A Review of Engineering and Safety Considerations for Hybrid-Power (Lithium-Ion) Systems in Offshore Applications

Abstract

Summary From prior experience in the automotive sector, and now the maritime sector, hybridization of power systems is known to increase energy efficiency and reduce emissions, with lower fuel consumption. With impending emissions-control areas in the US continental shelf, and nitrogen oxide enforcement mechanisms in the North Sea, emissions reduction in oil and gas exploration-and-production operations is increasingly relevant. Hybrid-power systems can address some of these issues with batteries to offset peak loads, thereby reducing size requirements for the total system. The challenge that the oil and gas industry faces is to decide when and where hybrid-power systems provide the most value for operations, how they should be implemented, what technologies are acceptable, what safety considerations there may be, and how these technologies can improve the bottom line. There is a wealth of information on lithium-ion batteries, though it is not all consistent--cost data are unclear, lifetime and energy density considerations vary under different conditions, and ruggedness and application to harsh environments constitute a large uncertainty. A review of these technologies is provided to serve as a selection guide.