DNV GL is urging offshore oil and gas operators to implement a new solution using floating wind turbines to power water injection for oil recovery.

‘WIN WIN’ (WINd powered Water INjection) was conceived in 2013 by DNV GL and is now ready for prototype development after two joint industry projects have shown the concept to be both cost efficient and technically feasible.

Water injection is an effective tool in exploiting oil reserves, but the process is often inhibited by the high costs associated with large gas or diesel generators and complicated subsea infrastructure. By using a floating wind turbine, the WIN WIN concept allows the injection system to operate independently, eliminating the need of long flowlines from the platform.

DNV GL has worked extensively with oil and gas companies since 2015 to bring the ‘WIN WIN’ concept to prototype readiness. The first phase of research explored the techno-economic feasibility of the wind powered water injection, while, the recently-completed second stage involved advanced proof-of-concept lab tests.

President & CEO of DNV GL Remi Eriksen said, “It is always inspiring to see a great idea whose time has come edge towards reality. Wind power working for oil and gas, and oil and gas working for wind power, not only captures the imagination in these times of transition, but makes a lot of business sense. The question, now, is who is going to take this concept into physical reality?”

Project Director Johan Sandberg said, “From the start, this project has always had a commercial focus. Potentially substantial rewards await a first mover willing to build a prototype to increase technology readiness and optimize system integration. As operators know too well, conventional water injection is expensive, with the power plant occupying valuable deck space and expensive flowlines running to the injection site. With WIN WIN, the power is supplied in situ at potentially much lower cost, with increased flexibility and without emissions.”

In the latest round of research, DNV GL conducted a joint industry project (JIP) with funding provided by ExxonMobil and V?r Energi AS. Jayme Meier, V.P., ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company, says, “The completion of phase 2 of the WIN WIN JIP drives us one step closer to a technically viable and commercially deployable system.”

By matching the development of floating wind turbine technology with the oil industry’s need for water injection for maximizing oil recovery, DNV GL proposed a concept called WIN WIN, which stands for WINd- powered Water INjection. WIN WIN comprises a floating wind turbine which supplies power to a water injection process, and is a fully stand- alone system that includes pumps and basic water treatment.

To evaluate the concept , for the past year, participants from both the renewable and oil and gas industries have worked together in the DNV GL-led WIN WIN JIP to develop the concept of using floating wind turbines to power a water injection system in detail, and assess its technical and commercial feasibility. Technical and operational aspects as well as costs have been assessed. The JIP partners include ExxonMobil, ENI Norge, Nexen Petroleum UK Ltd., Statoil, VNG Norge, PG Flow Solutions and ORE Catapult.

Green light for wind-powered oil recovery
The WIN WIN project shows how recent developments in floating offshore wind turbines offer a clean, reliable, and cost effective alternative for powering water injection in offshore locations. It opens the door to a new and fruitful collaboration between two major energy industries; using wind turbines to power water injection in a fully stand-alone system. The project has demonstrated that for suitable fields, wind-powered water injection is technically feasible, meets the oil industry’s performance targets, and offers a cost-competitive solution.

Accelerated energy transition through joined forces
WIN WIN is technically feasible and a wind-powered water injection system meets the industry’s technical, functional and commercial requirements, offering a realistic alternative with unique benefits. A summary of the findings can be found in the project report.

The WIN WIN project showcases that the oil and gas industry can become a creative force in solving the world’s energy trilemma by driving development of reliable, clean and affordable technologies. This is a win for both the oil and gas and for the wind power industries.”