DEW Journal November 2012

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com
November 2012 DEW JOURNAL
November 2012
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Volume 22, No. 01
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CONTENTS
ISSN-0971-7242 R.N.I. No. 51048/89 2012 Technology Publications
Cover Focus
30 Sercel launches the next-generation

SeaRay 428 seabed acquisition system
The SeaRay 428 has three new modular functionalities which extend the SeaRay systems capabilities. First, while retaining the SeaRays key advantage of power supply through the line, the 428 features an innovative in-sea module, the SBLU (Seabed Line Unit), which offers an unequalled 37-km cable length capability and a twofold increase in line data rate to 16Mb/s. Second, coupled with the addition of a long-range optical extender, the SeaRay 428 provides even greater possibilities for line snaking or long-offset recording. Third, the SeaRay 428 can now also integrate unmanned satellite recorders, which offers greater flexibility during deployment and roll-out while ensuring real-time quality control of all system parameters and seismic data
Editorial and Advertising Office 15/19, Kalidas Road P.B. No. 271, Dehradun - 248 001 (Uttarakhand) India info@dewjournal.com dewjournal@ymail.com technologypublications@yahoo.co.in Tel. : +91 - 135 - 2740559 Fax : +91 - 135 - 2740559 Chairman Editorial Board and Chief Editor Arun Kumar Singhal Director Shrey Singhal Director Editorial Satish Kumar Mathur Editorial Advisor - Upstream Prof (Dr.) Nikolay P. Zapivalov Chairman of Novosibirsk Centre of Russian Academy of Natural Sciences and Professor of Novosibirsk University, Russia Editorial Advisor - Midstream & Downstream Dr. Himmat Singh former Distinguished Professor, Hydrocarbon Engineering, University of Petroleum and Energy Studies, former Advisor (R&D), Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited, former Sr. Dy. Director (Scientist G), Indian Institute of Petroleum Publisher Arun Kumar Singhal Advertising Manager Ms. Saroj Circulation Manager Pramil Khanduri Design & Graphics Abhinav Arya Finance Manager Pramod Kumar Regional Coordinator - New Delhi Mukesh Gupta Regional Coordinator - Mumbai J. Chakarborty Regional Coordinator South East Asia & China Tony Chen W. K. Annual Subscription Rs. 2500 US $ 120 80 (inclusive of Postage). Cover Price US$25 20 Rs.250 For details of how to subscribe to Drilling & Exploration World journal and rates for individuals countries email : subscription@dewjournal.com Remit all payments in favour of TECHNOLOGY PUBLICATIONS For details of wireline transfer of payment, contact the Publisher.
Prepress processing by Shiva Colour Scan Printing by Laxmi Art Press Drilling & Exploration World (DEW) published since 1989 by Technology Publications from Dehradun is an internationally circulated Energy and Oil & Gas journal. The journal holds the distinction of being the only MONTHLY Energy and Oil & Gas journal published from India. All rights reserved in respect of all articles, illustrations, photography etc. published in Drilling & Exploration World (DEW). Reproductions or imitations are expressly forbidden without the permission of the publisher. The opinions expressed by contributors (editorial and advertising) are not necessarily those of the publisher/editor, who can not accept responsibility for any errors or omissions. While every effort is made to ensure that the contents published in the journal are correct and up-to-date, the Publisher, Editors and Advisors do not accept any responsibility for any error, omissions and factually incorrect statements published. This implies for both editorial and advertising contents.
Face to Face
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GE is a key contributor and partner to the oil and gas industry worldover
Mrinal Vohra, Chief Executive Officer, GE Oil & Gas - India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka talks to Chief Editor DEW Journal
35 Intuition counts in successful exploration

Iain Bartholomew, Exploration and Subsurface Director, Centrica and veteran explorer, answers questions posed to him by DEW Journal related to oil and gas exploration
Technology
26 Worlds first buoyant tower successfully set up 32 New subsea bolt tensioning solutions 33 New spectroscopy service 34 New ultra-high temperature non-aqueous drilling fluid 37 Gaining a green light on well integrity
Special Report
08 Douglas-Westwood expects largest growth to be offshore 46 Floating solar field concept unveiled 56 Unanimous acceptance by experts of the growing solar sector
in India
The School of Petroleum Management, Pandit Deendayal Petroleum University, Gandhinagar has taken the initiative to bring together the stakeholders of solar industry in India for discussions and deliberations on issues that are of vital importance to the development of solar sector in India through Solar Conclave 2012
DEW JOURNAL November 2012
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From the Editor dewjournal.com
Event Preview
Forecasters have different views on oil supply for the future. However, most generally agree future oil demand will have to be met by production from unconventional sources such as ultra-deep water, oil sands, heavy oil and shale oil. As such, aggregate exploration expenditure has been increasing at about a 10 per cent annual increment since the 2008 global financial crisis. It is expected that more than US$600 billion will be spent by the global Exploration and Production (E&P) industry and the largest growth will without doubt be offshore. In order to leverage against declining production, Operators are being forced to venture into remote and harsher locations. These projects require top tier equipment that can cost significantly more than the standard equivalent. Experts estimate that ultra-deep installations will account for almost 25% of the annual tree market by 2016. Important developments include the pilot projects in the Iara and Sapinhoa fields and a series of EWTs in Sapinhoa, Libra, Iara, Franco and Iguazu fields. Prospects for manufacturers are therefore also looking quite positive. The Asia Pacific is also emerging as a deepwater market, alongside the regions of East Africa, Eastern India and the Eastern Mediterranean, joining major deepwater plays in the golden triangle of Brazil, Gulf of Mexico and West Africa. There is no doubt that the subsea industry has arrived in the Asia Pacific in a big way. A recent surveys suggest that the Asia Pacific is a clear leader in the current surge in global subsea oil and gas activity and it will stay that way for some time to come. The region is also leading the world in the new boom in subsea minerals exploration and development with a world class project already underway in Papua New Guinea and similar plans being entertained for other highly prospective prospects in the Asia Pacific. With growing global focus on deepwater and subsea, as well as LNG, opportunities for the regions engineering & construction companies and yards look set to grow in the years ahead and it is likely that the majority of the worlds floating rigs, production systems and subsea support vessels will be built here. The worlds leading subsea service and equipment providers have recognised these exciting developments and are undertaking significant expansions of facilities and manpower in the Asia Pacific. As operators face the dual challenge of sustaining their production levels in mature regions and effectively exploiting the uncapped reserves in growth areas, such as, West Africa, US Gulf of Mexico and Brazil, the potential for subsea capital expenditure has increased dramatically. Advances in technology are increasingly being tested and deployed in response to the offshore industrys demand for solutions to challenges, such as: deeper and harsher waters, sustaining production rates in mature developments, boosting flow rates in low pressure reservoirs, accommodating a larger number of fields tied back to host facilities and ensuring the energy and cost efficiency of a project. Experts also expects that West Africa will be one of the key regions for implementing subsea processing because of its already extensive deepwater production, significant oil reserves and most importantly the geographical distribution of its fields that require multiple wells being tied-back to one central processing facility. I hope you will find the information in this issue interesting and value adding. AKS
MTA2013 set to redefine precision engineering

Asias foremost precision engineering event, MTA, is gearing up to return with a loud bang. The 19th edition of MTA, to be held from 9 to 12 April next year at Singapore, will see trade professionals hailing from all facets of Asias diverse manufacturing sectors converging on one platform. These professionals have a firm goal to peruse an expansive range of high end manufacturing capabilities spread across the exhibition show floor at the Singapore Expo. Organized by Singapore Exhibition Services MTA 2013 is Asias leading high-value manufacturing trade show. In tandem with industrys progress and demands, MTA2013 will be focusing on three core vertical sectors Aerospace, Medical Technology and Oil & Gas. With rising need for state-of-the-art equipment and tech capabilities for highly demanding manufacturing environments, MTA2013 will offer industry buyers a wide selection of products and solutions specifically fashioned for these sectors. With most of the worlds top metrology brands having established their Asian HQ here in Singapore, the island city has become an important centre for high accuracy and measurement technologies. Metrology Asia2013, an area dedicated to metrology equipment, will gather the finest companies specialising in highend test and measurement apparatuses and systems. Two insightful conferences will be held in conjunction with the exhibition icOPEN2013 and PE COI Annual Conference. To be held alongside MTA for the second time, the international conference on Optics in Precision Engineering and Nanotechnology (icOPEN) is a timely platform to seek out latest developments on precision engineering and nanotechnology from some of the industrys experts in these fields. Organised by the Singapore Institute of Manufacturing Technology (SIMTech), the Precision Engineering Centre of Innovation (PE COI) Annual Conference will be held as a one-day event on the second day of MTA2013. MTA2013 will also incorporate iAutomation2013, MetalAsia2013, Outsource & Subcon 2013, ToolTech 2013 and WeldTech 2013, all specialised events that cater to the individual needs of Asias manufacturing industry.
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Petro-Events
Jodie Gillespie of Fugro passes away

The passing of Jodie Gillespie, Business Development Manager for Fugro Geoscience division, is received with great sadness. Jodie very tragically and suddenly passed away on October 05, 2012. Jodie will be remembered as a very beautiful woman both inside and out. She had sparkling eyes, a radiant smile and possessed a loving, caring and warming spirit. She will be remembered for her friendliness and for her kind, sweet and cheerful way. She was a true egalitarian, never prejudiced nor accepting of others social bias. Jodie was exceptionally intelligent and an amazing networker. Jodie always represented her company, her industry and herself in the most professional manner. Her honesty, integrity and her sense of responsibility was admirable. With each and every person she would be totally engaged and interested in the conversation. All who met her could not help but like her, Jodie was one of the best. Jodie was born and grew up in Belmont on the eastern shores of Lake Macquarie, New South Wales, Australia. Jodie graduated with a B.Sc. from the University of Sydney in 1994. Her extensive geographical experience centred on oil and gas exploration as well as minerals. Earlier in her career, Jodie worked for Gerard Daniels, Paras Consulting, American Express and Geoterrex in both technical fields and management consultancy. For the past six years Jodie was Business Development Manager representing the Fugro Geoscience division. In recent years she also held the position of Chair for the International Association of Geophysical Contractors for the Asia Pacific region. Jodie played a crucial role in representing geophysical contractors and lobbying for positive change when industry issues arose with authorities and governments. Her life was indeed cut short in this world, but Jodie was here long enough to gain the love and admiration of all those who knew her. Her beautiful nature leaves an indelible legacy in the hearts and lives of her fianc, her parents, her sister, her brother-in-law and the host of relatives, friends and colleagues who had the pleasure of her wonderful company. She was an outstanding individual and a true professional. Her loss will be greatly felt throughout the exploration industry. DEW Journal has lost a good friend. Jodie, rest in peace. We will all miss you. - Editor
December 10-12, 2012 KUWAIT, Kuwait KIPCE-Kuwait International Petroleum Conference & Exhibition www.spe.org/events/kipce December 12-13, 2012 MUMBAI, India Integrity and Risk Management of Assets in Energy Sector Conference & Exhibition www.iet-group.net/events January 21-23, 2013 DOHA, Qatar Offshore Middle East 2013 Conference & Exhibition www.offshoremiddleeast.com January 28-30, 2013 MUSCAT, Oman SPE Middle East Unconventional Gas Conference & Exhibition (UGAS) www.spe.org/events/ugas February 15-17, 2013 NEW DELHI, India World Petro-Coal Congress www.worldpetrocoal.com March 06-08, 2013 KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia Offshore Asia 2013 Conference & Exhibition www.offshoreasiaevent.com March 09-12, 2013 SINGAPORE, Singapore The 19th MTA 2013 - Precision Engineering Industry Event www.mta-asia.com March 19-21, 2013 ACCRA, Ghana 17th Offshore West Africa Conference & Exhibition www.offshorewestafrica.com March 19-21, 2013 BEIJING, China 13th China International Petroleum & Petrochemical Technology and Equipment Exhibition www.cippe.com.cn/cippeen March 24-28, 2013 ABU DHABI, UAE 9th International SOGAT Conference www.sogat.org April 16-19, 2013 HOUSTON, USA LNG 17 Conference & Exhibition www.LNG17.org
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Forecasters have different views on oil supply for the future. However, most generally agree future oil demand will have to be met by production from unconventional sources such as ultra-deep water, oil sands, heavy oil and shale oil
Douglas-Westwood expects largest growth to be offshore

Mr. John Westwood, a globallyrenowned commentator on the energy industries and currently Group Chairman of energy business advisory firm, Douglas-Westwood Ltd, will be presenting the Plenary Keynote at the OSEA2012 International Conference in Singapore. Focusing on the offshore industry, Mr. Westwood will impart his insights on the opportunities and challenges ahead. Drawing on recent research conducted by Douglas-Westwood on the sector, he will also delve into the macro factors and corresponding impact on energy demand, prices and supply. Forecasters have different views on oil supply for the future. However, most generally agree future oil demand will have to be met by production from unconventional sources such as ultra-deep water, oil sands, heavy
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oil and shale oil. As such, aggregate exploration expenditure has been increasing at about a 10 per cent annual increment since the 2008 global financial crisis. Some of the current growth is due to delayed projects restarting; however, Mr. Westwood sees a trend towards increasing spend in the long-term. He adds, It is expected that more than US$600 billion will be spent by the global Exploration and Production (E&P) industry and the largest growth will without doubt be offshore. Natural gas is steadily gaining traction as the fuel of choice for power generation, and is expected to be increasingly used as transportation fuel in future. Forecasters expect demand to grow by 50 per cent by 2030. In order to access the considerable reserves located in remote offshore locations, giant floating LNG (FLNG) vessels are being designed and built
against the backdrop of great technical challenges and high costs. Mr. Westwood expects expenditure on semi-submersible rigs, drillships, jackups and FLNG vessels will rise strongly for the next couple of years. Outlook for the equipment & services sector, especially for subsectors such as deepwater oil and gas and the associated subsea industry, will be bullish, as a result. The Asia Pacific is emerging as a deepwater market, alongside the regions of East Africa, Eastern India and the Eastern Mediterranean, joining major deepwater plays in the golden triangle of Brazil, Gulf of Mexico and West Africa. With growing global focus on deepwater and subsea, as well as LNG, opportunities for the regions engineering & construction companies and yards look set to grow in the years ahead and it is
News
likely that the majority of the worlds floating rigs, production systems and subsea support vessels will be built here. The market is changing quickly, and Asian companies need to stay competitive, states Mr. Westwood. Poised to beat previous records, OSEA2012, with its exhibition space fully allocated since March 2012, will occupy two levels of exhibition space, or more than 31,000 square metres, at the Marina Bay Sands. The exhibition will play host to a congregation of 1,500 international exhibitors from 48 countries/regions. The previous event attracted more than 25,000 trade attendees from over 60 countries/regions, and saw visitors from some of the worlds major oil and gas players, including the Bahrain National Gas Company, BP Exploration Operating Company, Brunei LNG, Brunei Shell Petroleum, Chevron, CNOOC, Directorate General of Oil & Gas Indonesia, ExxonMobil Asia Pacific, Halliburton Far East, Jurong Shipyard, Kuwait Gulf Oil Company, Keppel Energy, Maersk Drilling, Malaysia Marine & Heavy Engineering, Myanmar Offshore, Petronas Carigali, Sembcorp Marine, Shell Eastern Petroleum, Vietnam National Oil & Gas Group, and many more. OSEA2012 International Conference, the regions foremost platform where leaders and experts in the Oil & Gas industry congregate, will be held concurrently with the Exhibition to present delegates with an exciting line up of industry and business renowned speakers to share their expertise on the latest technology
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and business trends & challenges surrounding the oil and gas industry. Refreshed for 2012, the OSEA2012 International Conference is overall structured into four tracks that delve into important topics such as the global outlook and its impact on Asia, commercial trends and challenges, revolutionary technological innovations in Offshore Development & Production, Offshore Safety Management, Natural Gas & LNG Developments, as well as a Technical Programme focusing on facilities engineering, enhancing production operations, and energy management and sustainability. The Conference will also impart to participants practical advice and tips to resolve current offshore production, HSE and technical challenges.
Baker Hughes introduces REACH series subsurface safety valve heavy-sprung closure system
Baker Hughes has introduced a new tubing which enables the opening of the valve at retrievable, subsurface safety valve for much lower operating pressure than ultra deep-set, deepwater and high previous heavy-sprung valves. A nitrogen pressure-high temperature applications. charge system is not necessary. This The new REACH subsurface safety feature makes the REACH valve ideal for The new valves can be set as deep as 20,000 ft (6096 applications with opening pressure REACH m) and ensure fail-safe-closed operation subsurface safety limitations, such as subsea completions, using reliable, field-proven, heavy sprung valves can be set high-pressure wells and fields where the closure technology. The new valve offers as deep as 20,000 rig site and other control facilities may have a single control line operating system for supply pressure capability limitations. ft (6096 m) and deepwater HPHT wells. It can be controlled ensure fail-safeThe REACH valve incorporates from the surface, allowing personnel to closed operation proven features from other Baker Hughes monitor its operation remotely. REACH subsurface safety valve designs, such as: using reliable, valves are tested in accordance with the flapper closure technology with very high field-proven, Bureau of Safety and Environmental gas flow rate closures; RBT housing heavy sprung Enforcement (BSEE) adoption of the thread technology; dynamic seal closure American Petroleum Institutes industry technology and debris exclusion technology standards that ensure the use of the best geometries. These design features have available and safest technologies while operating in been proven in more than 20,000 global installations the Outer Continental Shelf (API 14A 11th Ed). of Baker Hughes safety valves. The REACH valve The valves design isolates wellbore tubing could be used globally, including applications in the pressure from the hydraulic operating control system, Gulf of Mexico, West Africa and Malaysia.
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Sudhir Vasudeva conferred IOD fellowship

