DECOMMISSIONING
off shore. If a rig has previously been powered by two gas turbines, for example, each capable of 10MW of electrical load, those turbines were designed when the intention of the platform was to be running at its optimum. While extracting oil & gas from the ground the turbines would need to cater for lots of people and equipment, at which point they would have been very effi cient. However, when you stop taking oil & gas out of the ground, the actual electrical load on the platform drops, so it might be down to say 2 or 3MW. T erefore, a 10MW gas turbine working at that level is highly ineffi cient because it’s using just as much fuel as in the fi rst instance. So at what point do Aggreko generators become more effi cient? If an operator required 3MW, the company would recommend three 1MW generators (running on either gas or diesel), which would burn signifi cantly less fuel than running a 10MW turbine to provide the same amount of power. If a turbine breaks at the end of its life, the cost of replacing and installing a new turbine in the middle of the North Sea say, would be phenomenal – estimated in the millions. T is is the last thing an operator should want to do if they’re going to decommission the platform in one or two years. T is is where Aggreko would advise not to repair or replace as there are alternative solutions available that off er much more fl exibility. It has recently helped some of the biggest operators in their decommissioning process by supplying temporary solutions when turbines have become tired and almost redundant.
Aggreko technology being put to use in a decomissioning project Rental equipment has a valuable
part to play in the decommissioning process. It spans everything from temporary power generation to heating and dehumidifi cation that can help preserve valuable assets and keep equipment in optimum condition to enhance their re-use or re-sale potential. Whatever the requirement, it will always be up to the supplier to maintain the equipment so the operator can focus on its core business. Not only does this mean the equipment becomes more effi cient, but it also creates effi ciencies in manpower.
CONTINGENCY PLANS Temporary solutions can also provide a wealth of benefi ts with regards to maintenance in the decommissioning stages. Contingency plans for power are set out by strict rules and guidelines so when carrying out maintenance, temporary power solutions can provide power to conduct these works – even if turbines do still need to be running. T e cost of downtime can run into the millions per week on many of these structures so that simply cannot be an option. A blackout on a platform, for example, can incur huge costs from de-manning the structures to call in helicopters and the like. T is was never really a major issue until the major downturn in the oil & gas price. T e pressure is clearly on if the global decommissioning market is going to deliver the volume of projects set out at the start of this article. T ere needs to be more awareness of the power solutions available, which is why Aggreko values its membership of Decom North Sea in a bid to ‘enhance knowledge transfer and facilitate collaborative activities’. Whether an operator is considering piece small, piece large or one-lift topside removal, reliable rental power and temperature control is key.
Temporary solutions have a key role to play in decommissioning operations
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www.engineerlive.com
Russell Brown is with Aggreko.
www.aggreko.com
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