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Offshore resources are a major part of the world's required energy mix and are currently crucial as a source for many materials and goods used in our daily life. The production and processing of these resources mostly relies on heavy-duty machinery and infrastructure that has been proven and running for many decades. Over the years the possible technologies used for the process evolved and equipment became more reliable and compact with longer step-outs. At the same time, electric actuators were deployed to overcome the need for complex hydraulic power supply and to increase monitoring possibilities while minimizing time lags in the system's reaction. During the deployment of innovative technologies, a focus was put on the safety performance of the actuation systems. Due to potential risks to the environment, safety remains a key requirement for upcoming unmanned and autonomous production and processing sites. Linear valves and actuators play a critical role in subsea systems as they allow for lightweight and compact design of infrastructure. The first electric subsea actuators for linear valves were expensive, large, and non-retrievable due to complex safety mechanisms using springs. The current actuators reduced the size by replacing the springs with electric batteries, leading to higher costs to ensure minimum safety integrity level with complex subsea control modules. This dilemma splits the users in two groups: the ones who prioritize safety by springs but have to maintain the environmental risks and OPEX costs of conventional hydraulics; or the ones who prioritize electrification by subsea batteries but limit its application to fewer projects which can afford a much higher CAPEX. An innovative solution to overcome the challenges of the industry, following the state-of-the-art developments, was needed to allow sustainable and future-proof production and processing. This enables viable business models for rising industries such as Carbon Storage and green hydrogen production and transportation. At the same time, the solution had to be designed in a way to reduce cost and increase reliability and protection for the environment. This paper shows the simplest way to electric automated linear gate valves subsea, without compromising safety and efficiency. It explains how a portfolio of lean all-electric subsea actuators was developed and qualified, focused on cost-efficient and reliable operation, by integrating field-proven safety with an easy-to-exchange module and low-power consumption drive, designed to scale up the energy transition.
Offshore resources are a major part of the world's required energy mix and are currently crucial as a source for many materials and goods used in our daily life. The production and processing of these resources mostly relies on heavy-duty machinery and infrastructure that has been proven and running for many decades. Over the years the possible technologies used for the process evolved and equipment became more reliable and compact with longer step-outs. At the same time, electric actuators were deployed to overcome the need for complex hydraulic power supply and to increase monitoring possibilities while minimizing time lags in the system's reaction. During the deployment of innovative technologies, a focus was put on the safety performance of the actuation systems. Due to potential risks to the environment, safety remains a key requirement for upcoming unmanned and autonomous production and processing sites. Linear valves and actuators play a critical role in subsea systems as they allow for lightweight and compact design of infrastructure. The first electric subsea actuators for linear valves were expensive, large, and non-retrievable due to complex safety mechanisms using springs. The current actuators reduced the size by replacing the springs with electric batteries, leading to higher costs to ensure minimum safety integrity level with complex subsea control modules. This dilemma splits the users in two groups: the ones who prioritize safety by springs but have to maintain the environmental risks and OPEX costs of conventional hydraulics; or the ones who prioritize electrification by subsea batteries but limit its application to fewer projects which can afford a much higher CAPEX. An innovative solution to overcome the challenges of the industry, following the state-of-the-art developments, was needed to allow sustainable and future-proof production and processing. This enables viable business models for rising industries such as Carbon Storage and green hydrogen production and transportation. At the same time, the solution had to be designed in a way to reduce cost and increase reliability and protection for the environment. This paper shows the simplest way to electric automated linear gate valves subsea, without compromising safety and efficiency. It explains how a portfolio of lean all-electric subsea actuators was developed and qualified, focused on cost-efficient and reliable operation, by integrating field-proven safety with an easy-to-exchange module and low-power consumption drive, designed to scale up the energy transition.
Onshore, some industries produce large quantities of CO2, that may need to be disposed of, in a controlled manner. Offshore, some O&G fields produce high amounts of CO2, that is ideally reinjected to increase production. But at some point, the CO2 needs to be injected in a dedicated geological formation. Those reservoirs may be located very remote offshore. CO2 w/r to Gas production from a geological reservoir, is a homogeneous product, without water and its associated risk of hydrates that may block the conduits. It can be transported over long distances (∼ 100's of km). CO2 business is not yet mature and flies only with marginal margins. Typically, the business developers want a layout that can start with 1 well to kick-off the initial opportunity, and that can scale to 10's of wells as the business develops or as the reservoir gets filled. The initial CAPEX shall be as low as possible. The expansion plan may vary, and the design shall be flexible. As the distance increases, as the system needs to be expandable and as the cost needs to be reduced, the legacy electro-hydraulic subsea control may be superseded by All-Electric well-heads and by lean subsea control infrastructure such as the DC/FO. Regulators may require reservoir monitoring solution, to control potential caprock leakage or for injected CO2 plume expansion to unplanned areas. These monitoring solutions shall be capable of detecting leakage events, shall be cost effective and shall be in-service and thus reliable over the lifetime of the reservoir. The DC/FO infrastructure when combined with DAS, offers the leanest and most flexible infrastructure to distribute power, coms and ASN Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) fiber sensing applications (in-well monitoring, assets integrity, reservoir monitoring, pipe monitoring, etc.) to monitor the injection in CCS wells and to protect the assets from external aggression. DC/FO has already been successfully deployed on several North Sea fields, for either Oil and Gas production or for Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) systems.
TotalEnergies, Petrobras, and SLB have partnered in a collaborative venture with the goal of revolutionizing the way subsea wells are completed. Their aim is to introduce an innovative intelligent completion system in the context of multiple wells that replaces the conventional electrohydraulic systems that have been in use for decades by electrifying the process. This groundbreaking system not only represents a significant advancement in well technology but also holds the promise of making a profound positive impact on the environment and enhancing safety. To evaluate the reduction of carbon emissions through electric wells, an electrification road map was implemented. This comprehensive approach included data collection, case studies, and techno-economic analysis. By closely examining the existing assets, detailed specifications were developed outlining the environmental, operational, and financial contexts in which electrical completions can offer effective solutions. The objective was to eliminate the need for hydraulic systems entirely, from surface installations to completion. This required a complete redesign of the flow control valve, downhole safety valve, and all associated interfaces. One of the most notable achievements resulting from this technological advancement is the optimization of reservoir management and reduced water production. Electric wells surpass conventional systems in terms of precision and control, enabling improved reservoir management practices. This, in turn, enhances hydrocarbon recovery and overall asset performance. The second breakthrough paves the way for exploring fresh opportunities in the development of multizonal wells, lowering the overall number of wells needed. The third significant accomplishment involved streamlining the design, resulting in reduced rig time and enhanced safety for personnel. The transition to electric wells has demonstrated that completion technology can play a pivotal role in addressing environmental concerns within the oil and gas industry. It underscores the significance of ongoing innovation and collaboration among industry leaders to drive positive change. This initiative serves as a model for other companies and industry stakeholders seeking to reduce their environmental footprint while improving project economics. It illustrates that electrification can facilitate the coexistence of sustainable practices and profitability, offering a promising outlook for the future.
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