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Electrification of oilfield for sustainable development

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The oil and gas industry has a significant power demand [1] [2]. The concept of electrification in the oil and gas industry involves using electricity to power oilfield operations instead of burning fossil fuels. The goal is to reduce the carbon footprint of oil and gas activities, increase energy efficiency, and support sustainable development.

Figure 01: Electrification of oilfield for sustainable development.

Benefits

Reduced Emissions

Electrification reduces greenhouse gas emissions from oil and gas operations. By using electrical power instead of diesel or natural gas, companies can reduce their carbon emissions and mitigate the impacts of climate change.

Improved Efficiency

Electrical power is more efficient than traditional fossil fuel-powered systems. Electrification can enhance the efficiency of drilling, pumping, and transportation processes, reducing energy consumption and operating costs. The efficiency of a gas turbine is around 25 - 30%. State-of-the-art electric motors can reach efficiencies of approximately 95% [3].

Cost Savings

Electrification can help to reduce operating costs by reducing the need for diesel or natural gas-powered equipment [4]. In some cases, electrification can also reduce maintenance and repair costs associated with traditional fossil fuel-powered systems. Additionally, costs associated with the logistics of fuel transportation can be minimized.

Increased Safety

Electric systems are generally safer than fossil fuel-powered systems, as they eliminate the risk of leaks and spills associated with traditional fuel storage and transportation.

Challenges

Initial Costs

Electrification can require a greater upfront investment in new equipment and infrastructure [4]. This high initial investment can be an obstacle for some companies, particularly smaller ones with limited financial resources.

Grid Dependence

Electrification relies on a stable and reliable electrical grid to power oil and gas operations. In some areas, the electrical grid may not be reliable or subject to supply disruptions, which can impact the reliability of electric systems.

Power Consumption

Electrical systems can consume significant power (natural gas-fired turbine power generation capacity is about 30 MW/unit [5]), which might be challenging in areas with limited electrical capacity or remote locations where power generation is expensive.

Technology Limitations

Not all oil and gas operations may be suitable for electrification. Some operations may require high power levels or specialized equipment unavailable in the electric form for the desired application.

Maintenance and Repair

Electrical systems require specialized maintenance and repair, which can be challenging in remote or offshore locations. Companies may need specialized technical personnel to keep electric systems.

Examples

Electrification in onshore fields

Electrification can be implemented in onshore fields to optimize the energy efficiency of operations. The use of pump-off controllers and variable speed drives (VSD) can optimize energy consumption in artificial lift equipment (ESPs, PCPs, SRPs) [6]. There is also an opportunity for electrification and efficiency gains in fluid processing equipment (compressors, pumps, boilers). One of the critical points is the proper design of the system to avoid unnecessary energy consumption. In a large number of wells, this energy inefficiency adds up, resulting in substantive energy waste.

Electric fracking (e-frac)

Electric fracturing is a new technology that replaces the traditional diesel-powered hydraulic fracturing process with an electric-powered system [7].

Traditional hydraulic fracturing pumps water, sand/proppant, and chemicals into an oil or gas well at high pressure to fracture the rock and increase reservoir hydrocarbon productivity. Diesel engines power the pumps that displace and pressurize the fracturing fluid. On the other hand, electric fracturing uses electric motors to power the pumps that deliver the fracturing fluid. The electric motors are powered by grid electricity and on-site natural gas-fired power generation. This approach offers several benefits over diesel-powered hydraulic fracturing: reduced emissions, noise reduction, improved efficiency, increased safety, and cost savings [7].

All electric FPSO

An all-electric floating production, storage, and offloading (FPSO) vessel is an offshore platform that uses electricity as the primary power source [8]. This approach reduces reliance on diesel or gas-fired generators traditionally used to power offshore facilities. Instead, the electrical power for an all-electric FPSO can be supplied by onshore or offshore renewable energy sources or by grid-connected power sources onshore. If grid power or renewable energy source is unavailable, only one gas turbine is maintained for electric power generation.

An all-electric FPSO can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other environmental impacts of oil and gas production. In addition to its environmental benefits, an all-electric FPSO offers several other advantages over traditional FPSOs.

