Goliat field support vessel completes first stage of hybrid power conversion

Vår Energi and Simon Møkster Shipping have completed the first phase of hybrid power conversion of the Stril Barents vessel, currently working as a supply vessel on the Goliat field in the Barents Sea offshore Norway.

Vår Energi was formed late last year through a merger between Eni’s Norwegian subsidiary, Eni Norge, and Point Resources.

Vår Energi and Simon Møkster in late 2018 reached an agreement to ensure reductions in fuel consumption of the Stril Barents vessel. The upgrade involves the installation of shore power connection, combined with a new battery solution for energy storage on board.

It is worth noting that the Stril Barents is already dubbed one of the most environmentally friendly vessels within the offshore sector with natural gas (LNG) as fuel.

Var Energy said on Friday that the first phase of the project was completed. Namely, the shore power connection has been tested and is now operational.

The company added that this allowed the Stril Barents to be connected to shore power, reducing fuel consumption and CO2 emissions while docked at the supply base Polarbase in Hammerfest. The solution also contributes to lower noise pollution.

According to the project schedule, the system for charging the ship’s battery pack will be completed during the summer of 2019.

This will reduce fuel consumption during transit and field operations. Var stated that the aim was to reduce the annual CO2 emissions from Stril Barents by 1,400 tonnes, as well as 12 tonnes of NOx when the system is completed.

As for Goliat, it is an oil field in the Barents Sea, around 85 kilometers northwest of Hammerfest. The field has been developed using a cylindrical FPSO. The wells are drilled from subsea templates which are tied back to the FPSO. Production at the field began in March 2016.

The field is partly electrified through one of the world’s longest subsea electric cables of its kind and places the field amongst the lowest CO2 emitters on the shelf. In 2018, the average CO2 emission from Goliat was about 2 kilograms per barrel of oil produced. The average for the Norwegian shelf, according to the latest figures, is about 8-9 kilograms per barrel produced.