O/G Decarb

Challenge

Much energy is required to extract oil and gas from underground. As a result, the oil and gas industry wishes to reduce energy consumption offshore, thereby reducing its CO2 footprint from production.

Solution idea

In recent years, offshore wind has developed very positively: prices have fallen, and it is now possible to produce wind energy at great depths and in harsh environments, such as by using floating foundations for offshore wind turbines.

In the O/G Decarb project, a number of project partners will be investigating whether it is possible to electrify oil and gas production by integrating renewable energy from waves, wind, and hydrogen from liquid energy plants.

O/G Decarb focuses on three concepts and business cases for the integration of renewable energy in Danish oil and gas production:

1. Supplying oil and gas production with renewable energy.
2. Making the energy supply for oil and gas production fossil-free in the long term.
3. Supplying 5–15% hydrogen from renewable energy to natural gas operations, thereby reducing the CO2 footprint from Danish North Sea production.

Project deliverables

A full-scale solution for renewable energy supply to O/G production platforms, involving floating wind and hydroelectric power. In addition, the project will identify a solution for hydrogen production on production platforms.

Problem owners

• TotalEnergies Danmark A/S

Problem solvers

• Floating Power Plant A/S 
• Hydrogen Valley
• Dansk Gasteknisk Center
• TechnipFMC
• DHRTC
• DTU Vind

Quotes from project participants

Ole Hansen, Head of Development, Business & JV Management at Total E&P Denmark

”This is an exciting and innovative project that Total supports because it has the potential to solve one of the challenges of electrifying production platforms, with offshore wind produced near the platform. By investigating how wave and wind energy can be converted to hydrogen, this study may help to create a reliable green energy supply for these platforms, which can be used on days without wind.”

Anders Køhler, CEO of Floating Power Plant

”It is not profitable to establish traditional offshore wind at the depths where offshore production is typically located, but floating offshore wind has potential. We are grateful that Total and the Regional Fund share our vision to explore this new market.”

Morten Willaing Jeppesen, CEO at DHRTC

”DHRTC sees this project as an obvious opportunity to investigate the potential for significantly reducing CO2 emissions from offshore oil and gas production. It provides an opportunity to identify technological gaps that we need to uncover on the journey towards a different energy supply with a greater proportion of renewable energy.”

Søren Bjerregaard Pedersen, CEO of Hydrogen Valley

“Hydrogen Valley has been a pioneer in the development of Power-to-X in Denmark and Europe. With this project, we are taking another step towards a greener future. The potential of storing energy through a combination of electrolysis and liquid wind and wave energy brings unprecedented green opportunities to new sectors.”

Thea Larsen, CEO of DGC

”Power-to-gas is expected to be one of the key elements in the energy system of the future. The innovative FPP concept is an interesting catalyst for offshore hydrogen production utilising the existing gas infrastructure. We look forward to investigating it further.”

Uwe Schmidt Paulsen, Senior Researcher at DTU Wind Energy

”FPP’s concept of combining a MW wind turbine with MW wave power is interesting for us to model. Additionally, this is a case where energy supplied from the oil and gas sector becomes greener, and wind turbine technology can be seen from a new perspective.”

Jørn Kristian Lindtvedt, Business Manager at TechnipFMC

”TechnipFMC sees renewable energy sources in combination with green hydrogen production as a key element of future energy systems. We are pleased to be able to contribute capabilities spanning offshore energy and green hydrogen technology to decarbonise the Danish oil and gas sector.”

Glenda Napier, CEO of Energy Cluster Denmark

“If we can reduce the climate footprint from energy-intensive oil and gas production, and at the same time integrate a larger share of hydrogen in the natural gas produced, then we will be closer to climate-neutral energy production at sea. That is why this new innovation project is relevant for Denmark.”

Project video

Press clip about O/G Decarb

• Offshore Wind Scotland: DeepWind members Total and Floating Power Plant collaborate to bring floating wind and hydrogen to decarbonise oil and gas production
• Vindenergi.dtu.dk: New innovation project will reduce CO2 emissions from offshore oil and gas production
• Offshorewind.biz: Total to Examine if O&G Platforms Can Run on Floating Wind and Wave Combo
• 4C Offshore: Total joins wind and wave project aimed to reduce O&G emissions
• EnergiWatch: Total vil blande grøn brint i sin danske gas
• Energy-Supply: Dansk bølgeenergi, brint og vind skal gøre olieproduktionen grønnere
• News.dk Dansk bølgenergi, brint og vind skal gøre olie-produktionen grønnere
• Maritime Danmark: Offshore industrien skal udlede mindre CO2
• Fisker Bladet: Offshore industrien skal udlede mindre CO2
• Dansk Gas Forening: Energi fra brint, vind og bølger skal gøre gas- og olieproduktionen grønnere
• DKHavenergi: Flydende vindmøller spiller nøglerolle i Total-projekt
• Transporttidende: Nyt projekt om lagring af energi