to 50km, in water depths of 3000 meters. This makes it an ideal solution for long subsea tiebacks. The technology also enables efficient heating installation using smaller remotely operating vehicles (ROV).
'After a very important phase progressing from idea to proof-of-concept, TotalEnergies is very enthusiastic to enter in a full-scale validation with this group of highly skilled specialists, for qualification of the technology. Together, we believe we can unlock longer tiebacks and access to remote reserves,' says Florent Boemare, Offshore Solutions and Technology Research Manager at TotalEnergies, who has been part of this development since the beginning.
The system contributes to a 30% reduction in carbon emissions by optimising the use of pipelines, reducing installation days, and enabling the use of smaller vessels. Combined with cost reductions of up to 35% compared to traditional methods, FlowHeat presents a step-change in subsea flow assurance.
Initial small-scale and thermal trials have already proven successful. Tests have demonstrated reliable cable installation across obstacles and longer distances, as well as high electrical efficiency with low topside power demand. The technology can be deployed from all vessel types.
Large market potential
The market potential for FlowHeat is substantial, both on the Norwegian Continental Shelf and internationally. On the Norwegian Continental Shelf alone, there is strong demand for cost-efficient flow assurance solutions as operators pursue new tiebacks. Globally, regions such as Brazil, the United States, Africa, and other deepwater markets face similar challenges, with more than 300 potential electric heating projects identified by 2030.
The overall objective is to provide a practical, sustainable, and cost-effective solution that mitigates flow assurance risks while reducing both investment- and operating cost.
Combining unique expertise
Each participating company has brought a distinct capability to the FlowHeat project, aligning to maximize commercial success from manufacturing to subsea installation:
- DeepOcean – Project owner and global subsea services provider, responsible for research, engineering, and project management. DeepOcean will optimize cable installation processes and deliver value through innovation and subsea integration.
- Tenaris – Producer of specialized coating solutions, contributing with its unmatched expertise and the development of innovative flow assurance solutions. Its durable end-to-end thermal insulation coating technologies extend pipeline lifetime and reduce operating and maintenance costs for flowlines of any length.
- LS Cable & System – Global leader in power and communications cables, supplying advanced products such as submarine, extra-high voltage, superconducting, and fiber optical cables. LSC&S will offer global reach and technical expertise essential for long-distance subsea heating.
- TotalEnergies, Equinor, Aker BP – Industry operators bringing critical domain knowledge, infrastructure, investment capacity, and R&D initiatives to validate and deploy FlowHeat in real-world applications.
Supported by Energy Research Grants
The project is led by DeepOcean as the project owner and is the formal recipient of funding from the Research Council of Norway. A key rationale for the award is to enable a pilot test, validating the system’s performance under real operating conditions.
Illustration of a FlowHeat pipeline section. © 2025 Tenaris
Source: DeepOcean
