SatCon sells power interruption eliminator to Caltex

Boston-based firm SatCon Technology Corporation on Tuesday announced that it has sold to PT. Chevron Pacific Indonesia (CPI) -- a wholly-owned subsidiary of Chevron Corp. -- a medium-voltage static transfer switch (STS) and related equipment that will increase output from two oil fields in Indonesia by virtually eliminating power interruptions.

The power reliability project - the first known application of STS technology for oil production - was developed through Chevron Energy Solutions, Chevron's subsidiary providing energy efficiency and power reliability services.

Storms, lightning strikes and other factors frequently cause power outages that disrupt island-based oil field operations, resulting in many hours of lost production. In the event of an electrical disturbance at CPI's Kelok and Tilan oil fields on Central Sumatra, the STS will automatically switch the power to a secondary line in a fraction of a voltage cycle - less than one-sixtieth of a second - ensuring continuous power to the fields' pumping equipment.

Noor Bambang Siswoyo, CPI's General Manager Power Generation and Transmission. Said with the STS, CPI expected to be able to prevent 20 to 30 power disturbances each year. ?That translates to 30,000 additional barrels of oil we can produce annually," he said.

CPI currently produces around 500,000 barrels of oil a day, about half of Indonesia's total oil output. (alex)