Research and Innovation for the Oil and Gas Industry

www.sintef.no/oilandgas

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Exploration technologyExploration depends on highly sophisticated technology to detect and determine the extent of hydrocarbon deposits in the subsurface.

Geophysical methods include gravity, magnetic, passive seismic and regional seismic reflection surveys to detect large-scale features in the subsurface. Features of interest are subjected to more detailed seismic studies to create profiles of the substructure.

SINTEF is developing new methods for processing geophysical data in isotropic and anisotropic media. Our main goal is to lower the risk of prospecting and to optimise field development and exploitation.

Basin modelling, or petroleum systems modelling, is an additional component of exploration risk assessment. It is applicable during all stages of exploration, from frontier basins with no well control to well-explored areas.

SINTEF develops and applies methods and software for predicting hydrocarbon phases and volumes prior to drilling, including all of the key elements of geological risk in exploration. We cover the entire petroleum system from source rock deposition and hydrocarbon generation to expulsion, migration and accumulation in the trap.

Contact: Research Director Ute Mann, Ute.Mann@sintef.no

Business value SINTEF has been a major contributor to the development of technology focusing on minimising the industry’s environmental footprint.

A few examples are: Concrete technology which enabled construction of the giant gravity-based platforms at the Statfjord and Troll fields.

Multiphase flow technology enabling development of tie-in solutions of fragmented resources and drilling technology.

Technology for advanced operations enabling subsea development in deep waters.

Development of knowledge and technology to handle oil spills in open sea and ice-covered environments, new and improved risk management methodology.

All of which has resulted in a Norwegian offshore oil and gas industry whose impact on water and the air is among the smallest in the world.

The combined strategy for development of the Norwegian resources has become a success both industrially and for society.

SINTEF is now developing technologies even further. Examples of current focus areas are remote power supply to offshore installations and subsea transportation of well streams over very long distances without the use of chemicals.

Flow assuranceSINTEF’s multi-technology basis has made flow assurance a key subject in many technological areas. Together with our industry partners we develop break-through technology solutions for the production and processing industries, including the oil production, metallurgical, hydrocarbon processing, chemical and petrochemical industries. Data from more than 14,000 high-quality multiphase flow experiments are acquired at the SINTEF flow loops. Our large-scale flow facility has been of crucial importance as an experimental basis for our widely recognised expertise in the field of subsea multiphase flow assurance.

Some research areas:

• Industrial scale multiphase flow experiments and studies at pressures as high as 1000 bar

• Advanced multiphase flow simulator development

• Gas hydrate management in pipelines and processes

• New subsea flow concepts

• Wax technology

• Direct elctrical heating of pipelines (DEH)

• Oil-water chemistry

• Separation technologies

• Coating technology

Contacts: Multiphase flow experiments and flow assurance Research Director Jon Harald Kaspersen, Jon.H.Kaspersen@sintef.noDirect elctrical heating of pipelines Research Scientist Harald Kulbotten, Harald.Kulbotten@sintef.noMultiphase flow simulation Research Director Ole Wærnes, Ole.Warnes@sintef.no

Drilling and wellsOur drilling activities are focused on the next-generation software for assistance during drilling. We have a holistic and integrated approach through our eDrilling solution, focusing on better decision support through the use of advanced mathematical models combined with modern visualisation technologies.

The new technology will be made available in the marketplace through the new company eDrilling Solutions AS.

• eDrilling and eControl - real-time drilling decision support and control

• Dynamic well control simulations - compositional PVT

• Pore pressure and well bore stability analysis

• Wellbore positioning

• Well integrity

• Scale and sand production

Contact: Research Manager, Thor Ole Gulsrud, Thor.O.Gulsrud@sintef.no

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Risers and pipelines We are developing advanced numerical and experimental methods for structural analysis and integrity assessment of risers, umbilicals, power cables and pipelines. Our technology is based on a combination of theoretical knowledge, extensive use of laboratory facilities and cross-disciplinary engineering expertise.

Areas of expertise include:

• Static and dynamic analysis of risers including VIV and fatigue assessment of complex cross sections

• Static and dynamic analysis of pipelines; simulation of pipe laying, free span assessment, upheaval buckling and snaking, trawl board impact, on-bottom stability and fracture integrity assessment

• Full scale and component qualification testing for fatigue, fracture and corrosion

• Materials, coatings, and joining/welding technologies

Contact: Research Director Egil Giertsen, Egil.Giertsen@marintek.sintef.no

Subsea power supplySubsea production, processing and transport of oil and gas requires reliable power supply.

In co-operation with oil companies and vendors we are closing the technology gaps related to deep and ultra-deep waters, higher power requirements and longer step-outs.

SINTEF possesses extensive facilities for combined high voltage and high pressure testing of equipment and materials.

Some research areas:

• Subsea and offshore power grid

• Pressure tolerant power electronics

• Power system simulation methods and calculation tools

• Ageing and failure mechanisms for subsea electrical insulation materials and systems

• New or improved liquid and solid state insulating materials

• Electrical heating of pipelines

• Test and qualification methods for subsea high voltage equipment

Contact: Research Director Petter Røkke, Petter.Rokke@sintef.no

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Integrated operations SINTEF is a leading provider of philosophies, strategies and methods for Integrated Operations (IO) in the petroleum industry. The IO concept aims to optimise development and operation in both new and existing fields whilst the availability of experienced competent personnel is at a premium and their safety remains paramount. Increased value is achieved by facilitating better and faster decisions through collaboration and information sharing, fully addressing the potential and requirements of the people, technology and organisations involved.

