- The North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA) emphasizes the North Sea’s pivotal role in adopting new technologies to enhance energy security, promote decarbonization, and facilitate the transition to low-carbon energy sources.
- The NSTA’s 2023 Technology Insights reveal a significant increase in reported technologies, with 1,200 new innovations documented compared to 1,080 in 2022 and 880 in 2021.
- Survey findings from 55 operators indicate a surge in innovations related to net zero and digital technologies, with notable increases in both categories over the past two years.
- Operators have invested substantial amounts in technology procurement and research and development, with spending on well drilling, construction, installations, and research showing notable rises compared to previous years.
- Operators prioritize emission reduction and low-carbon power technologies to support the net-zero agenda, implementing innovative solutions to address challenging environmental issues.
Surge In Offshore Innovations And Investment Trends
The UK regulator’s 2023 Technology Insights have revealed that 1,200 new technologies, including aerial drones and self-driving subsea vehicles, were reported in the last survey, compared to 1,080 in 2022 and 880 in 2021.
With 55 operators contributing to the NSTA survey, the findings show that innovations in the fields of net zero and digital technologies have risen. While the former jumped from 61 recorded in 2021 to 130 in 2023; the latter grew from 190 to 381 in the same two-year period.
The largest sum of the overall spending was allocated on well drilling, construction, and installations. Operators spent £200 million (approximately $250 million) buying technology from suppliers, and £60 million (approximately $75 million) for research and development.
Rising Investment Trends And Innovations
Both figures indicate a rise compared to the previous year, when £156 million (approximately $210 million) and £49 million (approximately $62 million) were invested, respectively. The growing adoption of low-carbon power as well as energy efficiency technologies reduces carbon emissions.
The NSTA highlights the deployment of monitoring equipment by aerial drones and autonomous underwater vehicles as the largest place for innovation. Also, there has been significant growth in the areas of installations and topsides, as well as reservoir and well management.
According to NSTA, operators support net zero by focusing on emission reduction and low-carbon power technologies. A specific example would be Forward-Looking IfraRed cameras for methane emission measurement, a flare gas recovery technology to reduce hydrocarbon waste, to support offshore asset interactions.
North Sea’s Opportunities And Challenges
“The North Sea is full of opportunities related to hydrocarbons and net zero, but at the same time can be a difficult place to work. Operators must focus on finding solutions to many challenging problems. Their innovative approach is clear in the continuing development and use of the new technologies highlighted in this report,” said Ernie Lamza, NSTA Technology Manager.
“World-leading technologies, skills and experience boost production and support the energy transition, placing UKCS workers and companies in a great position to secure work and deliver products and services in the UK and other producing regions around the world.”
As part of the NSTA’s duties is to monitor the companies’ compliance with regulatory requirements and issue a fine for identified breaches and failures, the UK regulator hit Repsol North Sea Limited with the highest fine issued to date on the UK Continental Shelf (UKCS) for emitting greenhouse gases from three fields into the atmosphere without permission.
Did you subscribe to our daily Newsletter?
It’s Free! Click here to Subscribe
Source: offshore-energy
Somebody essentially help to make significantly articles Id state This is the first time I frequented your web page and up to now I surprised with the research you made to make this actual post incredible Fantastic job