this honour as a recognition of ONGC's unique value system, of its people and of its leadership". With this Fellowship, Mr. Vasudeva joins a distinguished club of eminent personalities like Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, Mr Kapil Sibal, Mr. TKA Nair, Mr. Pankaj Munjal, Ms. Kiran Bedi and Mr. N Vittal. Mr. Sudhir Vasudeva, a Gold Medalist Chemical Engineer with Advanced Diploma in Management, is a firm believer in transparency and ethical business practices. Mr. Vasudeva is the President of Global Compact Network, India. He also happens to be the first business leader from Indian PSUs to become a Member of the Board of the Global Compact, the United Nation's highest-level advisory body involving business, civil society, labour and employers organizations. Under the able stewardship of Mr Vasudeva, ONGC has not only become the highest-ever Profitmaking and highest-ever Dividend paying company of the country, it also often retains the Numero Uno position in the Market in terms of Market Capitalization. A distinguished technocrat, Mr. Vasudeva has earlier received coveted CEPM-PMA Fellowship on Project Management for his many path-breaking initiatives in complex offshore project management.
ONGC CMD Sudhir Vasudeva receives the IOD Distinguished Fellowship from Union Minister Dr. M Veerappa Moily
With this fellowship, Mr. Sudhir Vasudeva joins a distinguished club of eminent personalities like Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, Mr Kapil Sibal, Mr. TKA Nair, Mr. Pankaj Munjal, Ms. Kiran Bedi and Mr. N Vittal.
The Institute of Directors has conferred its Distinguished Fellowship for 2012 to Mr. Sudhir Vasudeva, ONGC CMD and Chairman, ONGC Group of Companies. The coveted Fellowship was conferred on Mr. Vasudeva for his admirable steering of the ONGC Board and Boards of other ONGC Group of Companies with the highest standards of Corporate Governance. The Fellowship was awarded by the then Union Minister of Corporate Affairs and Power Dr. M Veerappa Moily at Delhi on 17th August 2012. Former Chief Justice of India Justice P N Bhagwati, was also present on the occasion. Accepting the Fellowship, Mr. Vasudeva said, "I humbly receive
Aker Solutions wins jack-up drilling equipment contract

Aker Solutions has won a contract from Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries Co. Ltd (ZPMC) to supply a complete drilling equipment package for a new jackup drilling rig, being built by the Chinese yard. The new rig is of the 2000E jack-up design. "We are pleased to see Aker Solutions' competitive position in the jack-up market, which remains active," says Thor Arne Hverstad, head of drilling
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technologies in Aker Solutions. The equipment will be delivered in 2013. Aker Solutions will provide drilling equipment from its production units in Kristiansand and Asker in Norway as well as Houston, US and Erkelenz in Germany. Aker Solutions offers complete drilling equipment packages, including project management, engineering, procurement and commissioning.
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Aker Solutions opens Malaysian subsea service base

International oil services company Aker Solutions has expanded its s u b s e a business by establishing a s u b s e a lifecycle service base in Labuan, Malaysia. The objective is to support all installed and future shallow and deepwater projects within the Asia Pacific region. The new service base, which is located in Labuan Federal Territory in Eastern Malaysia, will provide strategic and effective support services for Aker Solutions' onshore and offshore oil and gas customers. An opening ceremony was held today at the new site and was officiated by Dave Hutchinson, head of Aker Solutions' subsea business in Asia Pacific. "Our new subsea lifecycle service base shows Aker Solutions' commitment to serving our customers who require our services locally as well as being well placed to capture further potential clients. Malaysia represents an important market for our subsea business," says Dave Hutchinson. "We have built a strong footprint in the Asia Pacific region over the past decade with the establishment of service bases in Perth in Australia, Kakinada in India, Songkhla in Thailand and now Labuan. We are now well placed to meet the needs of our customers with the opening of this new base in Malaysia," says Hutchinson. Labuan Island is located off the northwest coast of Borneo, north of Brunei Bay and faces the South China Sea. Labuan was identified as a strategic location due to its proximity to the current and planned East Malaysian development locations. The site is accessible to other South East Asian locations including Vietnam, Philippines, Indonesia and China. Labuan has existing oilfield infrastructure and a port which supports local operators within the facility. The facility covers 13 680sq/m with a workshop of 1 296sq/m that has a 75 tonne overhead crane and pressure testing capabilities of us to 15 000 psi. A team of 18 staff are currently employed at the Labuan base. Aker Solutions also operates a high-tech subsea manufacturing centre in Port Klang, Malaysia. This facility can manufacture a complete subsea production system in one location. Aker Solutions is currently investing to double the manufacturing capacity at the Port Klang facility.
PanAmerican Geophysical selects Sercel UNITE cable-free system

Sercel has sold a UNITE cable-free seismic acquisition system to PanAmerican Geophysical, a full-service geophysical seismic acquisition company specializing in land and well seismic services throughout the Americas. The new order relates to the sale of a RAU3 unit, the three-channel version of Sercels proven UNITE system. RAU-3 UNITE units offer enhanced flexibility and can easily be configured to record either 1-C or 3-C analog data, while offering the main advantages of the UNITE system. The systems unique high-speed, longrange wireless capability improves in-field quality control of data acquisition by providing wireless harvesting and real-time data transfer. This UNITE sale also represents the first purchase of Sercel equipment by PanAmerican, whose operating companies are leading providers in their local markets of Colombia, Canada and Argentina. The
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UNITE system is scheduled to be deployed on a seismic survey in the Amazon in late October. Mark Farine, CEO, PanAmerican Geophysical, said: We are very pleased to place our order with Sercel for our first UNITE acquisition system. The ability for realtime quality control, the radio harvesting and the seamless integration into the Sercel 428XL were key drivers in our decision to purchase the UNITE System. The security of the real-time quality control coupled with the automation afforded with radio harvesting will provide operational efficiency to PanAmerican. Pascal Rouiller, CEO, Sercel, said: We are delighted that Sercels state-of-the-art UNITE system has been selected by PanAmerican to equip their new crew and we thank them for their support. UNITE offers an unprecedented level of operational flexibility and quality control, which will ensure PanAmerican achieves success even in difficult terrain.
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GE wins a prized Chevron contract to supply subsea technology

GE Oil & Gas has announced it has received a 102 million (US$165 m) contract to supply production equipment to Chevrons Lianzi project, situated offshore between Angola and the Republic of Congo. GE will provide a range of technologies to enable EPC (engineering, procurement and construction) project execution. This includes the supply of seven trees, nine subsea control modules (SCMs), topside and subsea controls distribution equipment and vertical connection systems. Completion of the first tree is scheduled to take place in the fourth quarter of 2013, with a crossregional team from GE Oil & Gas Aberdeen, Nailsea and Sandvika (Norway) sites collaborating on project delivery. Rod Christie, vice president of Subsea Systems, said, West Africa is one of the worlds key hydrocarbon basins, and we are excited to be working with Chevron Overseas Congo Limited as operator of the Lianzi project, the first crossborder development in the region. This contract win is not just an expansion of our relationship with Chevron. It represents our product competitiveness in the global marketplace, ongoing commitment to the region and continued demand for our state-of-the-art technology solutions. The 1.2 billion (US$2.0 billion) Lianzi development will include a subsea production system and a 27mile (43 km) electrically heated flowline, the first of its kind at this water depth. The flowline will transport oil from the field to the BBLT (Benguela-Belize, LobitoTomboco) platform. GE works on things that matter. The best people and the best technologies taking on the toughest challenges. Finding solutions in energy, health and home, transportation and finance. Building, powering, moving and curing the world. Not just imagining. Doing. GE works. GE Oil & Gas is a world leader in advanced technology equipment and services for all segments of the oil and gas industry, from drilling and production, LNG, pipelines and storage to industrial power generation, refining and petrochemicals. GE Oil & Gas also provides pipeline integrity solutions, including inspection and data management, and designs and manufactures wire-line and drilling measurement solutions for the oilfield services segment. As part of its customer focus and commitment, GE Oil & Gas exploits technological innovation from other GE businesses, such as aviation and healthcare, to continuously improve oil and gas industry performance and productivity. GE Oil & Gas employs more than 35,000 people worldwide and operates in more than 100 countries.
Acteon nominated for Oilfield Services Business of the Year

Leading specialist subsea services group Acteon has been nominated for an Oil Council award in the Oilfield Services Business of the Year category. The awards celebrate international successes in the oil and gas industry throughout 2012 and are judged by a panel of 50 industry experts. The award focuses on companies and executives who have pioneered new frontiers, pushed boundaries, inspired others and achieved growth in challenging markets. A panel of judges consider and subsequently nominate companies based on a range of criteria. These criteria include overall leadership as an industry benchmark of excellence; financial and operational performance; strength of industry partnerships; and strength of market reputation, corporate governance and public relations. We are delighted to receive this nomination and
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are encouraged to see subsea services recognised as a distinct part of the subsea market, said Acteon vice president Paul Alcock. Acteons aim is to define subsea services by offering industry-leading services that are distinct from but support the operations of vessel owners and construction companies. Acteon companies provide mooring, foundation, riser, conductor, flowline and marine electronics products and services supported by strong engineering and project management capabilities. Subsea services are defined as the provision of specialist equipment, services and personnel that can operate from any fitfor-purpose vessel or platform. Acteons subsea services offering is unique and addresses operational requirements that support oil and gas asset owners, construction and drilling companies, and vessel owners.
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Japanese company INPEX joins ONGCs hunt for oil and gas in KG Basin deep water block
Oil & Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) and INPEX Corporation (INPEX), Japans largest oil company have entered into a strategic partnership for exploration of hydrocarbons in one of the acreages in KG basin. Both companies have today inked a Farmout Agreement at ONGCs corporate head-quarters in New Delhi on November 05, 2012. INPEX has acquired a 26% participating interest farmed-out by ONGC in the exploration block KGDWN-2004/6, located in the deep waters of Krishna Godavari Basin in the Bay of Bengal. ONGC continues as Operator of the Block with a 34% participating interest in consortium with existing partners GAIL (India) Limited (10%), Gujarat State Petroleum Corporation Limited (10%), Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (10%) and Oil India Limited (10%). Respective Boards of ONGC and INPEX
ONGCs Executive Director Mr. Anand Sahu (left) exchange strategic partnership agreement documents with his INPEX, Japan counterpart (right) in the presence of Mr. Sudhir Vasudeva, CMD, ONGC and Chairman ONGC Group of Companies (centre), Mr. P.K. Borthakur, Director Offhore, ONGC, Mr. K. Sataynarayan, ONGC and INPEX officials are also seen
Corporation have already approved the proposal. The block KG-DWN-2004/6, awarded to an ONGC-led consortium under the NELP-VI licensing round, is located some 300 km off the Andhra Pradesh coast and covers an area of more than 10,000 sq kms with a water depth of approximately 3,000 m. Operator ONGC has completed most of the phase-I
exploration programme in the block except drilling of one well which is to be taken up. Close on the heels of ONGCs recent tie-ups this year with global majors like US based ConocoPhillips, Chinas CNPC and Colombias ECOPETROL SA, this is yet another successful effort in its attempt to collaborate and expand its strategic interests.
ONGC Videshs recent overseas acquisition

ONGC Videsh Limited (OVL) has signed definitive agreements for the acquisition of Hess Corporations 2.7213% participating interest in the Azeri, Chirag and the Deep Water Portion of Guneshli Fields in the Azerbaijan sector of the Caspian Sea (ACG) and 2.36% interest in the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan Pipeline (BTC), for US$ 1 Billion. The acquisition is subject to relevant government and regulatory approvals and is expected to close by the first quarter of 2013. ACG, which is located in the south Caspian Sea about 95 km off the coast of Azerbaijan, is the largest oil and gas field complex in Azerbaijan and is one of the largest producing oil fields in the world. BP operates ACG and is partnered by State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR), Chevron, Statoil, ExxonMobil, Inpex, Turkish NOC - TPAO and Itochu. Average daily production from the field is around 700,000 bopd of crude oil. The 1,768-km BTC Pipeline is one of the main export routes for Caspian crude oil production with a capacity of around 1.0 million bopd to the Ceyhan terminal in the Mediterranean Sea in south east Turkey. The acquisition would mark ONGC Videshs entry into oil rich Azerbaijan and is consistent with its stated strategic objective of adding high quality international assets to its existing E&P portfolio. The acquisition would bring 9% additional proved reserves to ONGC Videsh Limited portfolio and also bears significant strategic importance to India in terms of contributing towards Indias energy security. ONGC has recently formulated its Perspective Plan 2030 envisaging that the oil and gas production of ONGC Videsh Limited would increase from the current level of 8.75 MMTOE to 20 MMTOE by FY18 and 60 MMTOE by FY30.
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New Intelligent Wireline Intervention Services

