Equinor and SLB OneSubsea pioneer first large-scale all-electric subsea production system

Global energy technology company SLB has announced that its OneSubsea™ joint venture has secured an EPC (engineering, procurement and construction) contract from Equinor for the development of a 12-well, all-electric Subsea Production System (SPS) at the Fram Sør field, offshore Norway.

Source: SLB

This milestone marks the first large-scale all-electric subsea production system in the energy industry, following a collaborative year-long Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) phase between Equinor and SLB OneSubsea.

Under the EPC scope, SLB OneSubsea will deliver four subsea templates and 12 all-electric subsea trees, eliminating the need for hydraulic fluids from the host platform and significantly reducing topside modifications. This design not only provides a cost-effective solution but also frees up topside space for future expansion projects in the area.

Fram Sør is a breakthrough project for our industry — marking the first large-scale all-electric subsea production system. All-electric subsea solutions reduce topside needs, enable large-scale tiebacks like Fram Sør, and unlock more marginal resources thanks to their smaller footprint and simplified operations.

^{Mads Hjelmeland, CEO of SLB OneSubsea}

The Fram Sør development will be tied back to the Troll C host platform in the North Sea, which is powered from the Norwegian mainland. As a result, the project will deliver energy with very low emissions, strengthening the security of supply from the Norwegian Continental Shelf to Europe.

The shift to all-electric subsea systems is not only about hardware — it relies on advanced digital monitoring, automation, and control technologies to operate reliably in offshore environments. The project showcases how digitalisation, electrification, and IT/OT integration are converging to deliver:

1. Lower emissions (~0.5 kg CO₂/boe compared to the 8 kg industry average)
2. Improved efficiency and reduced costs
3. New opportunities to unlock marginal fields previously considered uneconomic

Pending regulatory approval of the plan for development and operations (PDO), Fram Sør will become a flagship example of how digital and electric solutions are reshaping offshore production.