Energy consultancy Xodus is assessing the infrastructure and modifications required to enable electrification of Harbour Energy’s Central North Sea assets.
This follows the delivery of a power optimisation study examining the opportunities available to rationalise the generation systems on the Everest and Lomond assets off the UK.
Implementing electrification on offshore assets can reduce operational expenditure, increase uptime across all assets and minimise carbon emissions to the atmosphere, Xodus explained on Friday.
The Oil & Gas Authority’s UKCS Energy Integration Report last year calculated that electrification could abate UKCS oil and gas operational emissions by 2-3MtCO2 p.a. by 2030, which is the equivalent of reducing 20 per cent of today’s production emissions, rising to 40 per cent by 2030.
It also noted that platform electrification could extend the operating life of existing assets and achieve cost efficiencies in the development of new oil and gas fields.
Xodus performed an in-depth, integrated subsea and topsides study to assess the scope and scale of the project required to electrify the assets. The company also analysed the operational savings that could be realised in terms of fuel usage and maintenance burden across all assets from now until the cessation of production.
James McAreavey , Concept Development Manager at Xodus said: “A study of this nature requires an integrated multi-discipline engineering team that understands the critical elements of both renewable energy and traditional oil and gas operations in order to identify the true challenges and opportunities associated with large scale electrification of existing oil and gas assets.
“This study has the potential to provide essential input to the wider oil and gas community within the North Sea to enable a significant reduction of carbon emissions from offshore operations”.