ReSOLVE services deliver monitoring and control of wireline workover operations to reduce intervention costs
Schlumberger has launched ReSOLVE instrumented wireline intervention service, a modular system of intelligent wirelinedeployed services that provides real-time measurement and control in a small footprint. The downhole intelligence of ReSOLVE services enables our customers to see intervention operations at a level of detail not previously possible, said Catherine MacGregor, president, Schlumberger Wireline. With this unique technology, more complex operations can be performed, such as selective sleeve shifting or safety valve performance evaluation, with unprecedented success. This modular system of services comprises a high-force linear actuator, a universal shifting tool (UST), a hydraulic setting tool and a milling tool. The high-force linear actuator shifts downhole valves, pulls retrievable plugs, and can perform fishing operations while monitoring force and displacement in real time. The UST is a fieldconfigurable, high-expansion shifting tool that can selectively shift devices, even below restrictions. The plug and packer setting tool operates hydraulically, eliminating the need for explosives. The milling tool removes scale and other obstructions from wellbore tubulars while automatically controlling weight-on-bit to maximize rate of penetration. In a North Sea well, ReSOLVE milling service removed scale at a rate of 57 ft per hour over thousands of feet of production tubing, eliminating the need for a full scale intervention. In the Middle East, the ReSOLVE UST was deployed to selectively shift 10 valves in a horizontal multizone completion. Real-time confirmation of shifting eliminated the need for production logging to verify the valves had shifted.
The ReSOLVE milling tool is part of the new family of intelligent wireline intervention services.
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News
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P K Borthakur is Director (Offshore), ONGC

P K Borthakur has taken over as the Director (Offshore) in the Board of the countrys most valuable public enterprise Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC). Mr. Borthakur took over this important Board position of ONGC on October 30, 2012. Mr. Borthakur steps in as Director (Offshore) at a crucial juncture when ONGC has set ambitious target in augmenting Offshore production, in the context of the organizations Perspective Plan 2030. Congratulating Mr. Borthakur for the elevation, CMD Mr. Sudhir Vasudeva said there could not have been a better oilman for the assignment at this vital juncture. P K Borthakur, like his predecessor Sudhir Vasudeva, is predominantly brought up in the professional nuances of offshore oil engineering. He commands a rich portfolio of experiences in diverse fields of oil production chain. Before being elevated to the Board of Indias flagship explorer ONGC, Mr. Borthakur effectively managed Indias biggest oil producing asset Mumbai High and biggest gas asset Bassein & Satellite. Notable among his other achievements are commissioning of Mumbai High North Complex, Deployment of Rigs on vintage
P.K.Borthakur,Director(Offshore),ONGC
Redevelopment of ONGC brownfields would be a focus area, said P K Borthakur, after assuming office of Director (Offshore) on the Board of ONGC
platforms to drill wells in various formations, and Fast-tracking of Marginal Field Development. His managerial skills helped ONGC leverage benefits in operational debottlenecking in Uran process Plant and induction of cutting-edge technologies in Well Services. A Mechanical Engineer from Guwahati University, Mr. Borthakur has been groomed in IIM Lucknow and ISB Hyderabad. The rich industry-academia interface of this thorough gentleman facilitated his conferment with Society of Petroleum Engineers Distinguished Member in 2011. Speaking after assuming office, Mr. Borthakur said that his top most priorities would include fast-track development of the discovered assets including cluster development of marginal fields. Redevelopment of the brownfields like Mumbai High, Heera and Bassein, which have been contributing over 80 per cent of ONGCs current domestic production, would be a focus area, said the soft-spoken Director.
GE launches gas engines reUp remanufactured parts program

GE has launched its reUp parts remanufacturing program for its installed fleet of Waukesha gas engines. With GEs Waukesha units supporting gas compression and power generation projects around the world, the new reUp service program is aimed at maximizing the performance and the longterm availability of the engines to help customers meet their critical production goals. Our new reUp program bolsters our ability to meet the performance and availability needs of our customers, said Bob Hutchinson, global services leader for GEs Waukesha gas engines division. We are not just offering reconditioned parts. Our reUp parts will deliver the sameor a betterlevel of performance compared to the original parts. Not only will we remanufacture components to their original specifications, but we also will incorporate the latest engineering updates.
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Face to Face
Mrinal Vohra*, Chief Executive Officer, GE Oil & Gas - India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka talks to Chief Editor DEW Journal
GE Oil & Gas is a world leader in advanced technology equipment and services for all segments of the oil and gas industry, from drilling and production, LNG, pipelines and storage to industrial power generation, refining and petrochemicals. GE is well positioned as a key contributor and partner in exploring and developing oil and gas says Mrinal Vohra, Chief Executive Officer, GE Oil & Gas India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. While emphasising on GEs commitment of supporting customer across the entire oil and gas value chain, he points out the three watch words Integrity, Safety and Quality on which all GE operations stand. Excerpts from the interview:
Mrinal Vohra
GE is a key contributor and partner to the oil and gas industry worldover
As the Chief Executive Officer GE Oil & Gas India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka you have been in the saddle for around a year. During this period how innovatively has your imagination at work synchronized and furthered GE philosophy of imagination at work in all areas of operations in India? It has been a remarkable one year, coming into GE was comfortable from a variety of operational angles and from the adjustment required for working in a large multinational corporate setup having been in similar organizations throughout my career. The breadth and
* Mr. Mrinal Vohra is Chief Executive Officer, GE Oil & Gas - India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. This business segment includes Turbomachinery, Drilling & Surface, Subsea & Global Services businesses. Mr. Vohra has a broad expertise and experience of over two decades with various O&G disciplines in the reservoir evaluation, well construction, integrated project management, product sales and services models for conventional and unconventional energy industries. Prior to joining GE in September 2011, Mr. Vohra was the Region Commercial and Business Development head for the Asia Pacific Region, Weatherford International Limited.
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Exclusive to DEW
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Our broad experience and deep domain knowledge of various industries are applied in the oil & gas industry to offer industrys very comprehensive products and technologies that continually break new ground in terms of operational efficiency, productivity, reliability, safety and environmental performance
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Face to Face
the best processes and technologies, but by conducting our operations and relationships with the utmost honesty and integrity no matter what challenges may arise. We mitigate risk and consider the impacts on people, communities and natural environments in everything we do. environment, health and safety (EHS) is paramount every day, from the layout of our workshops, all the way through to the ecomagination program a global GE initiative dedicated to delivering products that are better for both business and the environment. Every GE Oil & Gas innovation is driven by a specific and practical industry requirement. We carefully evolve product designs with proven technologies, rigorous testing and qualification processes. Our objective is to continually deliver measurable increases in efficiency, reliability, availability and performance.
Our template manifolds are used to commingle the flow from subsea wells, drilled through a common template structure with following features: Accommodates close spacing of subsea wells Eliminates need for well jumpers Suited for applications with full overtrawlability requirements Accommodates a wide variety of configuration requirements and design options Range of foundation system solutions to match diverse soil properties and seabed conditions. depth of the GE product portfolio and the expanse of the GEs capabilities is something I am still learning about. My past experience is helpful in establishing footprint and growing our presence in this region for multiple new business platforms which speeds up our capability and playground locally. Can you elaborate on the three watchwords Integrity, Safety and Quality on which all GE operations stands? At GE, our corporate culture is one of doing it right and always striving to do it better, not only by applying
With a host of solutions across the E&P portfolio ranging from onshore to ultra-deep waters, from conventional to unconventional technologies, we would like to continually partner with local companies to innovate and develop technology solutions
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On your priorities and long term thrust areas which are the current ones being pursued across the oil & gas value chain? GE Oil & Gas is committed to supporting customers across the entire oil and gas value chain. GE Oil & Gas today fosters cross-pollination of best-in-class technologies from its sister business units like the usage of composites used in GE Aviation to develop the next generation deep water risers and the usage of scanning techniques from GE Healthcare to develop a highly reliable UltraScan Duo. Our broad experience and deep domain knowledge of various industries are applied in the oil & gas Industry to offer Industrys very comprehensive products and technologies that continually break new ground in terms of operational efficiency, productivity, reliability, safety and environmental performance. Today we take GEs Safety, Integrity and Quality culture to segments such as Deep-water and Surface Exploration & Production where our upstream portfolio features structured tree configurations with integrated controls for both shallow & deep water, manifolds, risers & subsea
Exclusive to DEW
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Subsea Systems has been one of GE Oil & Gass core expertise. With over 7,000 subsea systems installed worldwide, our designs continue to meet the most extreme challenges of this increasingly important sector
connectors, subsea compression and power distribution. We are key players in the LNG space where we supply key equipment to a large number of LNG facilities worldwide. Which are the major oil and gas projects GE India is presently involved in? What new is on the anvil? India is fast-emerging as one major demand center for energy and is expected to be the third largest energy consumer globally by 2020. Thus the downstream sector in India would show greater growth and prominence. But to enable sustainable development of the oil & gas industry in India, the immediate need is an actionable operating philosophy and favorable framework of policies that can help accelerate the efforts for exploring and developing oil and gas. We at GE are optimistic about future growth perspective of the E&P sector and that is where we believe that GE is very well positioned as a key contributor and partner. With a host of solutions across the E&P portfolio ranging from onshore to ultra-deep waters, from conventional to unconventional energy source in shale or enhanced oil recovery, we would like to continually partner with local companies to innovate and develop technology solutions. As a rapidly industrializing economy the requirements in midstream and downstream applications are set to grow at a healthy rate, and we are very optimistic about our role in these sectors. As an engineer from the world renowned IIT Kanpur, your work experience has spanned over
Our range of subsea trees covers all applications from shallow water single well satellites, through to major deepwater developments. Products are suitable for low pressure reservoirs requiring artificial stimulation or lift through to high pressure high temperature applications. Our subsea manifolds and connection systems are designed to accommodate a wide range of configuration needs and service requirements, while providing a high degree of versatility for pipelay vessel interfaces and installation scenarios. We operate to the highest EHS standards, employing rigorous test, audit and review procedures in everything we do minimizing risk at all stages, main features are : Our tree systems are designed from standard building block components to meet the exacting requirements of developments in all water depths, thus maximising efficiency Our full portfolio of tree systems delivers enhanced performance configurations include simple diver assist shallow water mudline trees (TOM) up to drill-through and deepwater guidelineless horizontal trees (HT) and vertical trees Products are suitable for low pressure reservoirs requiring artificial stimulation or lift through to high-pressure high-temperature applications to meet your field development needs Our designs accommodate reservoir shut-in conditions of 350F and 15,000 psi and, in the other extreme, provide facilities for electrical or hydraulic submersible pumping systems (ESP/HSP), or artificial lift by gas or water Our trees are designed to accommodate our full range of choke products, which can be fully configured to optimize production, water or gas injection (lift), or chemical injection services.
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Face to Face
capacities and functions. Weve lived in close to a dozen countries and operated across another thirty, and this has led to interacting and operating in a cross cultural setting spanning multiple operational regimes. What has been satisfying has always been getting the job done, and succeeding in tremendously challenging situations. It has never been easy, but looking back it has been a greatly varied experience and thats something unique. You have had a rich exposure to various executive development programs including those at Thunderbird Executive Management program in Phoenix, USA The Subsea Distribution Units receives electrical power and and at GEs Global Learning Center at communications, fiber optic communications and hydraulic and Crotonville, NY. What areas of chemical services from the UTA and distributes to multiple users such expertise were you groomed over as trees, manifolds, pumping and boosting stations and infield tie ins. there and how are you ploughing in Subsea Distribution Units (SDU) remove utility distribution from your rich experience and trainings the UTA, reducing the UTA size and simplifying installation. As SDUs skills in your present responsibility? are more easily recovered than UTAs reconfiguration or upgrades Even before getting to the course, may be easily accommodated without disturbing the umbilical. Flying there was something like 50 case Leads between the UTA and SDU can perform the same function as studies to dissect and have some logic plates, allowing simple system reconfiguration. SDUs may be answers ready. Being in the company designed to land on the same foundation structure as the UTA or on of some of the finest speakers and an independent foundation. They are typically designed to be global operational executives, the focus was on ideas and concepts, independently recovered from their foundations. there were great discussions which two decades in the oil and gas industry comprised aspects of organizational behavior, handling internationally acclaimed operating in globalized cross cultural settings, assignments. Would you like to shed some financial leveraging and corporate funding to light on your professional achievements and everyday operational decision making and investor international experience? relationships. GEs programs at Crotonville similarly IIT Kanpur was a place for nurturing curiosity and are exhaustive with focus on variety of different thought leadership. Even before I graduated there aspects including leadership skills, team functioning, were multiple offers including roles in executive executive stamina, etc. Training is a great motivator management, engineering and projects. As luck would and one learns to fish as opposed to being given a have it, ones first job they say is something which fish. I am firm believer in the value of investment in defines your career, and as it happened, I thought of training. People who go to a class together usually looking into the oil industry and since then its been end up being more cooperative in work settings. GE a fast journey across the globe and in roles which was one of the earliest organizations to commit to have given me hands on experience in multiple organizational training and these programs have a reputation for generating some of the best leaders globally.
On the seabed, our innovations include wellheads widely used in the industry and the pioneering BlueC subsea compressor
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Can you update us on GEs proven solutions for subsea systems used in the oil and gas industry?
Exclusive to DEW
Subsea Systems has been one of GE Oil & Gass core expertise. With over 7,000 subsea systems installed worldwide, our designs continue to meet the most extreme challenges of this increasingly important sector 10,000-ft water depths, with pressure and temperature capabilities of 15 ksi and 250F. GE technologies enable longer offsets and deeper installations, while ensuring high reliability, safety and performance. On the seabed, our innovations include wellheads widely used in the industry and the pioneering BlueC subsea compressor. We also adapt proven technologies with design features that reduce weight and footprint for increased safety and performance on topside structures. Engineering design, advanced materials, installation processes, controls, lifecycle maintenance and system expandability are all critical to success and key advantages of our comprehensive capabilities. Natural gas is dramatically changing and GE as a company is committed to its responsible development. Can you let us know how this mission, of the parent company, is being translated in India and the regions you oversee? Globally, advancements in upstream technology for unconventional gas led to not only a surge in the production of gas but also made it environmentally acceptable and commercially profitable. With technology as a core of our business, we continually enhance existing designs and adapt our proven technologies to new and unconventional applications as the face of the industry changes. Today, in India this technology know-how is combined with an extremely comprehensive network of manufacturing, service facilities and through various strategic partnerships. Indias current gas production is around 40 BCM (billion cubic meters)
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per year on an estimated reserves base of around 1,500 BCM. This presents great opportunity for companies like GE to contribute toward the sustainable growth of the gas industry in India and also and contribute to local economies and skills development in the country.
HIPPS (High Integrity Pressure Protection System) Manifolds are used to facilitate high integrity subsea valves and control system equipment needed to protect oil and gas production systems from excessive pressure levels. Its main features are: Compact and lightweight solutions Integrated control systems Enables reduced pressure ratings on pipelines and host processing facilities
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Face to Face
GE produces nearly 40 technologies for the shale resource sector. Which are these and briefly how do these help in shale gas exploration and production across the globe? As a proven solutions provider to the industry, GE is committed to the advancement of natural gas as an abundant, reliable and cleanerburning source of energy with the potential to help meet our worlds growing energy needs for decades to come. GEs unconventional resources solutions are made up of over 40 technologies from across the GE portfolio including: submersible and surface pumps, pressure control systems, compressors, drilling measurement tools, meters, pipeline solutions, sensors, gas engines for onsite power generation, motors, valves and water filtration technologies. These solutions are addressing fundamental industry challenges, helping customers to improve operational performance, reduce their environmental footprint, increase resource recovery, and drive demand for natural gas ultimately helping the industry maintain a social license to operate. dewjournal.com
GEs unconventional resources solutions are made up of over 40 technologies from across the GE portfolio including: submersible and surface pumps, pressure control systems, compressors, drilling measurement tools, meters, pipeline solutions, sensors, gas engines for onsite power generation, motors, valves and water filtration technologies. These solutions are addressing fundamental industry challenges, helping customers to improve operational performance, reduce their environmental footprint, increase resource recovery, and drive demand for natural gas ultimately helping the industry maintain a social license to operate
Since only one out of the eighteen subsea blocks have been developed in India, our goal is to strengthen every link of the gas value chain; continually break new ground for equipment performance, environmental safety and reliable energy supply.
Baker Hughes Surface Water Management Service

