This subproject develops new technologies (and improves existing ones) for subsea, in-well and topside processing with minimal energy use.

Main objective

The main objective of SP8 is twofold: to demonstrate and optimise the use of new technologies for subsea, in-well and topside processing with minimal energy consumption for new and existing fi eld developments on the NCS; and to support industrial uptake of the innovations. This will be achieved by:

• Demonstrating energy wastage and identifying the potential for efficiency improvements.
• Testing new technologies and concepts to accelerate their implementation.
• Demonstrating "non-intrusive" process optimisation solutions for existing fields.
• Studying measures necessary to meet challenges arising from future energy supply solutions (examples of such challenges: unsteady energy supply, little excess heat).

Results 2022

MAIN RESULTS IN 2022

• A literature study on early water removal technology was performed describing several solutions for subsea and in-well separation. The study will be background for further research on optimum field design and energy efficient transport methods. Early water removal will lead to reduced energy demand for transporting. In addition, the need for water injection as pressure support is reduced by lowering the backpressure in wells.
• The work on topside energy recovery and more efficient pumping systems was finalized. An investment-benefit study for the use of plunger pumps replacing centrifugal pumps was performed. Energy savings of several MW are possible. An upgrade before production start is most beneficial. Still, also a late life upgrade after plateau production has passed can be profitable.
• A case study was started investigating the feasibility and energy saving potential of using heat pumps for integrated heat management on an electrified FPSO. In particular for electrified fields, the absence of available waste heat from gas turbines will require alternative efficient heating methods. The study is performed in close collaboration with Altera Infrastructure.
• A case study demonstrating the energy saving potential of the cold flow technology was started. Cold Flow is a technology for developing long tie-backs without energy intensive heating, insulation or chemical injection as prevention measure for hydrate and wax blocking of pipes. Several industry partners are involved in the study, such as Equinor, Repsol, Total Energies, AkerBP, Aker Solutions
• Solutions for flexible production as measure for balancing variable power supply from offshore wind turbines was studied. It was found that the utilization of an oil tank as well as the variable pressure in gas export pipes can be used to secure constant export rates even at variable production rates.
• Two conference contributions and two journal publications were produced in 2022:
  • Holt, Torleif, and Heiner Schümann. "Energy Efficient Operation of Petroleum Production Plants." Paper presented at the SPE Norway Subsurface Conference, Bergen, Norway, April 2022. doi: https://doi.org/ 10.2118/209539-MS
  • Leila Eyni, Milan Stanko, Heiner Schümann, Methods for early-phase planning of offshore fields considering environmental performance, Energy, Volume 256, 2022, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2022.124495.
  • Eyni, L, Fattahi, M, Schümann, H, Lund, F, Stanko, M, & Strømmegjerde, L. " Technical and Environmental Evaluation of a Hydrate Cold Flow Technique to Produce an Oil Reservoir Using a Long Tie- Back and Comparison Against Traditional Development Concepts." Proceedings of the ASME 2022 41st International Conference on Ocean, Offshore and Arctic Engineering. Volume 3: Materials Technology; Pipelines, Risers, and Subsea Systems. Hamburg, Germany. June 5–10, 2022. V003T04A019. ASME. https://doi.org/10.1115/OMAE2022-79513
  • Eyni, L.; Stanko, M.; Schümann, H.; Qureshi, A.H. Dynamic Process Modeling of Topside Systems for Evaluating Power Consumption and Possibilities of Using Wind Power. Energies 2022, 15, 9482. https://doi.org/10.3390/en15249482

IMPACT AND INNOVATIONS

• The energy saving potential of several MW as well as costs and cost benefits for more efficient pump systems based on plunger pumps was shown
• The potential and technical feasibility of heat pumps is demonstrated in a case study. Energy consumption related to heating operations in electrified production platforms/ships can be reduced considerably.
• Field design and operation, as well as limitations of the cold flow technology for long tie-backs is shown in a case study. This will help to consider the technology as real candidate for future low emission tie-back developments and accelerate technology uptake.