Within the operations and maintenance sphere, we offer expertise in:

• IO compliance, work processes, systems and philosophies

• Condition-based predictive maintenance

• Integrated planning and logistics

• Advanced drilling simulation and diagnostics

In a broader context, we are working with our partners in the Center for Integrated Operations in the Petroleum Industry to maximise integration along the value chain through reservoir, well engineering, subsea and surface facilities in order to optimise production and overall recovery.

Contact: Research Manager Anders Valland, Anders.Valland@marintek.sintef.no

Marine environmental technology SINTEF offers services based on our experience in modelling, testing of oils in our laboratories and large scale facilities, and from numerous real-time oil spill studies and analyses. We serve the industry and authorities in a wide range of environmental fields of applied research, technology development and technical services and support.

Core areas of research:

• Oil weathering studies

• Oil spill identification/fingerprinting

• Analysis and classification of oil pollution

• Environmental monitoring

• Response technologies

Contact: Research Director, Tore Aunaas, Tore.Aunaas@sintef.no

Marine operationsFor more than 30 years we have studied, tested and validated different types of marine operations. We have been working with all types of marine operations involving offshore vessels, fixed and floating structures worldwide.

• Feasibility studies of vessels and structures

• Validation studies for field-specific solutions

• Motions characteristics of floaters/vessels

• Pipeline installation

• Lift operations

• Ship-to-ship cargo transfer operations

Contact: Research Director Ole D. Økland, Ole.Okland@marintek.sintef.no

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Gas technology Environmentally friendly utilisation of natural gas and coal is becoming increasingly important.

SINTEF focuses on gas resources and covers field development, transport and processing required for commercial products. We have more than 30 years of experience gained through co-operation with the industry in the exploration and production of hydrocarbons in the North Sea and elsewhere.

• Value chain analysis including transport infrastructure and techno-economic optimisation

• Gas liquefaction and distribution (LNG, LCO2 , LH

2)

• Natural gas separation and processing and conversion to products

• Use of natural gas in advanced metallurgical processes

• Gas engines and turbines, combustion modelling and experimental facilities

• Hydrogen production, storage, liquefaction, and combustion and fuel cell applications

Contacts: Gas liquefaction and distributionResearch Director Mona J. Mølnvik, Mona.J.Molnvik@sintef.no

Natural gas separation, processing and use Research Director Ole WærnesOle.Warnes@sintef.no

Gas Technology Centre NTNU-SINTEFVice President Gas Technology Maria Barrio, Maria.Barrio@sintef.no

Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) CO

2 capture and storage provides a bridge to a sustainable energy

system by minimising emissions of CO2 from the fossil fuels that are

still needed in our present energy system. SINTEF is recognised as a key European player in the carbon capture and storage (CCS) research arena.

CO2 capture: environmentally

friendly absorbent systems, degradation persistent sorbent systems, industrial-scale membranes and combustion technologies.

Transport: safe and cost-effective solutions, thermodynamics, multiphase flow of mixtures of CO

2, fracture

propagation in pipelines and verified calculation tools.

Geological storage: qualification of storage sites, capacity estimation, interaction between reservoir and cap-rock, monitoring methods and requirements for CO

2-safe well

design.

CO2 value chain: analysis of potential and viability, capacity and time

window matching, infra-structure and logistics, macro and business economics and legal issues.

Contact: Vice President Climate Change Technologies SINTEF Nils A. Røkke, Nils.A.Rokke@sintef.no

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Large scale validation laboratories In the development of the Norwegian Continental Shelf, challenging and harsh conditions have placed tough requirements on the various concepts; gravity based offshore structures, floating production units and complete subsea and subsea-to-shore solutions.

In order to develop and qualify these solutions, basic knowledge of hydrodynamics, flow technology, materials and structural integrity has been combined. An important factor has been the ability to test and verify the future solutions in modern laboratories.

SINTEF runs some of the world’s leading laboratory facilities in the fields of:

• Multiphase flow

• Ocean basin and towing tank technology

• Materials and structural testing and qualification

• Oil spill laboratory (Sealab)

• Subsea power supply

• Carbon Capture and Sequestration (CCS)

• Smartgrids

We have combined our laboratory experience with the development of associated numerical tools and software. Many of these are in daily use around the world at the operators’ and supply industries’ workbenches.

Contacts:

Multiphase flow laboratory Research Director Jon Harald Kaspersen, Jon.H.Kaspersen@sintef.no

Maritime laboratories Research Director Ole D. Økland, Ole.Okland@marintek.sintef.no

Materials laboratory, Oil spill laboratory Vice President Research Jack Ødegård, Jack.Odegard@sintef.no

Subsea power laboratoryResearch Director Petter Røkke, Petter.Rokke@sintef.no

Smartgrids laboratoryResearch Director Knut Samdal, Knut.Samdal@sintef.no

CCS laboratoryVice President Climate Change Technologies SINTEF Nils A. Røkke, Nils.A.Rokke@sintef.no Research Manager Aslak Einbu, Aslak.Einbu@sintef.no

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Technology for a better society

Facts about SINTEF SINTEF is the largest independent research institution in Scandinavia. We have 2,100 employees from more than 60 countries, with international top-level expertise in science and technology, medicine and the social sciences. SINTEF is an independent, non-profit organisation that re-invests its earnings in new research, scientific equipment and expertise.

SINTEF creates value through knowledge generation, research and innovation, and develops solutions that are adopted by industry and society.

We support ongoing development of some 2,000 Norwegian and international companies via our research and development activities.

The SINTEF Group comprises the SINTEF foundation and the four limited companies MARINTEK, SINTEF Energy Research, SINTEF Petroleum Research and SINTEF Fishieries and Aquaculture.

SINTEF works in close partnership with leading universities, other research institutes and industry.

SINTEF, Trondheim, Norway Phone: + 47 73 59 30 00 • Fax: + 47 73 59 33 50 • www.sintef.com

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