Baker Hughes has announced the launch of a service that enables operators to design high-performing hydraulic fracturing fluids using produced and flowback water. The H2prO water management service integrates technical expertise with chemical and mobile mechanical treatment technologies to construct water that maximizes production, minimizes reservoir damage, and reduces fresh water sourcing, storage and transportation costs. Because water from every reservoir is different, selecting the
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most appropriate treatment requires a full understanding of the waters chemistry. The H2prO service includes extensive pre-treatment analysis in which a team of scientists and engineers with expertise in production chemistry, pressure pumping, and water treatment determines the constituents in the water that must be treatedand by how muchin order to meet production requirements. Based on this analysis and the operators operational requirements, application engineers choose the appropriate treatment from the extensive H2prO service portfolio.
The most comprehensive in the industry, this portfolio includes options to address all major produced and flowback water contaminants, including total dissolved solids, heavy metals, total suspended solids, hydrogen sulfide, and other organic compounds. Post-treatment analysis verifies that the treatment program has met or exceeded specifications. Treating water at the wellsite enables operators to reduce the cost of sourcing, transporting, and storing fresh water as well as transporting, treating, and disposing of wastewater by as much as 90 percent.
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Technology
Worlds first buoyant tower successfully set up

T
he CX-15 buoyant tower designed by Horton Shallow Water Development (SWD) has been successfully set as planned for BPZ Energy off the coast of Peru. The Buoyant Tower is located approximately one mile from the existing CX-11 platform in a water depth of 175 feet (53 m) in the Corvina field in offshore block Z-1. Both platforms will be interconnected via a series of subsea pipelines. The design of the platform features a number of specific areas that greatly reduced cost and simplified setting. The transport vessel; the Osprey, a submersible heavy lift ship, transported the topside and hull tower components of the platform to the field site and also launched the tower and was used for mating the decks to the tower. The Hull was initially floated off in a horizontal orientation and then upended with a controlled flood of the lower hull cavities. This process was complete in a single day. Additional ballast was then added to the hull structure before it was mated with the topside positioned on a cantilever structure, also on the Osprey. All operations went to plan and the combined topside and hull was wet towed to the final location where the last phase was to set the whole structure into the seabed using the integral suction foundation. Kevin Chell, CEO of SWD stated We have reached an exciting milestone with the successful launch, mating and setting of the new buoyant tower platform showing the design can deliver in real terms and proving the methodology for a system that does
The CX-15 buoyant tower designed by Horton Shallow Water Development (SWD) has been successfully set into the seabed using the integral suction foundation
Hull Float off Osprey submerged to allow float of off hull structure
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Technology
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The Buoyant Tower concept draws on the proven technology of the cellspar and the design provides multiple benefits for fields where other concepts would be problematic requiring high capital costs and expensive crane barges for installation. The buoyant tower can operate in water depths up to 800 feet (250m) and can be relocated allowing small marginal plays to be exploited in a cost effective manner. The design allows for oil storage if needed, can eliminate separate shallow water drilling units and provides a high level of flexibility for the operator
Hull upend Hull is taken through controlled upending to the desired vertical position
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Technology
The benefits of the design were recognized and adopted by BPZ Energy for their new CX-15 platform at the Corvina field. The platform is designed for 12,200 barrels of oil per day (1940 m3/d), gas compression capacity of 12.8 million standard cubic feet per day (0.36 million Sm3/d) and produced water handling and injection capacity of 3,500 barrels per day (557 m3/d). A total of 24 drill slots will be available, some of which will be used for gas and water reinjection wells. Horton Shallow Water Developments (SWD) is a joint venture company between Horton Wison Deepwater and GMC Inc. The company is actively promoting the use of the Buoyant Tower technology in areas where the key
We have reached an exciting milestone with the successful launch, mating and setting of the new buoyant tower platform showing the design can deliver in real terms and proving the methodology for a system that does not need a heavy lift barge - Kevin Chell, CEO, SWD
cellspar and the design provides multiple benefits for fields where other concepts would be problematic requiring high capital costs and expensive crane barges for installation. The buoyant tower can operate in water depths up to 800 feet (250m) and can be relocated allowing small marginal plays to be exploited in a cost effective manner. The design allows for oil storage if needed, can eliminate separate shallow water drilling units and Buoyant Tower Design The Buoyant Tower concept draws provides a high level of flexibility on the proven technology of the for the operator. not need a heavy lift barge. Richard Spies, COO of BPZ Energy, commented The use of the Buoyant Tower design has been a key driver in the cost effective and timely expansion of the development of our Z-1 asset. We have been impressed with the delivery team and how the whole project has come together as planned.
Topside mating Hull and topside are connected using the variable ballast system of the hull to pick-up the topside structure
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Technology
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Horton Shallow Water Developments (SWD) is a joint venture company between Horton Wison Deepwater and GMC Inc. The company is actively promoting the use of the Buoyant Tower technology in areas where the key benefits provide a compelling economic, schedule and operating advantages
CX-15 set on location Buoyant Tower at final location after successful suction foundation penetration.
benefits provide a compelling economic, schedule and operating advantages. GMC is an industry leader in innovative engineering, project management and installation solutions for offshore oil & gas SURF, drilling, and production projects. For the CX-15 Buoyant Tower GMC also provided project management services to BPZ for the fabrication and Installation phase. Established in 1991, GMC has offices in Houston, London and
Beijing and the company has developed strategic partnerships with key customers & partners. GMC - Experience where it counts, innovation where it matters. Horton Wison Deepwater is one of the Worlds leading offshore technology development companies. Horton develops the products that oil and gas companies need across the globe in their search for hydrocarbons. Created by Ed Horton, one of the industrys most successful
innovators, the company continues in the path set out by its founder three decades ago when the tension leg platform (TLP) was first patented. Since then, Hortons team has developed the Spar concept and steered it through its evolution from the original Classic Spar through the Truss Spar to todays Cellspar. Seventeen Horton floating production and drilling units have been built and are working today in the deep oceans worldwide. dewjournal.com
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Cover Feature
Sercel launches the next-generation SeaRay 428 seabed acquisition system

Inputs from Benedicte Sebillot, Sercel, France and Kelly Jones, Sercel, US
Sercel has launched the SeaRay 428, the latest generation of its SeaRay system, designed to deliver competitive, redeployable 4-C seabed seismic acquisition. The SeaRays new functionalities are fully compatible with our existing seabed equipment which means that the many customers who have placed their trust in the Sercel SeaRay over recent years will be able to take advantage of these upgrades to achieve enhanced seabed acquisition performance.
ercel has launched the SeaRay 428, the latest generation of its SeaRay system, designed to deliver competitive, redeployable 4-C seabed seismic acquisition.
With nine systems in operation worldwide, the current SeaRay system has already become the industrys system of choice, delivering unrivalled operational
The SeaRay 428 has three new modular functionalities which extend the SeaRay systems capabilities. First, while retaining the SeaRays key advantage of power supply through the line, the 428 features an innovative in-sea module, the SBLU (Seabed Line Unit), which offers an unequalled 37-km cable length capability and a twofold increase in line data rate to 16Mb/s. Second, coupled with the addition of a long-range optical extender, the SeaRay 428 provides even greater possibilities for line snaking or long-offset recording. Third, the SeaRay 428 can now also integrate unmanned satellite recorders, which offers greater flexibility during deployment and rollout while ensuring real-time quality control of all system parameters and seismic data
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benefits and high-quality broadband seismic data. The SeaRay 428 offers enhanced productivity and data quality for Ocean Bottom Cable surveys and addresses growing industry demands for ever larger channel counts and greater layout flexibility. The SeaRay 428 has three new modular functionalities which extend the SeaRay systems capabilities. First, while retaining the SeaRays key advantage of power supply through the line, the 428 features an innovative in-sea module, the SBLU (Seabed Line Unit), which offers an unequalled 37-km cable length capability and a twofold increase in line data rate to 16Mb/s. Second, coupled with the addition of a long-range optical extender, the SeaRay 428 provides even greater possibilities for line snaking or long-offset recording. Third, the SeaRay 428 can now also integrate unmanned satellite recorders, which offers greater flexibility during deployment and roll-out while ensuring real-time quality control of all system parameters and seismic data. The CEO, Sercel, says: I am
Cover Feature
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Sercel is the worlds leading designer and manufacturer of innovative seismic equipment and reservoir monitoring instruments
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Cover Feature
advantage of these upgrades to achieve enhanced seabed acquisition performance. Sercel is the worlds leading designer and manufacturer of innovative seismic equipment and reservoir monitoring instruments. Sercel provides oil field service companies and geophysical contractors the widest range of leading-edge technologies for exploration in land, marine, ocean bottom, transition zone and reservoir environments. dewjournal.com
The new SeaRay 428 will meet the high demands of todays and future OBC crews and further strengthen Sercels position as leader in the seabed acquisition market
very confident that the new SeaRay 428 will meet the high demands of todays and future OBC crews and further strengthen our position as leader in the seabed acquisition market. The SeaRays new functionalities are fully compatible with our existing seabed equipment which means that the many customers who have placed their trust in the Sercel SeaRay over recent years will be able to take
New subsea bolt tensioning solutions
olt tightening specialist, Tentec Ltd, bolt tensioining products for the oil and gas industry will be the new Compact-8 series of subsea tensioning tools comprising just 8 tensioning tools to cover bolt sizes from to 4 and are suitable for use on the majority of standard pipe flanges. They can be used on many specifications of pipeline flanges including the newer SPO/Vector Compact Flanges, In addition to the conventional ANSI B16.5, ANSI B16.47-Series A, API-6A and API-17D flanges. The COMPACT-8 series also incorporates many of the features and benefits of Tentecs previous
subsea tensioners that have been used safely and reliably by divers around the world since 1991. The new COMPACT-8 tensioners have also been integrated into Tentecs BTS (Bolt Tightening Software). The software saves engineers both time and money by allowing documentation for multiple bolted joint projects to be created quickly and efficiently and has the additional advantage that engineers can avoid the possibility of error that often occur with manual torque and tension calculations. BTS Software along with the Compact-8 range of subsea tensioners is the perfect subsea bolt tensioning solution package. dewjournal.com
The new Compact-8 subsea tensioning tool
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Technology
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New spectroscopy service
Litho Scanner high-definition spectroscopy service delivers quantitative mineralogy in complex lithologies
Litho Scanner high-definition spectroscopy service revolutionizes gamma ray spectroscopy to enable detailed description of complex reservoirs.
chlumberger has announced the addition of the Litho Scanner* high-definition spectroscopy service to the Scanner Family* rock and fluid characterization services. The Litho Scanner service measures an enhanced suite of elements, including carbon, magnesium and aluminum, in real time to help provide a detailed description of complex reservoirs, including unconventional, shaly sand and carbonate. In addition, this latest wireline service provides a stand-alone quantitative determination of total organic carbon (TOC), critical for the evaluation of shale reservoirs. Customers need to understand
formation composition and mineralogy, particularly in unconventional reservoirs to be able to make timely completion decisions, said Catherine MacGregor, president, Schlumberger Wireline. Litho Scanner provides critical formation and reservoir data at the well site previously available only after extensive, time consuming and costly laboratory analyses. The Litho Scanner service has been run successfully on more than 80 wells in all the major shale plays in North America, in South America and in conventional reservoirs. In Canada, the Litho Scanner service was successfully used to interpret
the mineralogy in a lithologically complex shale gas reservoir comprising multiple clay types in addition to quartz, feldspar, calcite, dolomite, ankerite and pyrite. The determination of total organic carbon enabled both an accurate quantification of total porosity and a quantitative assessment of reservoir quality. In the Barnett shale, Litho Scanner data in conjunction with sCore* lithofacies classification was used to identify the potentially most productive layers of an organic mudstone reservoir. This technology choice enabled an optimized completion design to maximize hydrocarbon recovery. dewjournal.com
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Technology
New ultra-high temperature non-aqueous drilling fluid
RHADIANT drilling fluid system formulated to maintain stable rheologies and thin filter cake to ensure quality reservoir characterization
during prolonged static conditions. Stable rheologies in tandem with ultra-thin and slick filter cake deposits clear the path for logging, casing and cementing operations. These characteristics of the fluid system enable accurate perforation placement, optimized completions and quality reservoir characterization. The RHADIANT ultra-high temperature non-aqueous drilling fluid system is the first drilling fluid proven to In an ultra-high deliver stable rheological performance at BHT approaching 500 degF. temperature exploration -I SWACO, a Schlumberger and openhole logging, said Joe well in the Gulf of Thailand, the company, has announced the Bacho, president, M-I SWACO. RHADIANT drilling fluid system release of the RHADIANT ultra- The RHADIANT drilling fluid effectively delivered filtration high temperature non-aqueous system has a field-proven record of control and filter cake quality with drilling fluid system. This system providing excellent logging stable rheological properties while eliminates drilling fluid product conditions to enable efficient drilling with zero lost circulation. degradation, prevents wellbore operations and quality reservoir For logging operations, the fluid control issues such as barite sag characterization. system enabled the customer to The RHADIANT drilling fluid perform seven openhole wireline and provides a thin filter cake for system is specially formulated to logging runs, despite the fluid enhanced logging conditions. With wellbores approaching maintain a stable rheological profile remaining static for more than 90 the 500 degF (260 degC) threshold, with little maintenance required. hours. Typical problems associated there is a need for a drilling fluid Unlike conventional non-aqueous with the usage of conventional nonthat can remain stable and deliver drilling fluids, the RHADIANT aqueous drilling fluids, such as consistent performance throughout drilling fluid system maintains barite sag and stuck pipe, were the processes of well construction extreme-temperature stability even eliminated. dewjournal.com
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Face to Face
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Intuition counts in successful exploration

