Offshore staff
HØVIK, Norway– In a period of cost constraint and increasingly complex oil and gas production, finding solutions that increase efficiency and production has never been more important, DNV GL said. To address the industry’s need for smart solutions that reduce complexity, the organization is funding 43 new joint industry projects in 2016 in addition to launching its Step Change innovation program to help customers leverage opportunities from digitalization.
Both initiatives are based on close interaction and collaboration with industry partners. Key focus areas for the company this year will be to address challenges on standardization, operations (opex services), safety, environment, regulations, and performance.
The value of standardization is recognized by the industry with 61% of senior oil and gas professionals agreeing that operators will increasingly push to standardize their delivery globally, DNV GL said. The most common strategy for maintaining innovation with lower budgets is to increase collaboration with other industry players (45%) and nearly one in three (30%) plans greater involvement in joint industry projects in the year ahead.
DNV GL’s new Step Change innovation program is focused on digitalization. Only one in five oil and gas companies see themselves as highly digitalized today, the organization said. However, close to half of senior oil and gas professionals (45%) already see solid or high potential for big data and analytics to transform the operating efficiency of the industry in 2016.
The program involves the end-users, e.g. oil companies, drilling contractors and suppliers, in the innovation process. The first pilot projects have already created significant value for these end-users from using new forms of data analytics in combination with domain knowledge and technical insight.
Kjell Eriksson, regional manager Norway, DNV GL - Oil & Gas, said: “Step change is exactly what it says – a paradigm shift in how we drive innovation to quickly test out data smart solutions and new business models with strong customer involvement at an early stage. In the current price environment, innovation is even more critical. It can both help the industry to reduce complexity short term by standardizing parts and processes and enable new technological developments long-term that will drive efficiencies.
“At DNV GL, we are continuing to invest 5% of our revenue in R&D because it enables us to provide long-term foresight for our customers.”
Currently in the initial phase, DNV GL welcomes industry players to join the JIP projects or if they are interested in the Step Change program.
DNV GL also launched the first globally applicable guidance for leak detection systems for offshore fields.
The Recommended Practice (DNVGL-RP-F302) is based on the findings of a DNV GL-led JIP completed in 2015 with 19 companies, including Eni, Lundin, Petrobras and FMC Technologies, and industry regulators as observers. This RP replaces the DNV-RP-F302 Selection and Use of Subsea Leak Detection Systems (2010).
It covers all the lifecycle phases of a field development for successful planning, design, integration, and operation of leak detection technology in offshore hydrocarbon productions. The RP defines reasonable specifications, requirements, and guidance on how different technologies can be integrated into a system that is practical for the end user.
Jock Brown, Head of Section Environmental Technology Advisory, DNV GL – Oil & Gas, said: “Until now, there has been no guidance for operators covering selection and operation of offshore leak detection systems for an entire field, including both subsea and surface. Having an optimized leak detection system provides key decision support in limiting the impact of an oil spill, reducing response time and reducing costs from recovery operations.
“This RP is based on industry experience and provides a robust approach that will support the industry in reducing its footprint and minimizing environmental risks from their operations.”
04/13/2016
