SLB has completed the acquisition of Sulzer’s Vessel Internal Electrostatic Coalescer (VIEC) technology, expanding its production technology portfolio and strengthening solutions for mature oil and gas assets. 

VIEC improves oil-water separation efficiency by using electrostatic fields to destabilise emulsions, helping operators manage rising water volumes and maintain production performance. 

The technology can reduce water content to below 1 per cent in a single treatment stage, improving throughput, lowering treatment costs and reducing operational challenges. 

Designed for both new installations and retrofits, VIEC has been deployed across global onshore and offshore operations, particularly in high water-cut environments, helping operators debottleneck facilities and enhance recovery without major infrastructure changes.

“In today’s capital-disciplined environment, every barrel of recoverable oil matters,” said Patrick Bauer, Business Line Director of Process Technologies and Solutions, SLB. “This acquisition is a targeted step to strengthen our production and recovery capabilities as customers seek to maximise output from existing assets.”