What constitutes a successful a good nose for oil. The difference between a large-cap exploration company? company and a small one is simply Why are some significantly one of scale. Large companies more successful than others, have to spread their risk between a combination of near-field and consistently so? exploration with a focus on adding And does size matter does short term value to existing having the resources of a production hubs and impact large-cap company contribute growth exploration or finding the to that success, or in fact next big thing. Small caps rarely have the safety net of a material detract from it? producing asset, so their focus is As an investor, how do you on finding new ones. But the choose a company to invest bottom line for both is having a good exploration team. in? In each case the need for good I suggests that the root of successful exploration lies in having basic data and wide-ranging
Iain Bartholomew, Exploration and Subsurface Director, Centrica and veteran explorer, answers questions posed to him by DEW Journal related to oil and gas exploration. Iain is a geologist at heart, beginning his career in Shell before becoming International Exploration Manager at Oryx Energy, and later Head of Geoscience at Hess. Roles as Technical Director at Vienco, VP Exploration and Geoscience at Pluspetrol and Technical Manager at Venture have brought him to his current position as Exploration and Sub-Surface Director for Centrica. He was also recently Vice President of the Geological Society for a 6 year period.
The success of an exploration team depends on vast experience and knowledge and how this is used the nose
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Face to Face
There is no substitute for the basics a solid understanding of the sub-surface, and immense patience, though for me it isnt always about processes and procedures sometimes success can depend on a random thought and the courage to follow your nose
regional studies are crucial smallcaps can achieve this just as well as the large ones, though they may have to be more innovative and resourceful in finding the data they need. The success of an exploration team depends on vast experience and knowledge and how this is used the nose. The understanding of risk and reward of an exploration portfolio is critical for both small and large cap companies. A larger company will have a different attitude to risk compared with a pure exploration company after all we depend on the larger companies for the majority of our energy supply, and they in turn have to answer to their stakeholders but having wise and experienced explorers will be what justifies that caution in the short term with new and viable assets in the long term. So what makes a good explorer or exploration team? I suggests that it is a combination of e l e m e n t s . Geoscience and being excited about geoscience is the
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foundation. Its exciting even with vast experience it is possible to find something new every day and intuition plays a large part in that. Exploration companies need to provide an environment with an element of freedom and even nurturing, to bring out the best in their exploration team. There is no substitute for the basics a solid understanding of the sub-surface, and immense patience, though for me it isnt always about processes and procedures sometimes success can depend on a random thought and the courage to follow your nose. dewjournal.com
The bottom line is to have a good exploration team
Oil & Gas
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Gaining a green light on well integrity

Dr Liane Smith (FREng), Director & Founder, Intetech, UK
Oil and gas operators are sitting on vast reserves of data that has the potential to transform the way they manage the integrity of their wells. Today, many lack visibility at field or enterprise level because information relating to well production, barrier equipment and design is held in different departments in various formats and under different timelines. Not only do these silos make it difficult for senior executives and management teams to collate, compare and report on well integrity data, but the length of time this can take impacts on their ability to identify problem wells, make informed decisions and take remedial action. With around half of all well workovers and shut-ins in mature fields caused by well integrity problems, this lack of visibility presents a significant risk and cost to the business. The challenge is compounded by the fact many oil and gas operators have grown by acquisition, which means certain asset information is stored or reported in different systems and is not always readily available to the right decision makers. Using web-based software with smart functionality, it is possible to acquire information from multiple sources including third-party databases and legacy systems and display it in a single management dashboard. This provides an instant view of current well integrity status as well as historical key performance indicators (KPIs) at a well, field or enterprise level.
Enterprise-wide visibility of operating well data enables oil and gas firms to ensure the right people have access to the right information at the right time for rapid and informed decision making.
view of current well integrity status as well as historical key performance indicators (KPIs) at a well, field or enterprise level. The data integrity challenge Although major improvements in both well design and operating procedures have been made in recent years, the integrity of well barrier components is continuously threatened by the corrosive nature of the well fluids. Scaling, corrosion and failed well barrier equipment are all common issues that call for great vigilance to minimise the risk of leakage. Importantly, managing well integrity is much more than simply ensuring safety during a current activity or specific scenarios, rather it concerns the sustainability of the equipment to operate safely for the full design life of the well. As such, information on the status of safety-critical well barrier
il and gas operators are sitting on vast reserves of data that has the potential to transform the way they manage the integrity of their wells. Today, many lack visibility at field or enterprise level because information relating to well production, barrier equipment and design is held in different departments in various formats and under different timelines. Not only do these silos make it difficult for senior executives and management teams to collate, compare and report on well integrity data, but the length of time this can take impacts on their ability to identify problem wells, make informed decisions and take remedial action. With around half of
all well workovers and shut-ins in mature fields caused by well integrity problems, this lack of visibility presents a significant risk and cost to the business. The challenge is compounded by the fact many oil and gas operators have grown by acquisition, which means certain asset information is stored or reported in different systems and is not always readily available to the right decision makers. Using web-based software with smart functionality, it is possible to acquire information from multiple sources including third-party databases and legacy systems and display it in a single management dashboard. This provides an instant
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Oil & Gas
Well integrity management is more than just running the wells properly and in the optimal way; its about controlling all of the different factors that could be affecting the safety of the well in real time continuously over the design life with a robust overarching system that ensures high integrity of the wells is established and maintained
components must be completely dependable, and the performance of these components must be totally predictable should a problem arise at any given point in time. An operator must be confident that they know how their well barrier safety equipment is going to respond. For example, that if they shut a sub-surface safety valve, they know with certainty its going to shut in the several seconds its supposed to, which could be a
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matter of life and death in certain situations. Sustained annulus pressure, whereby casing pressure rebuilds after being released, is the number one killer of wells. It can lead to an external leak or, at worst, result in a blowout. Even if no leakage occurs, the risk is that when pressure within the well rises above the design limit at which it is safe to operate (i.e. the safe operating envelope), a failure of well barrier equipment can be too
risky to repair and therefore the well has to be abandoned. Again, poor quality information about annulus pressure creates a real possibility that incorrect and perhaps dangerous decisions might be made. Silos of well integrity information make it difficult to collate information for analysis and review, which in turns makes it hard to identify inaccuracies that would otherwise allow operators to pinpoint barrier components at risk
Oil & Gas

Instant insight with traffic lights and email alerts A cost efficient and flexible approach is to interface to thirdparty systems such as production data management and other types of database (e.g. WellView, SAP, Maximo) and extract the required information for presentation in a management dashboard this is effectively a graphical user interface providing a simple overview of key operating well and production data, but allowing users to drill through to more detailed engineering data as required. This type of system allows operators to build on their existing investments and legacy data, by starting out with their basic information and then scaling the system accordingly. For example, initial set-up might see the translation of well design data from various electronic and paper formats into an audited well design database that is accessible per well for managing and generating well handover documentation. It might also collate the results of routine and specialised leak testing of safety critical elements (SCEs) for monitoring and review. Once basic functionality has been established, more sophisticated applications can be introduced, such as using production data to estimate corrosion damage to the tubing in a well, automatically identifying the presence of sustained annuli pressures and notifying users with warning traffic lights and email alerts, or risk-ranking wells failing to meet safe operational limits. A traffic light warning system provides a simple yet powerful visual device for highlighting wells at risk. These can be configured against a wide range of operating parameters and conditions that are to be pro-
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actively monitored on an on-going basis. A green, amber or red light provides an instant view of well status i.e. whether it is being operated within its safe operating envelope and whether all well barrier components are intact. In addition, reports can provide a standardised format for the well integrity data being monitored to ensure better efficiency and clearer communication of well integrity issues across the enterprise. Informed decision making Most operators accept that certain well barrier component failures are inevitable and operational constraints may mean that they cannot be repaired immediately. It can be necessary for wells with individual pieces of equipment not in full working order to continue to operate, provided risk assessment indicates the risk level is acceptable. Of course, some types of failure call for the well to be shut-in and repaired immediately, but for the majority of non-critical failures, repairs are scheduled to take place within a designated timeframe, or when the opportunity arises. Testing and preventative repairs have an associated cost and an impact on the operators shortterm productivity, whilst equipment failures have different costs and perhaps an impact on long-term productivity, or potential safety and environmental consequences. A well integrity management solution provides decision makers with the intelligence they need to strike the right balance. Having all well integrity data at their fingertips helps them to make the right decision in terms of carrying out maintenance and repairs in a timely fashion, based upon a risk ranking strategy that not only ensures safety, but prioritises resources in
of failure. Similarly, the large volumes of information collected automatically from instruments on a well using Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems is in essence dumb or grey data, because it is simply a set of readings that in many cases, is rarely interrogated or validated. When compared against readings acquired manually (which tend to be more reliable, though less frequent), anomalies are often found.
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Oil & Gas

Production information to confirm that all fluids in the well are within their safe operating limits for flow rates, pressures and temperatures Barrier tests to check that safety-critical equipment is leakfree Well design data to support informed well workover plans Well history to track all actions on the well and handover events Whats more, having all necessary data readily available via a management dashboard provides executives with an accurate picture of the companys exposure at all levels, enabling them to measure performance against any given set of key performance indicators. Views are customisable at a company level, enabling users to tailor fields, views and outputs to suit their well integrity philosophy and help ensure regulatory compliance and mitigate risk. Crucially, a well integrity management system provides the ability to analyse, compare and validate all operating well data, alert and report on exceptions and make information available throughout the enterprise to the right people at the right time. This is proven to significantly reduce the number of integrity-related shut-ins and workovers while providing a level of production assurance that delivers a new level of operational efficiency. dewjournal.com about the author Dr. Liane Smith (FREng), Director and founder of Intetech looks at the benefits of interfacing with third-party management systems and databases to deliver a joined-up approach to well integrity management.
A well integrity management system provides the ability to analyse, compare and validate all operating well data, alert and report on exceptions and make information available throughout the enterprise to the right people at the right time. This is proven to significantly reduce the number of integrity-related shut-ins and workovers while providing a level of production assurance that delivers a new level of operational efficiency
an optimum way to lower the overall risk level that an operator is carrying. Having the capability to evaluate, in real time, the mean time to failure of a selection of equipment can help to reduce operating costs substantially by adopting riskbased inspection frequencies, and feed-back of the performance experience to well designers can result in more reliable equipment selection for new wells. A well intervention engineer needs to know the complete history of a well and the integrity status of its near neighbours in order to make an informed decision when it comes to correcting an issue with a well. With an incomplete picture not only is there a risk that they might not solve a problem, they could make it worse. Moreover, while sustained annulus pressure or individual well issues can be controlled and addressed in isolation, the danger is that a combination of issues occurring in offset wells simultaneously can lead to unexpected escalation of consequences if the full picture is not visible. Well integrity management is therefore more than just running the wells properly and in the optimal way; its about controlling all of the different factors that could be affecting the safety of the well in real time continuously over the 30+ year design life with a robust overarching system that ensures high integrity of the wells is
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established and maintained. Seamless risk management There can be tens, if not hundreds of potential users requiring access to well integrity data and all will have slightly different aims and requirements. A well integrity engineer for example, will need access to well component reliability data, whereas an operations supervisor would be more interested in being able to access a schedule of tasks and receive notification of due dates. Drilling engineers might also use a well integrity system to check for details of the well design to select an optimum workover programme. Meanwhile, reservoir engineers concerned with optimising production will confirm that wells are operating within the defined well operating window and check whether impending well integrity issues will interfere with production or reservoir drainage plans. Providing decision makers with enterprise-wide visibility of well integrity status creates a seamless risk management process that is no longer dependent on a patchwork of disparate systems and spreadsheets. Instead, all departments and risk areas are integrated into a single, highly functional system that creates a single version of the truth that translates into usable information for proactive decision-making:
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Technology
The first shrink-fit riser flanges

Subsea Riser Products (SRP), an Acteon company, has successfully attached the first flanges to pipe sections that will make up a unique ultra-high-pressure drilling riser for use by Venture Production in the North Sea.
ubsea Riser Products (SRP), an Acteon company, has successfully attached the first flanges to pipe sections that will make up a unique ultra-highpressure drilling riser for use by Venture Production in the North Sea. The flanges were joined to the pipes at SRPs premises in Sheffield, UK, using a novel shrink-fit process that the company developed specifically with the fabrication of risers like this one in mind. SRP managing director Simon Luffrum said, The development of
the shrink-fit flange has been the key to this entire project. We have had a good deal of interest in the technique from a number of other operators. Now that we have proved the technique it is likely to find application in a variety of riserrelated projects in the future. The flange is first heated using induction coils to over 400C, which causes it to expand sufficiently to fit over the end of the 19-in ID riser pipe section. The flange and the pipe are then carefully brought together this part of the process
takes no more than 30 seconds using a purpose-built jig to ensure the precise alignment of the two parts. Simply allowing the assembly to cool down creates a high-quality structural connection and a gastight seal. The novel application of an established technology lies behind the manufacture of the worlds first ultra-high-pressure, large-bore drilling riser. The Venture Production riser is intended to be used for drilling high-pressure, high-temperature wells in the North Sea from a jackup rig equipped with a surface blowout preventer (BOP). The surface BOP will provide significant cost and operational advantages. However, in order to
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Technology
complete the wells at the seabed through the surface BOP, a drilling riser is needed that offers full-bore (18-in.) access and can contain the full pressure of the reservoir, which could be in excess of 12,000 psi. Venture has liaised closely with a group of three Acteon companies, Claxton Engineering, 2H Offshore and the newly established Subsea Riser Products, in designing a unique riser, the notable feature of which is its flange connections, which will be shrink fitted to the individual pipes. The riser has 13 main sections, each 30 feet long, plus fatiguecritical, tapered stress and tension joints at either end. As is common practice, the individual pipes will be connected to each other using bolted flanges. The question in the case of this ultra-high-pressure riser was how to attach the flanges to the main body of the pipes. The answer was not easy, as the conventional option, welding, is not really practicable. Using a normally weldable grade of steel, say 65 ksi, would require a pipe wall thickness of around 75 mm to meet the pressure rating. Welding pipe of this thickness is extremely difficult, especially when the final weld properties and fatigue performance are governed by NACE sour service requirements, as in this case. Actually, welding is not the only problem. In the first place, manufacturing pipe of this thickness is far from straightforward, and the weight of a complete riser string of this nature would be enormous. The wall thickness can be reduced by making the pipes from steel with a higher yield strength. For example, using a 110-ksi steel
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would mean having a wall thickness of about 3040 mm. Unfortunately, welding such high-strength steels successfully is also extremely challenging, not least in terms of controlling the hardness of the final weld. The whole problem surrounding the welding of this ultra-high pressure riser pipe has been resolved by using a shrink-fit process to attach the flange connectors to the pipes ultimately made from 80 ksi steel with a wall thickness in excess of 50 mm. On the face of it, the process is very straightforward. The flange pieces with their short stubs are heated using induction coils and, in their expanded state, carefully mated with the main pipe sections. Subsequently allowing the assembly to cool completes the process and generates a high-
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quality structural connection and a gas-tight seal. The simplicity of the process belies the amount of effort that has gone into developing it for this application and also the high level of attention that has to be paid to the details of the process. For example, the profiles and surface finishes on the two components are critical; the heating process needs to be very carefully controlled; and it is important to ensure the precise alignment of the two components during the mating process. (A purpose-designed construction jig
is used to bring the flange and the pipe together.) The lead contractor on the Venture riser project is Claxton Engineering, based in Great Yarmouth, UK, which specialises in drilling riser rental and sales. SRP was responsible for the detailed design of the shrink-fit flange and other riser components, and is overseeing the manufacturing process. It was 2H Offshore who designed the riser and conceived the idea of shrink-fitting the flanges. All three are Acteon companies. Subsea Riser Products designs
and delivers offshore riser products for critical drilling and production applications. Its range of specialist products provides significant advantages, including reduced overall cost, improved levels of performance, reliability and projectenabling delivery scheduling. Through its core strengths of innovative mechanical design and highperformance materials, together with advanced manufacturing methods, the company delivers optimum value-for-money products that yield enhanced system integrity. dewjournal.com
Are you wanting to test market your product/ technology in the fast emerging Asian and ASEAN market? ADVERTISE IN DEW JOURNAL For details : info@dewjournal.com
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Renewable Energy
Floating solar field concept unveiled

