North Sea

Offshore wind makes up less than 1% of the current energy mix, but analysts have it pegged as a potential trillion-dollar business in the near future. That growth presents an opportunity for operators to reduce costs and their carbon footprint through the electrification of their offshore platforms.

A proving ground for the use of digital twins has emerged in the North Sea. There, operators Total, Aker BP, and Shell have each developed and deployed twins that they expect to pay big dividends.

The deal, first announced in May, gives the Delek subsidiary 10 additional producing field interests in the UK North Sea, boosting its 2019 production by 300%.

Equinor, the operator of the Johan Sverdrup field, said that Mongstad will receive more than 30% of the total oil from the Norwegian Continental Shelf when the field is operating at full capacity.

Development of the Tolmount East discovery will be fast-tracked, the operator said.

The deal is contingent on Energean Oil and Gas completing its acquisition of Edison E&P, announced in July.

As part of the $11-million deal, Kongsberg will establish a dynamic virtual representation of the plant, which serves as a gas processing and export hub for the Shell-operated Ormen Lange in the Norwegian North Sea.

Phase 1 of the North Sea megaproject—Norway’s largest offshore development since the 1980s—has come on stream. Johan Sverdrup is expected to produce 660,000 BOPD at its peak.

Aker BP expects the unmanned facility, a further development of the Valhall field in the Norwegian North Sea, to recover 60 million BOE. Startup is expected sometime this fall.

The $43-million deal with Saipem will utilize a wireless underwater intervention drone and an ROV for intervention work on the Njord field in the Norwegian North Sea. Equinor said the contract is the first ever from an operator for advanced wireless drone services.