MODELLING AND SIMULATION
Oil change
AS THE WORLD MAKES BETTER USE OF RENEWABLE ENERGY, THE OIL AND GAS MARKET AIMS TO USE MORE SIMULATION TO ENSURE SOUND DECISION MAKING, WRITES GEMMA CHURCH
The oil and gas industry is at a tipping point as we move into a brave, renewable world and begin
to leave fossil fuels behind. This trend has been particularly
prevalent in the UK where, for the first time, fossil fuels are expected to make up less than half of all the nation’s generated electricity this year. The country also reached a record stretch of 18 consecutive coal-free days in May. What does this mean for the simulation
sector? Well, increasing global energy needs coupled with a greater pool of energy resources could increase demand for modelling techniques, as Richard Yen, senior vice-president, strategic solutions team and global automotive business at Altair, explained: ‘We are at a very interesting crossroads with regards to energy. We see companies are being conservative in evaluating their projects. This has actually put a greater emphasis on simulation, as a means of ensuring that they are making sound decisions.’ This is an important point. Simulation and modelling are helping businesses unlock the true potential of traditional ways of working in the oil and gas industry. They will also help us evaluate unconventional energy sources, including renewables, nuclear and natural gas,
24 Scientific Computing World August/September 2019
and their associated processes. But, to harness the true power of energy sources old and new, simulation and modelling needs to take a more prominent and earlier role in the processes governing the energy sector. Yen explained: ‘As the industry becomes more safety and cost-conscious, and as it blends into a mix of conventional to unconventional sources, it has become more important for the industry to have a good grasp of the field characteristics before they start production. For this, the companies need to rely more on upfront simulations, and tie those with the field data.’ This change is happening, albeit at a
slow pace, with companies focusing on a handful of novel use cases, as Ahmad Haidari, global industry director of energy and process and power industries at Ansys, explained: ‘While we have not seen a major sudden shift in our work, we have seen in the modelling and simulation space, a bigger emphasis on reducing waste, preventing spills and a greater use of electrified systems and energy production from a distributed power generation. ‘Furthermore, as the industry’s focus
shifts to the use of electro-mechanical systems, replacing pure mechanical and hydraulic systems, we’ve found an increasing adoption of Ansys’ solutions for electromagnetic systems,’ Haidari added. Increased efficiency and improved
cost control are also ‘the focus of simulation and modelling’, when it comes to optimising the traditional methods of exploration, production, transport and refinement of fossil fuels, according to Andy Cai, an applications engineer for Comsol. ‘Customers are more interested in
the integration of numerical simulation with the everyday workflows to predict, improve or correct their operational effectiveness. Trending concepts, such as smart drilling and modularisation production, are also heavily relying on numerical calculations,’ Cai explained. Haidari agreed that the biggest focus
is ‘driving down costs’ for oil and gas companies. ‘Besides workforce reduction and reducing capital expenditure, these companies are also reducing operating costs through standardisation, digital transformation and increasing the performance and liability of their existing assets.’ To realise such cost reductions under
increasing budgetary challenges requires a fresh approach. Guy Gueritz, energy industry manager EMEA at Nvidia, said: ‘There is a greater focus and investment on more accurate methods of simulation for improved reservoir recovery rates,
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