Many countries are turning to solar technology and renewable energy because of a need for alternative energy sources and environmental concerns. To help meet these needs, DNV has developed SUNdy, a large-scale offshore solar field concept
esearchers at DNV have developed a dynamic floating offshore solar field concept. Dubbed SUNdy, the core feature of the concept is a hexagonal array which floats on the sea surface. A collection of these arrays, totaling 4,200 solar panels, forms a solar island the size of a large football stadium, capable of generating 2 MW of power. Multiple islands connected together make up a solar field of 50 MW or more, producing enough electricity for 30,000 people.
The core feature of the concept is a hexagonal array which floats on the sea surface. A collection of these arrays, totaling 4,200 solar panels, forms a solar island the size of a large football stadium, capable of generating 2 MW of power. Multiple islands connected together make up a solar field of 50 MW or more, producing enough electricity for 30,000 people
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The renewable energy market is rapidly changing due in main part to climate change, soaring global demand for electricity, and scarcity of fossil fuels. For DNV, technological innovation is a key element in our strategy to help address these concerns and SUNdy, as an example of our research work, can help illustrate future applications for solar as a truly sustainable resource, says Bjrn Tore Markussen, Chief Operational Officer for DNV KEMA E n e rg y & S u s t a i n a b i l i t y A s i a . Indeed, renewable energy is becoming increasingly important in nations across the globe, including Asia, and with such a readily available and abundant source that is rapidly approaching grid parity levels, its solar power thats attracting a lot of interest in this part of the world. The SUNdy concept is made possible using thin-film 560 W solar panels which are flexible and lighter than the traditional rigid glassbased modules, allowing them to undulate with the oceans surface explains Sanjay Kuttan, Managing Director of the DNV Clean Technology Centre in Singapore. The key to creating an oceanbased structure of this size is the use of a tension-only design. Rather like a spider s web, this dynamic, compliant structure yields to the waves, yet is capable of withstanding considerable external loads acting upon it. According to Dr Kuttan
separating the solar arrays into prefabricated sections allows for large scale manufacturing and streamlined assembly offshore. The cable grid provides for maintenance access in the form of floating gangways. Below the surface, the shape of the island is maintained by the tensile forces from the lengthy spread mooring. The island has been optimised for solar capability and cabling efficiency, adds Kevin Smith, Global Segment Director for DNV KEMAs Renewable Energy Services. The solar arrays are divided into electrical zones feeding electricity produced into two main switches collecting the power for voltage step up at a central transformer (2MVA 480/34.5kV). From the offshore solar farms central island, 30kV electrical transmission lines connect, tying other islands in series to form a close loop and continue to the electrical sub-station onshore for grid connection. The unveiling of the SUNdy concept comes at a time when solar photovoltaics (PV) is experiencing extraordinary market growth. Almost 30GW of operating capacity has been added, increasing total global capacity by 74% to more than 69GW according to the Renewable Energy Policy Network 2012 report. While the EU again dominated the global market, markets are expanding in other regions, and China has rapidly emerged as the dominant player in Asia. Emerging markets, such as Southeast Asia, are also aiming to grow their renewable energy production with an increased presence in the solar sector. Many countries are turning to solar technology and renewable
Renewable Energy
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energy because of a need Many countries are turning to solar technology and for alternative energy renewable energy because of a need for alternative sources and energy sources and environmental concerns says environmental concerns Bjrn Tore Markussen, COO of DNV KEMA says Mr Markussen and adds, This is Energy & Sustainability and adds, This is particularly so in highly particularly so in highly populated countries which populated countries need more and more energy to supply their which need more and booming economies. We firmly believe the SUNdy more energy to supply floating solar field concept offers sound and their booming sustainable development prospects, particularly in economies. We firmly Asia and the congested coastal megacities where believe the SUNdy floating solar field theres limited opportunity for rooftop solar power concept offers sound and urban areas which command premium prices Bjrn Tore Markussen and sustainable for large-scale mounted solar production COO, DNV KEMA Energy & development prospects, Sustainability particularly in Asia and the congested coastal megacities revenue in research and innovation needs, and serve as invitations to collaboration with where theres limited opportunity for every year. While the majority is further rooftop solar power and urban areas spent on long term research and customers on their specific needs. which command premium prices for development, DNV also finances a The SUNdy project is only one of of extraordinary many such extraordinary large-scale mounted solar portfolio innovation projects. These address innovations DNV contributes to the production. DNV invests 6-7% of its immediate customer and industry industries it serves. dewjournal.com
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Renewable Energy
SUNdy, a floating offshore solar field

Solar radiation is distributed over the entire planet. 50 % of the population lives near the coast taxing land and fresh water resources. Combining these facts to tap solar as a truly sustainable resource, demands a fresh solution. The SUNdy concept of dNV KEMA Energy & Sustainability for a large scale floating offshore solar field brings this vision a step closer to reality.
areas, far away from where the power is needed. This results in long transmission lines, issues with public acceptance, wildlife, and cost. Floating offshore PV Given the densely populated coastal line, it make sense to look at visionary offshore possibilities. Committed to innovation, one of the cutting edge technology concepts DNV KEMA developed is SUNdy a 50+ MW dynamic floating offshore solar field concept. The core of SUNdy is a 2 MW hexagonal array which floats on the sea surface. The scalable design can be deployed independently or linked together with others, providing electricity that can grow with societal needs. The SUNdy concept is made possible using thin-film 560 W solar panels. At present, wafer panels based on crystalline silicon solar cells are the most common, making up about 85 percent of the installed market, but thin-film solar panels are cheaper and gaining market share, with efficiencies approaching those of crystalline silicone. These thinfilm panels are flexible and lighter than the traditional rigid glassbased modules, allowing them to undulate with the oceans surface. The thin-film solar panels are mounted onto a pliable floatation mat, housing a three-phase micro inverter, converting DC to AC, to create a simple plug-and-play module using marine grade connectors. Creating solar islands An array of SUNdy floating modules would be manufactured as a prewired unit, significantly reducing
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he worlds population continues to rise. Standards of living are also increasing, and an increase in the demand for energy is therefore inevitable. Population growth is tending to concentrate in coastal megacities with some 50 percent of the worlds population already living within 100 km of the coast, taxing land and fresh water resources in these areas. Fastest growing renewable The sun is the planets primary energy source. Every hour the earth is bathed in more energy than mankind uses in a year. Traditional barriers to solar power are being broken, and with new technologies increasing efficiency and reducing costs, it is the fastest growing renewable.
Solar power converts of sunlight to electricity, either indirectly, using solar thermal, or directly, using photovoltaics (PV). PV cells utilise the photovoltaic effect, releasing electrons when exposed to sunlight, producing direct current (DC) electricity. This can be stored, or converted to alternating current (AC) with an inverter and fed into the utility grid or immediate local use. Nowadays, PV systems are typically be found on residential and commercial roof tops and ground-mounts in utility scale plants. In congested coastal cities theres little opportunity for rooftop solar power, and land surrounding urban areas commands premium prices pushing large-scale ground mounted solar production to remote
Renewable Energy
the number of electrical connections while also minimising the need for offshore assembly. A collection of these arrays, totaling 4,200 solar panels, forms an expansive solar island the size of a large football stadium, capable of generating 2 MW of power. Multiple islands connected together constitute a solar field of 50 MW or more, producing enough electricity for 30,000 people. Islands would ideally be located in benign waters with depths ranging from 20100 m and approximately five miles from shore away from shipping lanes.
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Features SUNdy Structural efficiency SUNdy is a large-scale floating offshore solar field concept. The key to creating an ocean-based An array of SUNdy floating modules would be manufactured as a prestructure of this size is the use of a wired unit. tension-only design. Rather like a The need for offshore assembly is minimized. spider s web, this dynamic, The solar panels themselves are attached to floating board and float compliant structure yields to the directly on the water. SUndy does not use a separate floating structure waves, yet is capable of to be mounted on. withstanding considerable external The SUNdy concept uses only a minimum of floating gangways and loads acting upon it. Cables form keeps the solar panel floaters in place with wires. the elegant hexagonal geometry The SUNdy concept is based on thin film PV technology: flexible employed to minimise the number solar panels are used, avoiding heavy glass laminates. of anchor points, while also The number of electrical connections is reduced to a minimum. allowing the energy islands to be The SUNdy concept is using three-phase micro-inverters built into nested or grouped. Separating the each solar panel, making it very easy to electrically connect and to solar arrays into prefabricated replace. This also gives a robust solution for unevenness in an array sections allows for large scale (a row of panels) where panels can be damaged and not working. manufacturing and streamlined All wiring is on SUNdy AC. This could be a more cost-effective electric assembly offshore. The cable grid solution than waterproof standard dC connections with bigger provides for maintenance access in inverters. the form of floating gangways. The physical structure of the SUNdy concept makes this idea closer Below the surface, the shape of the to a financially viable solution. island is maintained by the tensile forces from the lengthy spread From the offshore solar farms components and house water central island, 30 kV electrical cannon for automatically cleaning the mooring. transmission lines connect, tying arrays. Perimeter buoys double as other islands in series to form a warning markers with navigational Electrical simplicity The island has been optimised for closed loop and continue to the beacons. The entire island is solar capability and cabling electrical sub-station onshore for therefore built up from a small number of repeated components. efficiency. The solar arrays are grid connection. SUNdys system-wide modular SUNdys photovoltaic solar divided into electrical zones feeding includes electrical modules have no moving parts, electricity produced into two main design switches collecting the power for connectors, arrays, cables and creating a reliable predictable and system with low voltage step up at a central walkways, while the mid and scalable perimeter markers are also common dewjournal.com maintenance. transformer (2MVA 480/34.5 kV).
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Renewable Energy
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A shift towards lowcarbon alternatives is necessary to alleviate concerns regarding the climate change threat. The solar share of clean energy investments has soared, however a proactive planning is essential.
Sustainable Solar PV growth in the AsiaPacific region: Proactive planning is key

