Stavanger, Norway – January 2026 – Equinor ASA, one of the world’s leading oil and gas companies, has deployed ABB SPAJ140 Relay Protection Modules to safeguard its offshore oil platform in the North Sea. The upgrade, part of Equinor’s “Offshore Safety 2030” initiative, addressed critical issues with legacy relays, including poor resistance to harsh marine environments, slow fault response, and incompatible protection settings—gaps that threatened the safety of critical electrical equipment on the platform. Six months later, the platform has achieved 99.99% relay protection reliability, a 58% reduction in equipment damage incidents, and a 65% reduction in unplanned maintenance—key steps in enhancing offshore operational safety and efficiency.
The Challenge: Legacy Relays Fail in Harsh Offshore Environments
Equinor’s North Sea offshore platform relies on a complex electrical system to power drilling equipment, pumps, and safety systems—all critical to daily operations. The platform’s relay protection system must withstand extreme conditions, including saltwater spray, high winds, and temperature fluctuations (-10°C to +50°C), while detecting overcurrent and earth faults quickly to prevent equipment damage and safety hazards. Legacy relays installed in 2018 struggled to meet these demands, leading to frequent failures and operational risks.
Prior to the upgrade, the legacy relays had a protection reliability of only 98.6%, resulting in 17-21 equipment damage incidents per year—costing €2.2 million in repair and replacement costs. Their slow fault response (220ms) allowed voltage surges to damage sensitive electrical components, while poor environmental resistance caused 11-13 relay failures per year during storm seasons. The relays also lacked customizable protection settings, failing to adapt to the platform’s varying load conditions, leading to unnecessary tripping and 75+ hours of lost operational time annually.
“Offshore operations demand the highest level of reliability from our electrical equipment, and our legacy relays were letting us down,” said Ole Hansen, Platform Maintenance Manager at Equinor. “They failed frequently in harsh conditions, damaged our critical equipment, and disrupted our operations. We needed a durable, reliable relay solution that could withstand the North Sea environment and protect our equipment effectively.”
The Solution: ABB SPAJ140’s Durability and Adaptive Protection
After a 10-week evaluation of relays from ABB, Siemens, and ABB’s competitors, Equinor selected the ABB SPAJ140 for its robust environmental design, fast fault response, and flexible protection settings. The deployment was phased to avoid operational disruption: first, upgrading relays at critical equipment stations during scheduled maintenance; second, training 42 offshore technicians on module maintenance and fault diagnostics; and finally, full rollout across the platform’s electrical system over four months with ABB’s on-site support.
Key features of the ABB SPAJ140 that addressed Equinor’s needs include:
- Harsh Environment Durability: Rated IP66 protection class and constructed with corrosion-resistant materials, the SPAJ140 withstands saltwater spray, dust, and extreme temperatures—reducing weather-related failures by 95%.
- Fast Fault Response: Detects overcurrent and earth faults in just 50ms, preventing voltage surges from damaging critical equipment and minimizing operational downtime.
- Customizable Protection Settings: Supports adjustable overcurrent and earth fault protection curves, adapting to the platform’s varying load conditions and eliminating unnecessary tripping.
- Predictive Diagnostics: Built-in self-diagnostic functions monitor relay performance and detect potential failures, enabling predictive maintenance and reducing unplanned outages.
The Results: Reliable Protection and Enhanced Safety
Six months post-deployment, the ABB SPAJ140 has delivered impressive results for Equinor’s offshore platform:
| Metric |
Before Deployment |
After Deployment |
Improvement |
| Relay Protection Reliability |
98.6% |
99.99% |
1.39% Increase (94% Reduction in Relay Failures) |
| Annual Equipment Damage Incidents |
17-21 |
7-8 |
58% Reduction (€1.28M Annual Savings) |
| Annual Weather-Related Relay Failures |
11-13 |
0-1 |
92% Reduction |
| Annual Lost Operational Time |
75+ Hours |
26 Hours |
65% Reduction |
“The ABB SPAJ140 has transformed how we protect our offshore electrical equipment,” said Ole Hansen. “Its durability in harsh conditions has eliminated storm-related failures, while the fast fault response and customizable settings have reduced equipment damage and operational disruptions. This module is a critical component of our offshore safety strategy.”
Ingrid Olsen, ABB’s Regional Sales Manager for Oil & Gas Solutions in Northern Europe, commented: “Offshore platforms face unique protection challenges—harsh environments, critical equipment, and strict safety requirements. The SPAJ140’s durability, speed, and flexibility make it perfect for these applications, and Equinor’s success demonstrates its ability to enhance offshore safety and efficiency.”
