DNV GL has teamed up with companies, including Statoil and ExxonMobil, to explore the feasibility of using floating wind turbines to help power offshore oil and gas operations.
Specifically, the DNV GL-led WIN WIN joint industry project (JIP) is examining wind-powered subsea water-injection pumping systems. Initial DNV GL studies showed that such systems could become cost competitive for various types of applications, particularly for water injection far from a production platform and when costly retrofitting is not an option. DNV GL says it launched the WIN WIN JIP to help develop the concept further.
In addition to Statoil and ExxonMobil, participants include ENI Norge, Nexen Petroleum UK Ltd., VNG, PG Flow Solutions and ORE Catapult.
"We've had a fantastic response from the industry and are very pleased that seven important players from both industries have joined the JIP. Together, they cover the value chain from wind production and operation, to pump manufacturing, to five oil and gas operators," says DNV GL's Johan Sandberg, the project sponsor.
"We are very satisfied that DNV GL has taken the initiative to form a JIP, and brought on board several of our peers from the oil and gas industry. The overall concept needs maturing up to a point where it can be considered a viable option in field development studies," comments Hanne Wigum, manager for Statoil's renewables research group.
DNV GL says the project is now in the phase where the technical concept is being developed and the technical feasibility assessed in detail. Two of the main challenges being addressed are the off-grid operation of the system and the reservoir's response to variable injection rates. The JIP has been up and running since the beginning of the year and is scheduled to be completed in the first quarter of 2016.
