The concept of using wind power for offshore oil and gas applications is one step closer to realisation. WINd powered Water Injection (WIN WIN), a DNV GL-led joint industry project (JIP), is running with the following seven participants: ExxonMobil, ENI Norge, Nexen Petroleum UK Ltd, Statoil, VNG, PG Flow Solutions, and ORE Catapult.
Initial DNV GL studies showed that a standalone wind-powered water-injection system could become cost competitive for various types of applications, particularly for water injection far from the production platform and when costly retrofitting is not an option. DNV GL launched the WIN WIN JIP to help develop the concept further. 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.
