The Challenge of Power on Oil Platforms
How do you supply power to a small city in the middle of the sea, where hundreds of people live and work, and an industry operates that produces the equivalent of millions of dollars in oil and gas daily? This is the question on the minds of all companies providing temporary power to oil platforms. Supplying stable and reliable temporary power to industries and ventures on land is already challenging. This challenge is multiplied when it comes to oil platforms. These platforms operate like cities hundreds of kilometers from the mainland and do not receive any power from the continent. On oil platforms, all power is generated by the platform itself or, in some cases, by neighboring platforms that transfer excess power. Discover how an oil platform operates and the importance of effective logistics in supplying temporary power to these cities.
Artificial Island: Energy Consumption on Platforms
An oil platform is a blend of industry and city at sea. As such, it requires power to maintain its production 24/7. And it’s not a small amount of power. The 32 oil platforms operating in the Campos Basin, for example, consume 400 megawatts of power, enough to supply the cities of Recife and Aracaju combined. While many cities in the Northeast are powered, for example, by the Paulo Afonso hydroelectric plant, oil platforms need to be independent of external power. Part of the power required for these ‘islands’ is provided by power generators.
Logistical Challenges in Power Supply
Although the temporary power rental market for oil platforms can meet any supply need, generating power on an oil platform brings additional difficulties. The main one is logistics. To meet the enormous demand, powerful generators are needed, which can weigh dozens of tons. The problem lies in transporting these generators. How do you transfer such heavy equipment from a vessel to the platform? The loading and unloading of equipment is done via crane, but it has limitations. Platform cranes typically have an 18-ton limit for movement. This means that if the generators exceed this weight, they must first be disassembled, partially transported, and reassembled on the platform. This entire process takes time and money, causing losses to the oil industries.
Specialization and Technology in the Sector
Tecnogera provides its oil industry clients with diesel power generators weighing up to 14 tons, ideal for being moved by platform cranes. Additionally, the company has a specific department dedicated to the oil and gas sector and specialized labor in the segment. This has enabled the development of equipment that is entirely different from the rest of the market and compatible with what the sector needs. The generators supplied by Tecnogera for offshore platforms have a configuration specifically designed for work in these environments. They feature alternators (which offer a higher level of protection to the generator), special paint that eliminates any chance of rust, and a system that detects and combats fires.
Technical Requirements and Domestic Content
Supplying temporary power to the oil and gas sector involves more than just technical requirements. In addition to needing robust equipment capable of operating under the harsh conditions of offshore operations and providing stable power for a wide range of equipment, it is also necessary to consider the appreciation of domestic manufacturers. This is a common practice worldwide, and Brazil is no different. Petrobras gives preference to suppliers with domestic content in their products, meaning the more ‘made in Brazil’ parts an equipment has, the better. In this regard, Tecnogera also stands out, as its generators have nearly 90% of parts manufactured in Brazil.
Maintenance and Operation
Other factors that should be considered when choosing generator sets are the size of the equipment, ease of maintenance, reliability, and availability of spare parts. Ideally, generator sets should be able to operate without complete maintenance for long periods, so their transfer to the mainland occurs as rarely as possible.
Commissioning and Load Tests
The selection, transport, and movement of generators are only the initial phases for supplying temporary power to oil platforms. When the generator sets are ready to operate, a commissioning test on the system is necessary. The test involves operating all generator sets at full load, in resistive and reactive load banks. Thus, with so many variables to manage, it is ideal for oil companies to prefer hiring companies that offer complete solutions. Tecnogera provides both generator sets and chillers and load banks, so the entire operation can be concentrated in a single team, facilitating work and communication between the client and the supplier. The commissioning of the platform’s electrical system is essential as it allows for the detection of potential power generation issues – especially on platforms that have not yet started operations or are returning to activities after some downtime.
Contingency and Emergency Plans
With everything ready and the platform operating at full capacity, it’s time to plan for unforeseen events. With an area entirely dedicated to the oil and gas segment, Tecnogera always has a contingency plan in case the platform needs to increase or decrease its power consumption. The company also considers the possibility of emergencies such as platform power outages or storm threats, ensuring that its generators will act to prevent production stoppages. As you can see, providing temporary power to oil platforms is quite a challenging task. In Brazil, Tecnogera stands out for its high degree of specialization. Want to know more? Contact a specialist.