  • Improved Efficiency: can be more energy-efficient than traditional FPSOs, as electric motors are more efficient than diesel or gas-fired generators. This can result in significant fuel savings and lower operating costs.
  • Reduced Maintenance: with fewer moving parts, which can reduce the need for maintenance and repair.
  • Increased Safety: minimizes the risk of fuel spills and other safety hazards associated with fuel-based power generation.
  • Flexibility: can be connected to various power sources, including onshore and offshore renewable energy sources, providing greater flexibility and resilience to power supply disruptions.

Results and Perspectives of Electrification

The most mature electrification concept for offshore fields is the connection between platforms and the onshore power grid. In 1996, Troll A was the first platform in the North Sea to utilize power from the shore [9]. In the Johan Sverdrup [9], electrification reduced CO2 emissions drastically.  The CO2 emission in this field is around 0.7 kg per barrel, compared with an average of 9 kg per barrel on the Norwegian continental shelf and about 15 kg per barrel (global average) [10] .

Several alternatives and design considerations must be addressed to develop wind farm applications to power offshore platforms in greenfields and brownfields [11]. In brownfields, the modifications required in the existing units make the implementation of this new technology more challenging. In greenfields, there is more flexibility to consider electrification alternatives during project development.

The application of ocean energy wave energy to power offshore oil and gas production platforms might be an alternative in the future [2]. A case of wave energy application in Norway was analyzed. The authors concluded that using wave energy farms for the electrification of offshore assets is technically and economically viable. Offshore O&G platforms operating at deep-water locations are exposed to highly energetic waves, suitable for deployment of wave farms.

References

  1. ↑ Z. Wang, S. Li, Z. Jin, Z. Li, Q. Liu, and K. Zhang, “Oil and gas pathway to net-zero: Review and outlook,” Energy Strategy Rev., vol. 45, p. 101048, Jan. 2023, doi: 10.1016/j.esr.2022.101048.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 S. Oliveira-Pinto, P. Rosa-Santos, and F. Taveira-Pinto, “Electricity supply to offshore oil and gas platforms from renewable ocean wave energy: Overview and case study analysis,” Energy Convers. Manag., vol. 186, pp. 556–569, Apr. 2019, doi: 10.1016/j.enconman.2019.02.050.
  3. ↑ S. Diezinger and B. Dennhardt, “Electrification in Industry: The Most Efficient Way Towards Decarbonization,” presented at the ADIPEC, OnePetro, Oct. 2022. doi: 10.2118/211122-MS.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 “The Business Case for Oilfield Electrification | Hart Energy,” May 22, 2023. https://www.hartenergy.com/exclusives/business-case-oilfield-electrification-189983 (accessed Apr. 06, 2023).
  5. ↑ M. Voldsund et al., “Low carbon power generation for offshore oil and gas production,” Energy Convers. Manag. X, vol. 17, p. 100347, Jan. 2023, doi: 10.1016/j.ecmx.2023.100347.
  6. ↑ N. Kolwey, “Energy Efficiency and Electrification Best Practices for Oil and Gas Production.” Aug. 2020. Accessed: Mar. 07, 2023. [Online]. Available: https://www.swenergy.org/pubs/energy-efficiency-and-electrification-best-practices-for-oil-and-gas-production
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 J. M. Oehring, “Electric Powered Hydraulic Fracturing,” presented at the SPE/CSUR Unconventional Resources Conference, Oct. 2015. doi: 10.2118/175965-MS.
  8. ↑ P. Pandele, E. Thibaut, and E. Meyer, “All-Electrical FPSO Scheme With Variable-Speed Drive Systems,” IEEE Trans. Ind. Appl., vol. 49, no. 3, pp. 1188–1197, May 2013, doi: 10.1109/TIA.2013.2252133.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 B. Wright, “Plug-In Platforms: The Push for Offshore Electrification,” J. Pet. Technol., vol. 74, no. 10, pp. 36–44, Oct. 2022, doi: 10.2118/1022-0036-JPT.
  10. ↑ “Electrification of platforms.” https://www.equinor.com/energy/electrification-of-platforms (accessed Apr. 06, 2023).
  11. ↑ D. McLaurin, M. Paulin, C. Peng, and R. Yadlapati, “The Use of Offshore Wind to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Offshore Hydrocarbon Production - A Case Study,” presented at the Offshore Technology Conference, Aug. 2021. doi: 10.4043/30993-MS.
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