Erik A. Hektor, Anne Louise Koefoed, Emma Stewart, Yongtao Yang, DNV Research & Innovation
ising electricity demands in the Asia-Pacific region have to be met in order to ensure access to electricity supply and to enable economic growth, but environmental impacts must also be considered. Presently, electricity generation in the Asia-Pacific region is dominated by fossil fuels (China 80 %, India 75 %, Australia 91 %, South Korea 62 %, Thailand 91 %). However, a shift towards low-carbon alternatives is necessary to alleviate concerns regarding the climate change threat. Such a shift requires investment in renewable electricity generation, as well as maximising the potential benefit from upgrades in grid infrastructure. In addition to climate change and other environmental concerns, investments in solar photovoltaic
(PV) systems and other renewable energy sources are part of electrification strategies for providing low cost electricity via distributed energy resources. In many places in Asia, PV-generated electricity is becoming cost competitive with that generated by fossil fuels. Investments in solar PV are also part of the innovation and industry development strategies in the global race for clean technologies. Considering solar PV more closely, it can be seen that the solar share of clean energy investments has soared (in China it is 13 % of US $45.5 billion in clean energy investments, in India the figure is 31 % of US $10.2 billion, in Australia the figure is 43 % of US $4.9 billion, and in South Korea the figure is 70 % of US $333 million). 1 In order that the potential in such
investment levels in solar energy in the Asia-Pacific region is fully realised, proactive planning is essential. Stakeholder risks and benefits The solar energy business comprises a complex mix of stakeholders, with various technical, commercial, social, and economic risks and benefits at play. To ensure reliable, secure, and sustainable integration of PV into the wider Asia-Pacific power grids, lessons should be learned from the successes achieved and mistakes made in international markets. In the Asia-Pacific region, PV integration is in its infancy, while the US and European markets, especially those of Germany, Italy, and Spain, are the most mature solar PV markets. Numerous lessons can be learned
[1] PEW Charitable Trusts (2012): Whos Winning the Clean Energy Race? 2011 Edition, http://www.pewenvironment.org/uploadedFiles/PEG/ Publications/Report/FINAL_forweb_WhoIsWinningTheCleanEnergyRace-REPORT-2012.pdf
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Renewable Energy
the regulatory or technical concerns of high penetration of solar PV into the power grid. For commercial and industrial consumers, fluctuations in the cost and availability of electricity are the main concerns. In many parts of the Asia-Pacific region, basic supply of electric power is not guaranteed at present. For example, households and industries in the Zhejiang province in China endure power outages during most of the summer months due to mismatch in power production and demand. While power production capacity is not necessarily insufficient, fuel may be either too expensive or unavailable to keep up with demand, and transmission capacity is lacking. In Western nations, government-backed energy efficiency schemes and slow economic growth mean that power demands are currently levelling off. In Asia, however, industrial power demand is increasing at an annual rate of over 10 %. In tandem with the growing supply issue, existing and continuous power supply requires that the electricity supply is of high quality, reliable, and affordable. Another challenge relates to the specific living conditions and particular urban structure, which may constrain the choice of technical solutions locally. For example, the average consumer in China does not live in a community of sprawling singlefamily homes, but rather in larger, often high-rise, multi-family dwellings, with roof space limited by placement of heating systems and water storage. This leads to greater demand for ground mount or commercial roof mount PV systems with less residential involvement. Ensuring technical and financial performance The first technical stakeholder in the path to solar deployment is the developer, who is normally responsible for engineering, procurement, and construction of the PV site. The developer is
from the growth and bottlenecks experienced in these more established markets. With proactive planning and thinking from all the stakeholders, it should be possible to avoid some of the numerous bottlenecks in the Asia-Pacific region. However, in order to achieve this, we need to understand the different concerns of the stakeholders in the solar PV value chain. The stakeholders concerned include electricity consumers, ranging from households to commercial and industrial customers with larger power demands, the developers and financiers, the utility/grid operators, and government entities. Each stakeholder has a different perspective and objective. What the consumer wants and local constraints The average member of the public in any country is concerned with the price that they are paying for electricity and that it is provided reliably, but has limited insight into
Solar PV is easy to install and requires minimum maintenance. This is because the solar system is modular and has few moving parts that wear out
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concerned about the bottom line financially. This concern can be impacted by many factors, including: cost of equipment, available solar resource at the site, complex permitting requirements leading to delays and additional costs, stringent interconnection 2 requirements, lack of available capacity for interconnection, uncertainty regarding reliability of components, need for qualified personnel for installation, and operational concerns. In addition to these concerns, once development is complete, the operators of the solar PV plant also face the issues of pollution and dust in urban areas, potentially limiting PV generation capabilities and increasing operational and maintenance costs. Developers and financiers will require independent verification of performance and construction to ensure the expected positive returns on investment. Financiers, such as independent investors, venture capitalists, or commercial banks, may have general concerns about the technology, interconnection, or construction, but they tend to be limited to being comfortable that the PV system performance meets energy production expectations and gaining the return on their investment within a reasonable timeframe. Bankability reviews of components and thorough due diligence studies of the PV systems can ensure that expectations are met. Maintaining the quality of technology Developers and financiers rely on the quality, reliability, and affordability of technology from manufacturers. Consolidation among solar module manufacturers
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The solar energy business is a complex mix of stakeholders, with technical, social and economic risks and benefits at play. For solar PV integration to be successful, it is important that the different concerns of the stakeholders are understood
has primarily affected Western companies, and there has been a shift in the manufacture of PV modules to Asia. China, for example, has seen an exponential rise in module manufacturers, propelled by subsidies and, more recently, a growing internal market. Six out of the top ten global solar manufacturers are currently Chinese. However, the international political landscape for solar PV has changed, and the global market now has a substantial technology surplus and idle manufacturing facilities. This situation, in combination with technology learning as a result of cumulative output, has resulted in a dramatic reduction in the cost of PV equipment over the last two years. This decrease in equipment cost has greatly reduced the cost of solar generated electricity, to the point that it is at parity with other generation forms in many areas in Asia. However, in the context of surplus and lower cost equipment, quality and reliability needs to be rigorously monitored to be maintained. As reliability and security of electricity supply move to the forefront of concerns, PV module manufacturers need to verify safety and performance, and facilitate efficient inverter integration. In opening up markets to new technologies, it is essential that all equipment meet international codes and standards. This reduces the risks in attempting to achieve successful projects and builds trust in the PV components. Assessing the right location and infrastructure needs Two players, the utility/grid operator and the government/ regulatory agencies, are positioned at the top of the solar PV integration pyramid, and without them there is no interconnection market. These two players must plan the electricity generation structure and deal with the power system integration challenges at the location of interest. The benefits of solar PV as distributed generation include the following: 1. Solar PV is scalable. This means that it can be installed as distributed energy resources close to where the power demands are located, thereby precluding the need for grid expansion. Alternatively, it can be built as a larger scale power plant and located where the solar resources are best and the cheapest land spaces are available. 2. Solar PV is easy to install and requires minimum maintenance. This is because the solar system is modular and has few moving parts that wear out. 3. Unlike fossil fuels, whose prices are highly correlated with each other, solar PV has no fuel cost and thus the long-term financial risks of energy supply portfolios are reduced. In order to harvest the benefits of solar PV as distributed generation, proactive planning is essential. Depending on the location and existing power system
[2] The term interconnection refers to connecting renewable energy sources to the power grid, as opposed to the off-grid application of renewables.
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Unlike fossil fuels, whose prices are highly correlated with each other, solar PV has no fuel cost and thus the long-term financial risks of energy supply portfolios are reduced
structures, solar PV development, like other generation capacity, must consider the possible needs for development of the electricity grid infrastructure. Experiences from the European and US markets show that the utility/grid operator and the government/regulatory agencies are pivotal in overcoming transmission and permit bottlenecks. Solar resource is generally widely distributed, and this allows for installation of PV power plants close to load centres, thereby reducing the demands on the electric transmission grid. The electricity grid should be designed to allow for the effective installation of distributed PV power plants. For large PV power plants, the situation is similar to that for other central generation systems, and the transmission system might require reinforcement in order to accommodate the interconnection of variable resources. For example, the Chinese power grid has already been stressed by the West-East transmission pattern. While the densely populated areas of southern and eastern China are experiencing rapid growth in energy demand, most of the new power production capacity is being built in the North and West of China. If planning does not accommodate infrastructure development, the integration of large-scale renewables, including solar PV, may result in the transmission bottlenecks being even more pronounced. Ambitious grid expansions have been planned, but these require forethought, organisation, and planning facilitated by the government/regulatory
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agencies, not just for the foreseeable future but also for long-term integrations. Studies in California and Hawaii have provided strategic assessments of where renewables would have the most economic and technical benefits to the transmission system, defining beneficial regions for interconnection. Proactive planning for siting of renewables could relieve, or delay, some of the grid expansion. Another issue emerges as penetration levels across the system increase. There is a need to account for the impact of renewables, such as solar PV, on reliability and performance so that the security of the power supply is ensured. Utilities rely on standards to address the increasing penetration of renewables. Standards in the EU and the US have formed the backbone for interconnection, and allow streamlined and sustainable integration for all stakeholders. For both utilities and regulators, the development of reliability and interconnection standards is an essential piece of the interconnect puzzle. Utilities require accurate modelling, monitoring, controllability and observability, as well as capable operation personnel to accommodate high PV penetration. Proactively addressing these issues will allow expedited development. Facilitating development with effective policy Governments and regulators are able to facilitate the implementation of renewable energy. The development of solar PV has been, and to a large
Renewable Energy
extent continues to be, driven by targeted policies and incentives that trigger developments in different market segments. These may range from solar PV residential building mounts to non-residential and utility-scale PV developments. This will change dramatically as the cost of PV-generated electricity drops to parity with other generation sources, and economic decisions will dominate. Asia-Pacific countries have proposed, revised, and published various renewable energy targets in recent years. In Chinas 12th Five Year Plan (2011-2015), the 2015 solar PV installation target was increased to a 15 GW capacity target, which is 50 % higher than the previous target. This was the second time during 2011 that China revised its 2015 capacity goal. In Australia, the renewable electricity target for 2020 is 20 %, a doubling from todays level. In India, the solar power target in the National Solar Mission programme is 20 GW for the year 2022. In order to reach these targets, the countries in the region are using combinations of supportive policies to encourage solar PV development. Support policies include a mixture of subsidies, pricing mechanisms (feed-in tariffs), renewable portfolio obligations, tax policies, and renewable energy technology research, development, and demonstration programmes. Achieving grid parity will greatly facilitate the achievement of these targets. Utilities must plan their renewable energy portfolios and the timing of investments to meet policy targets and adapt proactively to present and future support policies. However, while targeted policies continue to be important, in many countries in the Asia-Pacific region, a key market driver of solar PV
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development is the concept of grid parity. Grid parity is said to occur when the levelized cost of solar power reaches the same level as that of conventional power. This phenomenon is both locationspecific and end-use application specific. For certain locations, the cost reductions of solar PV seen in recent times, in combination with high electricity prices, have indicated that grid parity may be reached in the near future; e.g. in parts of Australia, grid parity is discussed as achievable by 2013, and in India by 2017. Markets and deployment of solar PV traditionally follows the ebb and flow that is controlled by policies and incentives, such as feed-in tariffs. Understanding this, and working with the flow, will allow smooth and controlled expansion. However, with grid parity approaching at many locations, the vulnerability towards
fluctuating policies is decreased. Proactive planning is key The solar energy business is a complex mix of stakeholders, with technical, social and economic risks and benefits at play. For solar PV integration to be successful, it is important that the different concerns of the stakeholders are understood. Challenges span the entire value chain, from assessing public wants and local constraints, ensuring technical and financial performance, maintaining the quality of technology, and assessing the appropriate location and infrastructure needs, to political frameworks facilitating the development. By proactive planning for solar PV integration in the AsiaPacific region, the key bottlenecks that have been experienced in other industries and nations can be mitigated and avoided. dewjournal.com
Asia-Pacific countries have proposed, revised, and published various renewable energy targets in recent years. In Chinas 12th Five Year Plan (2011-2015), the 2015 solar PV installation target was increased to a 15 GW capacity target, which is 50 % higher than the previous target. This was the second time during 2011 that China revised its 2015 capacity goal. In Australia, the renewable electricity target for 2020 is 20 percent, a doubling from todays level. In India, the solar power target in the National Solar Mission programme is 20 GW for the year 2022. In order to reach these targets, the countries in the region are using combinations of supportive policies to encourage solar PV development
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Gujarat government endorse SPM, PDPUs Solar Conclave 2012
Unanimous acceptance by experts of the growing solar sector in India

