Neptune developing digital twins for two more North Sea platforms

UK-based 3D technology specialist Eserv will boost Neptune Energy’s portfolio of digitised assets to 14 by creating digital twins of two offshore platforms in the Dutch sector of the North Sea, enabling teams to carry out important work from onshore.

Previously, Neptune created digital versions of 12 platforms in the Dutch and UK sectors, including the digitisation of five operated offshore platforms in the Dutch, Norwegian, and the UK North Sea, which was revealed in June 2021.

While announcing an agreement with Eserv to digitise the D15-A and K12-C platforms, Neptune Energy explained on Thursday, 6 April 2023, that digital twins would enable engineers to carry out traditional offshore work from an onshore location, accelerating work schedules and reducing costs.

Stephane Lacote, Neptune Energy’s Director of Operations in the Netherlands, remarked: “The use of 3D technologies such as digital twins has provided significant benefits including reducing operational costs by enabling traditional offshore activities to be completed quickly and efficiently, without travelling offshore. Our engineering teams can now virtually visit platforms to support the safe running of operations from anywhere on the planet.”

Therefore, instead of flying to the offshore platforms to perform routine inspection and planning activities, Neptune teams can visit the assets virtually. The company underscores that thousands of hours of work have been completed from office-based locations in this way since the twins were introduced.

Furthermore, Neptune emphasises that digitising operational assets to improve safety and productivity and to reduce environmental impacts supports its aims to enhance asset integrity and to provide employees with technologies that support collaboration with colleagues globally.

Regarding Neptune’s recent activities, the firm joined forces with Norway’s CapeOmega to announce a project concept for a cross-border CO₂ transport and storage development for industrial emitters across Europe.

The project, called NoordKaap, would involve transporting CO₂ via vessels suitable for directly injecting the CO₂ at offshore locations and for terminal offloading.