Offshore wind leverages oil and gas expertise for IRM transformation
By Rolf De Vries, OEG
As offshore wind farms approach their first significant aging milestones, developers are increasingly turning to experienced oil and gas companies to handle inspection, repair and maintenance (IRM) tasks. This shift highlights a growing trend of cross-pollination between the two industries, driven by the need to address the challenges posed by aging assets in offshore environments, positioning the wind sector for a transformative leap forward through this collaboration.
Initially, the offshore wind sector was hesitant to embrace existing oil and gas expertise. Early efforts to transition oil and gas construction skills into wind farm development often fell short due to fundamental differences in project requirements. Wind construction tends to be logistically intensive and cost-sensitive, favoring dredging specialists with strong civil construction backgrounds, while oil and gas projects are characterized by complexity and high-pressure, deepwater environments.
Despite this, the growing need for asset lifecycle management in offshore wind is bridging the gap. For example, in Germany, as wind farms pass the 10-year mark, with many nearing their design life of 20 years, developers are exploring options for lifetime extensions. This pivot has opened the door to oil and gas expertise, where managing aging infrastructure and conducting integrity assessments are core practices. This is not only reshaping maintenance approaches but also paving the way for long-term, sustainable wind farm operations.
The subsea domain has been a particularly fertile ground for cross-pollination, with tools and methodologies originally developed for oil and gas proving highly adaptable to wind farm IRM. Remotely operated vehicle (ROV) technologies and automated weld assessment systems, designed to overcome the complexities of subsea welding, are now being used to evaluate the integrity of wind farm foundations, reducing reliance on costly and time-consuming diver interventions. These innovations enable operators to gain critical insights into structural integrity, maximizing time and cost efficiencies.
This collaboration is also driving demand for increased research and development, particularly in artificial intelligence and machine learning, to improve operational efficiency. Technology companies with a proven track record in oil and gas bring extensive experience in mature remedial scopes, helping wind operators tackle challenges like scour protection, lifetime extension programs, and retrofits for cables, J-tubes, anodes and impressed current cathodic protection (ICCP). For example, OEG’s ICCP-SAM was specifically designed to remotely install ICCP anodes on monopile foundations of all sizes, enabling installation anywhere on the foundation, with the option to perform a repair without the need for diving support
Many vessels designed for oil and gas operations are also now used for wind farm IRM work, reducing costs by minimizing mobilization requirements. This operational synergy is particularly important as the offshore wind sector continues to expand rapidly and struggles to develop in-house expertise at the same pace. By utilizing existing oil and gas infrastructure, wind developers can meet the growing demand for expert, premium maintenance services without the need for significant investments in new technology solutions.
While the practical benefits of cross-pollination are clear, the cultural shift to embrace this transition has not been without challenges. Initially, there was reluctance within the wind sector to accept input from oil and gas, due to concerns over differing values. However, as the wind industry matures and faces more complex challenges, these attitudes are softening. The industry is realizing that oil and gas expertise is indispensable for navigating the complexities of aging wind farms.
With thousands of turbines approaching mid-life, the need for proven IRM solutions will grow. This partnership reflects a broader trend in the energy transition: industries are not replacing one another but finding synergies that drive innovation and sustainable growth. As wind energy moves into a new phase of maturity, the fusion of oil and gas knowledge and offshore wind innovation will be key to solving the sector’s most pressing challenges.