DEW Correspondent
imed at discussing the challenges, regulatory scenario and success drivers thus unveiling the investment opportunities and innovative funding models in the Indian solar energy sector, the students of the PGP-II batch of the School of Petroleum Management (SPM), Pandit Deendayal Petroleum University (PDPU), Gandhinagar, Gujarat in association with Gujarat Energy Research & Management Institute (GERMI), Associate Sponsors-New Honeywell, Sun Edison and Knowledge Partner-DEW Journal organized a Solar Conclave 2012 on October 12, 2012 at the University campus. The national level symposium provided a platform for knowledge sharing, business opportunities and sustainable development. The School of Petroleum Management, Pandit Deendayal Petroleum University, Gandhinagar has taken the initiative to bring together the stakeholders of solar industry in India for discussions and deliberations on issues that are of vital importance to the development of solar sector in India through Solar Conclave 2012. The Solar Conclave is one of the four conclaves that School of Petroleum Management organizes every year, at the PDPU Campus in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. The Conclave emerged to be a converging point for the top management executives from leading solar
The School of Petroleum Management, Pandit Deendayal Petroleum University, Gandhinagar has taken the initiative to bring together the stakeholders of solar industry in India for discussions and deliberations on issues that are of vital importance to the development of solar sector in India through Solar Conclave 2012
companies in Indian Public & Private sector, top officials from policy making bodies like Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), Government of India, central agencies like Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA) and Officials from Government of Gujarat. The Conclave was addressed and attended by distinguished personalities like Mr. Ketan Shukla, IFS, Secretary, GERC as the Chief Guest while Mr. D J Pandian, IAS, Principal Secretary, Energy Petrochemicals Department, Govt. of Gujarat as the Guest of Honour. The other eminent personalities came from regulatory authorities, developers, financial institutions, consultants and policy makers. Mr. Chandan Guha, Chief Executive Officer, Mahindra Solar, Mr. Gaurav Sood Managing Director, Solaire Direct, Mr. N Rangnath, Managing Director, EI Technologies, Mr. P H Rana, Managing Director, GPCL, Mr. P. K. Pandey, Assistant General Manager, IREDA,
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Mr. Phuntsok Wangyal, Vice President, SBI CAPS, Mr. preneurs to deliver their opinions in order to catalyze Pranav Mehta, Chairman, Solar Energy Association of the movement of sustainability and energy security. Gujarat, Mr. Rahul Sankhe, Managing Director, India It even facilitated knowledge sharing, business & Operation, Sun Edison, Mr. Rajat Misra, Senior Vice networking opportunities, and engage the participants President, State Bank of India Caps (SBI Caps), Mr. Rajya in deliberations addressing the current market W Ghei, Chief Executive Officer, India Solar Business, environment and economics for solar energy, and cost Moser Baer, Mr. Ranajit Banerjee, Ex-PWC, Mr. Ronnie drivers, governmental policies and incentives. With a large attendance of experts, the Solar Khanna Manager Energy & Resource, Deloitte, Mr. S. K. Negi, Managing Director, GETCO, Mr. Vineeth Conclave has earned an esteemed position in industry Vijayaraghavan, Founder, Editor Panchabuta, Mr. Vinod circles as one of the important knowledge forum for Kala, Managing Director, Emergent Ventures, Mr. Vivek energy industry. Dr. Ashutosh Muduli, Professor at SPM, PDPU Amin, Head OD & HRM, Abellon Clean Energy, Dr. Omkar Jani, Principal Scientist-Solar, GERMI, Mr Ranajit and Chairperson, Solar Conclave 2012 talked about Banerjee, Director Consulting, PDPU, Mr. Abhishek energy security being the most important issue for the Kaushal, Project Coordinator, GPCL, Mr. Anand Jain, coming years. He briefed about the aim of the conclave which was supplementing the Head Business Development, Kiran Mr.Ketan Shukla,IFS,Secretary,GERC Energy and Prof. T. Harinarayana, class knowledge with contemporary industry Director, GERMI also participated. knowledge and happenings. He The conclave held discussions also briefed about the topics to contemplating over current issues like be covered in the four technical perspective and prospects of policies in driving development of solar power in Mr. D J Pandian, IAS, Principal Secretary, Energy Petrochemicals Department, Govt. India, technological development, of Gujarat speaking at the Conclave strategic financing, potential of Renewable Energy Certificates Inauguration of Solar Conclave and Energy Management. The event was designed to attract business analysts, policy makers, industry experts, consultants and entreNovember 2012 DEW JOURNAL
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sessions of the event. development and added, if policy frameworks and Dr Hemant Trivedi, Director, SPM budgetary resources go along, the time of clean and PDPU welcomed all the dignitaries from green power is not far. the industry, faculty members and Chief The four technical sessions focused on national Guest Mr. Ketan Shukla to the conclave. and state level policies their impact on the solar He said the purpose of the conclave is business across the country, roadmap for next 5 years: Mr. A. Kaushal to create platform for sharing knowledge Challenges to overcome and capacity allocation from the contemporary and immediate planned, solar Rooftop and captive power development industry to shape the future. and what are the realistic targets for achieving grid Delivering the inaugural address Dr. parity. Focus was also laid on risks faced in financing Ketan Shukla, IFS, Secretary GERC, solar projects and challenges in generating funds for emphasized on the three pillars of the solar projects and innovations in financing. Emphasis Dr. H. Trivedi solar sector namely government was also laid on futures & limitations of REC and road regulations, customers, and utilities. map for India, different REC models and comparison He explained how the State of Gujarat of Indian REC platform with that of other countries, is receiving 6 KWH/meter sq for 330 financing of REC model: Critical analysis from banking days/year coupled with a good perspective, success story of REC, implementation of transmission and gas grid has become REC: Risk analysis and mitigation and power and REC Dr. Omkar Jani an attractive investment region in solar trading: Traders point of view were also touched upon. sector in India. He appreciated the The bottlenecks in project execution, grid connectivity Gujarat solar power policy 2009 for issues, unavailability of skilled workforce and attracting investment from the serious Charanka success stories were also covered. private players. He emphasized on how The first Session highlighted Policies: Perspectives solar energy can replace kerosene and and Prospects was addressed by Dr. Omkar Jani, Mr. Rahul Sankhe diesel and play a vital role in Indian Principal Scientist-Solar, GERMI, chairing the session, energy mix as the peak demand in India started off by highlighting the immense demand that is is in the day time. Dr. Shukla set to approach in the coming years and the probable summarized with the Tamso Ma policy bottlenecks. This set the tone for the session Jyotirgamay verse meaning with panel members Mr. Rahul Sankhe, Managing Alimighty, lead us from unreal to real, Director, India Operations, Sun Edison, Mr. Rajya W. Mr. Rajya W.Ghei lead us from darkness to light. Lead us Ghei, CEO, India Solar Business, Moser Baer and Mr. from mortality to immortality, motivating everybody Anand Jain, Head, Business Development, Kiran Energy. to move forward in the direction of energy security. The session was also addressed by Mr. Rajya W. Speaking at the inaugural session Mr. D J Pandian, Ghei, CEO, India Solar Business, Moser Baer, started IAS, Principal Secretary, Govt. of Gujarat brought to with emphasis on policies, perceptive and prospects notice the issues with solar sector and also quoted of solar power in India. He discussed the current some of his experiences as examples. He talked about problems of coal and land acquisition faced by the the first solar power policy framed in 2009 by the power sector. He stressed that renewable energy will Gujarat state government which paved for the concrete play an important role in our energy demand. He felt investments in the sector. He mentioned about his strong concern for the current pace of initiatives to experience of persuading various national and international institutional investors for financing the various solar power projects in the state. He proudly talked about the efforts that have gone in setting up the world class solar park at Charanka. Mr. Pandian highlighted the conducive environment extended by Govt. of Gujarat for Solar A view of the august gathering at Solar Conclave 2012
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achieve the target of 20000 MW solar powers by 2022. He even focused on promoting the roof top installations while highlighting the success of Germany in solar power installations. The Rahul Sankhe talked about Solar Roof tops and its various aspects such as key drivers for rooftop, various business models, innovations and future scenario. He said Feed in Tariffs (FIT) program, grid connect for captive use and battery backed rooftop solar for captive uses are key drivers for a comprehensive Solar Roof Top Program. Transforming a city into a solar city would require good government regulatory framework with attractive private and captive incentives. He emphasized for innovations in the sector for good commercial viability and acceptability of roof tops in India. Mr. Anand Jain, Head, Business Development, Kiran Energy, stressed on the huge power demand by India. He proceeded by doubting the current scenario in solar power which might not displace the conventional sources but can play a vital role in the energy mix of India. He mentioned Indias excellent solar radiation in comparison to other countries on solar belt. He enlightened the audience with the basics of grid parity and diesel parity. He also showcased how rising cost of conventional power generation and decreasing cost of solar power generation may lead to utility level grid parity by year 2016-17. Dr. Omkar Jani, Germi, presented a highly futuristic space solar energy harnessing project. He said that Gujarats wind energy sector witnessed 42% growth rate taking Gujarats contribution to 17% of total Wind Energy contribution in India. Dr Jani emphasized that similar to wind sector solar sector should grow from 18 % to 42 % annually for achieving the targets of 20000 MW by 2020 as per National Solar Mission. He further talked about issues and concerns like land acquiring policy and the necessity to meet the gaps created by land acquiring issues. He suggested at least one solar park per year with a robust Solar Roof Top policy.
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The second Session highlighted Strategic. The session chair Mr. Ranajit Banerjee, Head Consulting, PDPU brought forward the dynamics of fast growing Solar Sector. He talked about the innovations in terms of technology Mr. Anand Jain and financing schemes to build the upsides for attracting Venture Capitalists. He also emphasized on the tariff risks associated and the various financial structures and options available to promote return Mr. R. Banerjee expectations. Other who addressed the session were Mr. Chandan Guha, CEO, Mahindra Solar, Mr. Gaurav Sood, MD, Solaire Direct and Mr. Phuntsok Wangyal, Vice President, SBI CAPS. Mr. Mr. C. Guha Guha provided insights into challenges in generating funds for solar projects. Risks elements of financing, technology, execution and evacuation related to the non-conventional sector were elaborated. He howcased his concerns Mr. Gaurav Sood about regulatory & off-taker risks, credibility of developer, availability of debt at the right cost and competency to execute projects. Mr. Gaurav Sood, Managing Director, Solaire Direct explained that Mr. P. Wangyal the cost of financing is linked with the risk perception of the project and it alone contributes to 50-60% of cost of a kWh. He highlighted imperative risk mitigation on the grounds of bankability of takers, payment security mechanism, timely commissioning guarantee to name a few. Mr. Phuntsok Wangyal, Vice President, SBI CAPS, presented some upfront issues of project financing. He raised his concerns on radiation level issues, technology risks, substantially high tariffs and unbalanced interest rates by lenders. The third Session highlighted REC & Energy Management. Chaired by Mr. Vineeth Vijayaraghavan, Founder, Editor, Panchbuta, the session was open for discussion on REC & Energy Management. Discussing the history of Industrial Revolutions, Mr. A view of the august gathering at Solar Conclave 2012
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Vijayaraghavan emphasized that the third Industrial Revolution could be Renewable Energy Sector. Energy Internet is the new future, he added. This session was also addressed by Mr. Ronnie Khanna Manager, Energy and Resources, Delloite, concentrated on Roadmap, Future & Limitation of REC for India. He provided insights about the basics of REC, its categories and price mechanism and deliberated upon RECs availability in market and the consumer purchase behavior. Mr. Pranav Mehta, Chairman, Solar Energy Association of Gujarat, shared his views on Emerging Solar Markets in India based on REC Mechanism. He opined about REC Mechanism opening doors to all entrepreneurs for green economy and green business. Mr. Abhishek Kaushal, Project Coordinator, Gujarat Solar Park, GPCL, discussed the comparative study of different models of REC. He discussed various business models for Solar Project - dedicated to PPA and Preferential Tariff. He talked about the need for REC Mechanism which is the uneven distribution of it across India. The final Session highlighted emulating the Charanka success and was addressed by Mr. Vivek Amin, Abellon Clean Energy, Mr. S.K. Negi, Managing Director, GETCO, Mr. P.H. Rana, Advisor GPCL and Mr. N. Rangnathan, Director, GERMI. Mr. Amin emphasized on the importance of closing in finance for the solar power plants. The session was also addressed by Mr. S.K. Negi, Managing Director, GETCO discussed the solar power scenario of Gujarat and how it achieved
a good level of 0.76% RPPO. He stressed upon scheduling in solar power sector and the way CERC is addressing the issue using the RRF mechanism. Emphasis was laid on Grid Integration issue like variability in solar power generation, uncertainty related to solar energy, Low PLF, power factor Mr.V.Vijayaraghavan regulation and challenges of harmonics management. He proudly proclaiming that today Charanka being one of the highly searched keyword on Google is not only a state or national level success but an international one. He also said that Charanka is not only about setting up of a Asias largest solar park but Mr. Ronnie Khanna how the overall development of region from a waste land to a big solar park. The project has generated huge employment opportunities in the region. Mr. P.H. Rana, Advisor GPCL, emphasized for green and clean energy generation techniques and said, government embarked a programme to provide Mr. Pranav Mehta all kind of infrastructure facilities to developers right from land, roads, patrolling, storm water drainage, rainwater harvesting, drinking water, fencing, helipad, telecom networks etc. Mr. N. Rangnathan, Director, GERMI, in his talk emphasized on the success story of the Charanka Solar Mr. A. Kaushal Park. He proudly mentioned the commissioning of 200 MW in less than a year. The project he said, overcame several hurdles and was commissioned within the specified time and cost, this was possible because of the efficient leadership and decision making. He stressed that land availability and cost was most Mr. S.K. Negi important issue but the land acquisition was done in 30 days time. He even touched upon the tangible and intangible benefits of the project and mentioned how the project took care of local needs like water, infrastructure, and job security for locals, etc. A video highlighting the success of the project was played Mr. P.H. Rana mentioning the awards won by the project. The event also marked a national-level Paper Presentation Competition as part of Solar Conclave 2012. The outstanding papers were selected for ICORE 2012 organized by Solar Energy Society of India (SESI) in association with Gujarat Energy Research & Management Institute (GERMI) in Mr. N. Rangnathan December 2012. The competition was part of the conclave on topics related to the solar industry. The participants were from various colleges like IIM Shillong, IIFT, Great Lakes IEMR, IITMumbai, BIM Trichy, TISS. Participants of SPM and Wellingkar bagged the first and Curious students of the School of Petroleum Management, PDPU at the Conclave second prize respectively. dewjournal.com
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Environment
Q&A
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Solar Energy
by: S.K. Mathur, former General Manager, ONGC. Presently Director, DEW
Radiation Radio waves Infra-red Visible light Ultra Violet X-rays Gamma rays Use Radio, television, radar Space heating Solar energy Diagnosis and therapy Deep therapy
The Sun is essentially a source of enormous perpetual supply of energy to this planet and will remain so for millions of years. Please discuss. The Sun, which is 150 million kilometres away from the earth, having 1.4 million kilometres of diameter, continuously showers energy upon us in the form of light and heat. The existence of life on this planet cannot be imagined even for a second, without the power from the Sun which belongs to the galaxy of billions of stars. Some stars are much bigger and hotter but they look very little, twinkling in the sky and on the other hand, the Sun appears much bigger and brighter because it is relatively much nearer to us. At one million degree centigrade temperature in the centre of the Sun, nuclear energy is generated with the transmutation of hydrogen to helium, i.e. fusion of atoms of hydrogen to form atoms of helium. The energy produced in the nuclear reaction is emitted as light and heat. But the rate of this nuclear reaction, responsible for the radiation of huge solar energy is incredibly slow. It has been conjectured that only one percent of the hydrogen in the Sun is transformed into helium in a billion years. As the Sun is usually considered two billion years old, it has lost only two percent of its hydrogen during its life time. Nevertheless, it is and will remain a source of huge amount of energy for millions of years in future. The electromagnetic spectrum of the solar radiations is spread from radio frequencies to infra-red to visible light to ultra-violet to x-rays to gamma rays in order of increasing frequency. Please highlight the uses of different portions of the solar radiation. Following are the solar radiation and their uses:
What is the impact of solar energy that impinges on the earth? The hot gases on the surface of the sun, where temperature is about 6000 0 C, release enormous quantities of light and heat. But very little light and heat reach the earth and the rest is lost in space during 8 minutes and 20 seconds that sun rays take to reach the earth. The solar rays fall on the earth at the rate of 1400 watts per square metre, perpendicular to the direction of the incoming light. About 42% of the Suns energy is utilized for heating up the earth, another 22% for evaporation of water of oceans, rivers and lakes, only a small fraction of sunrays less than 0.1% goes into the process of photosynthesis. The balance 36% of solar energy is
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power from solar energy may be comparable with the power produced from conventional thermal power plants. Besides, focussing on development of more efficient solar panels, solar heaters and other equipment, more success can be achieved by ensuring their large scale production. The advantage is that solar panels can be implemented in a modular way. Generally, the life of solar panels is guaranteed by the manufacturing companies for 25 years and good quality solar batteries last for about 8 years. The government of India has provided incentives for encouraging the use of solar power. The Government subsidy is available to the extent of 30% for individual households upto 1 KW and for industries, corporation or associations upto 100 KW. But this subsidy is subject to the approval of the project by the Ministry of Non-Conventional and Renewable Energy. Why is a great emphasis laid on solar energy development in Indias quest for energy security? Solar energy has an important role to play in Indias efforts to move to a low carbon basket in the process of ecological sustainable growth. It will be a major step forward for energy security and also enable India to contribute to the global effort for meeting challenges of the climate challenge. It will also go a long way to make Indias economic development energy efficient and to substitute fossil fuels and non-renewable and depleting sources of energy by renewables. There is an added advantage that the sunshine is a free resource, available everywhere for longer hours and in great intensity. It will therefore be helpful to meet the needs of about 50% of people in our country who are still starved of electricity. It would also partly solve the problem of emission from transmission and distribution and the resulting losses. What is the significance of Solar Mission as envisaged in National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) launched in India?
reflected back into the space. The life on the earth is possible due to solar energy. The water cycle, food cycle and weather cycle are the outcomes of the solar energy penetrations. The fossil fuels like oil, gas and coal are indirect forms of the solar energy. The process of photosynthesis is attributed to the Suns rays. The solar energy can produce not only the power on the earth , but is also a promising source of electricity on space ships. What are the factors which support the actions required for rapid growth of solar energy use in future? The solar energy is spread over the earth and is free of cost. Our country is blessed with abundant sunlight. In a year, it is available for approximately 300 days. The Sun is impinging about 5000 trillion KWH per year of sunshine on Indias land with most parts receiving 4 to 7 KWH per square metre per day. This endowment can be adequately utilized by adopting suitable strategy to generate power of great magnitude. For instance, in the desert area, where abundant sunlight is available, systems of solar panels, photo-voltaic cells, solar water heating systems can be developed with fairly higher rate of return on investment. In north eastern region, installation of solar energy systems will be much more beneficial rather than laying down cables from the far-off power plant or power grid. The solar power has the ability to generate power on a distributed basis, allowing for capacity addition with short lead times. With innovative methods and large scale production, prices of solar panels may fall. During the last four years, it has been observed that prices of solar panels have dropped substantially consequent to introduction of large scale production methods. In the near future, cost of production of
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Environment
NAPCC is a major initiative of the Government of India to promote economically sustainable growth; while addressing Indias energy security challenge and adopting a path to prevent catastrophic climate change. The Solar Mission is a strategic path to actualize this goal. National Action Plan on Climate Change, launched in June, 2008, Prime Minister, Mr. Manmohan Singh declared, Over a period of time, we must pioneer a graduated shift form economic activities based on fossil fuel to one based on non-fossil fuels and from reliance on non-renewable and depleting source of energy to renewable sources of energy. The Sun occupies centre-stage, as it should, being literally the original source of all energy. We will pool our scientific, technical and managerial talents, with sufficient financial resources, to develop solar energy as a source of abundant energy to power our economy and to transform the lives of our people. Our success in this endeavour will change the face of India. It will also enable India to help change the destinies of the people around the world. With lot of advantages and vast solar potential, why has solar energy not become a popular fuel so far? The absolute cost of solar power is high compared to the power based on coal or gas. The main reason is this is high cost of technology which needs to be imported. The cost of solar power per unit is around Rs.10 to Rs.13. The solar power is not popular because of the following reasons: High investment cost of the solar power equipment to be installed. Exorbitant unit cost of solar power vis--vis available electricity from conventional sources. Shortage of space for the installation of solar equipments in populated areas. Initial hitch of the common people to switch over to a new system due to lack of general awareness. Lack of technical advice and equipment. Poor policy enforcement. Lack of funds with developers and distribution companies. What efforts are being made to popularize the use of solar energy? India is going ahead to harness the renewable and opulent solar energy for rapid diffusion across the country. It is environment-friendly as it has zero emissions while generating power, and gives the
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advantage of huge availability on distributed basis. Particularly in rural areas, solar panels for street lightings and solar lanterns etc. which are off-grid decentralized and low temperature applications will be of great use. Photo-voltaic cells, solar panels, solar lanterns, solar water heating systems in urban and rural areas both will be advantageous for increasing energy supply. Among these applications, solar power is space intensive and without effective storage, it has a high degree of variability. Solar Mission aims to enhance energy security with environmental benefits and to create conditions to drive down costs by rapidly increasing the solar power producing capacity with better planning, investments and technological innovations. The solar mission anticipates achieving grid parity by 2022 and parity with coal based thermal power by 2030. This will depend on the scale of deployment of applications, technology development and transfer of technology. Technological innovation through R&D would be the key factor in ensuring the success of the Mission. Efforts are being made to indigenize technology and equipment that will result in bringing down cost of solar power. India is striving to become a leading country in the world for the production and utilization of the solar energy by creating appropriate policy conditions. The Solar Mission will facilitate creating conducive environment for the fast penetration of solar energy both at the centralized and decentralized level. At the end of the 12th Plan (2012-2013) and the 13th Plan (2017-2022), there will be appraisals of the progress and review of capacity additions and utilization and targets for subsequent phases based on emerging cost trends and technology in developments at the national and international levels. There will also be mid-term appraisals of the Fiver Year Plans. Ist Phase (upto 2013) During this period, focus will be made on adopting quick and easy options in solar thermal power by promoting off-grid systems to serve populations who have no access to commercial energy and by modest capacity addition to grid based system. IInd Phase (2013 onwards) After taking into account the experience of initial years, efforts will be intensified to upgrade capacity and create conditions for upscaled and competitive solar energy penetration in the country. dewjournal.com
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DEW Journal November 2012

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DEW Journal November 2012

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dewjournal.

November 2012 DEW JOURNAL

Volume 22, No. 01

30 Sercel launches the next-generation

35 Intuition counts in successful exploration