Evaluation of Floating Wind Technology to Reduce Emissions in Newfoundland and Labrador's Offshore Hydrocarbon Industry

Abstract

The move to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the offshore hydrocarbons production industry has resulted in a growing interest in the possibility of using offshore wind to reduce on-platform power generation. While some offshore areas are progressing towards, or planning for, the use of offshore wind to electrify hydrocarbon producing platforms, they do not have some of the challenges associated with Newfoundland & Labrador's offshore environment. The authors are undertaking a study to investigate the feasibility of, and the benefits associated with the use of offshore floating wind to displace power generation for offshore hydrocarbon production platforms, thus reducing GHG emissions. The work is focusing on the applicability of potential concepts, services, supply chain, fabrication, facilities, and operations, and how these tie into various floating wind concepts and technologies that might be fabricated and assembled locally, and operated offshore Newfoundland & Labrador (NL). Electrification of offshore oil and gas production facilities through offshore wind could reduce the requirement for local power generation via turbine generators under normal operation. This paper examines the suitability of potential offshore floating wind concepts in the NL offshore, using wind energy to supply power to offshore facilities, reducing the need for fuel powered turbine generators, and thereby decreasing GHG emissions from power generation. The study looks at the full-field approach, from suitability of design to construction to operations and maintenance of offshore wind technology.