The new electrical 22KV cables run from a transformer station near Haugesund town centre and out to Aibel’s yard at Risøy. This installation provides a total capacity of 20 MW of electrical power from the utility grid to the yard.
“The decision to invest in cables and static converters was made in December 2019 by the Johan Sverdrup licence partners Equinor, Lundin Norway, Petoro, Aker BP and TotalEnergies,” says Equinor’s project director for Johan Sverdrup P2-platform, Ståle Nordal.
The local power supplier Haugaland Kraft had already started a process of upgrading a transformer station in Haugesund which opened the opportunities to supply the needed power from shore within the required time frame.
“The idea of using electrical power supplied directly from shore started early in the commissioning preparation phase of the P2 project. Traditionally, diesel driven generators are used to supply electrical power during the commissioning phase of this type of projects, but here we had a good business case to reduce both noise and emissions,” says Mario Piscopo, Equinor’s Commissioning Manager on Johan Sverdrup P2 Platform.
Enormous project – smaller environmental footprint
The construction of the Johan Sverdrup P2 platform is Aibel’s largest to date. The platform has a weight of 23,000 tonnes and will be transported to the Johan Sverdrup field in 2022.
“The complete processing platform is built onshore, and the functionality of the utility and processing systems are being tested during the commissioning phase. We have never before had such a large facility at the yard, and a lot of power is required,” explains Dag Eliassen, Aibel’s System Completion Manager on Johan Sverdrup P2.
For the enormous P2 processing plant, a total of 12 diesel generators would be required to produce the power needed.
“They would consume a total of 6.4 million litres of diesel. That equals 271 tankers with 17,000 litres of diesel,” says Leif Inge Sjøen, Aibel’s Integration Manager on Johan Sverdrup P2.
Cheaper, smarter and greener
The new power infrastructure increases Aibel’s power supply from 3 MW to around 20 MW. Eliminating the need for diesel generators reduces emissions of about 12,250 tonnes for the P2 platform alone.
Investing in the electrical cables and converters had a lower cost than the traditional solution with diesel generators. There are also other positive side effects; the local community is relieved of the burden of the many diesel trucks, the risk of diesel spill to the quay is eliminated – and unlike the diesel generators – there is zero noise from the electrical power supply.
Both Equinor and Aibel have seen synergies in other projects already:
Aibel is currently assisting Equinor with commissioning on the Njord Bravo FSU and used the new power infrastructure to test the thrusters. The new system facilitates similar commissioning projects in the future, and Aibel’s construction of converter platforms for offshore wind farms will also benefit from the increased power capacity.
Johan Sverdrup – setting a standard for low emissions
The Johan Sverdrup field is powered from shore with very low CO2 emissions per barrel. When the P2 platform is installed on the field in 2022, the 200 MW HVDC plant on the platform will also supply electricity to the other fields at Utsira High; Edvard Grieg, Gina Krog and Ivar Aasen, as well as partial electrification of Sleipner.
“We are pleased to contribute to lowering the carbon footprint in the commissioning phase of the project as well. Our initiative in turn made it possible for Karmsund Port to utilise the infrastructure to provide onshore electricity to cruise ships arriving Haugesund,” says Ståle Nordal.
Read more about the Johan Sverdrup field and the low environmental footprint here.
“Through innovation and solid cooperation between all parties, Equinor, Haugaland Kraft, local authorities and Aibel, we were able to facilitate a more environmentally friendly project execution and operation of our yard,” says Aibel’s EVP Modification and Yard Services, Nils Arne Sølvik.
Published 28 October 2021
