OTC-25704-MS

Electrical Power Transmission to Offshore Facilities: A Case Study

S. J. Bari, Saudi Aramco

Copyright 2015, Offshore Technology Conference

This paper was prepared for presentation at the Offshore Technology Conference held in Houston, Texas, USA, 4 –7 May 2015.

This paper was selected for presentation by an OTC program committee following review of information contained in an abstract submitted by the author(s). Contents
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Abstract
As the world continues its search for energy, many new advanced technologies are being developed. As
a result, there is a surge in the amount of electrical power demanded for operations in the oil and gas
industry. Satisfying the power demanded by loads in offshore remote locations is an elaborate process.
The technical and economic aspects of the alternatives of HVAC and HVDC power transmission have to
be scrutinized, before the complex operation of implementing an offshore power supply infrastructure can
be executed. After carefully identifying the requirements of a case, the optimum power supply network
through appropriate submarine cables can be determined.

Introduction
With the continuous development of technologies used to discover and recover fossil fuels, there has come
a spike in the demand for electrical power. Due to the nature of business in the oil and gas industry, much
of the equipment requiring electrical power is deployed in remote locations. Perhaps the remotest of all
locations is offshore. With various technologies offering solutions to supply electrical power to such
remote sites, the industry is left with a dilemma.
Today’s power generators located on offshore platforms are capable of satisfying just a fraction of the
required electrical power. As a result, the option of utilizing additional generators is not economically
feasible. Restricted space on offshore platforms, coupled with the logistical difficulty of supplying the
appropriate fuel from shore for the generators, make it an illogical solution to power these scattered
offshore loads. Therefore, generating power onshore, and transmitting it to these offshore loads through
submarine cables, needs to be analyzed.
Determining whether these loads are supplied through high voltage alternating current (HVAC) or high
voltage direct current (HVDC) power transmission requires careful consideration. Factors such as the
power requirement, the distance of the loads from shore, the operation and maintenance of a given power
system, reliability of equipment, availability of power, and the economics of the alternatives, each play
a key role in selecting the optimum investment strategy. As these enormous investments carry great
economic risk, it is crucial to comprehensively study the different power supply solutions to meet
operational requirements in the most optimal manner.
This paper offers an industry application for the task of supplying electrical power to remote locations.
The paper includes a technical and economic evaluation of the HVAC and HVDC power transmission
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technologies and analyzes the optimum investment strategy of supplying power to remote offshore loads
of the oil and gas industry. The various aspects requiring consideration are applied to the case study.
Additionally, the complex operation of implementing the appropriate power supply infrastructure is also
discussed.
The Case Study
Considered the world’s largest offshore oil field, the Safaniya oil field measures over 50 by 15 kilometers
in area. The Safaniya oil field produces over 1.3 million barrels of oil per day. Consequently, the area
attracts much activity from the oil and gas industry. To increase the flow of liquids to the surface of the
production wells in the Safaniya oil field, or to provide artificial lift, requires implementation of electrical
submersible pumps (ESPs). ESPs are very versatile and capable of handling a wide range of flow rates.
The pump shaft is home to several impellers, and is connected to a long electric motor. Spinning of the
pump shaft puts pressure on the surrounding fluids in the well. Through a decrease in pressure at the
bottom of the well, a significantly higher flow of fluid to the surface of the well is achieved compared to
the naturally occurring flow rate. Figure 1 shows the location and distances of the forecasted loads at the
Safaniya oil field.

Figure 1—Safaniya oil field forecasted load location and distances.

Determining the Power Requirement Much of the company’s offshore electrical loads is currently
satisfied through onsite power generation. Power is then transmitted through HVAC submarine cables
among the offshore facilities. Due to the deployment of ESPs in the Safaniya oil field, a large amount of
electrical power is needed. As a result of these high consumption loads, gone are the days of powering
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these facilities through renewable energy. Due to the commissioning of ESPs, a power supply infrastruc-
ture capable of supporting the additional electrical power requirement of Safaniya oil field needs to be
commissioned. Over 700 ESPs are expected to be installed in the Safaniya oil field, which demands an
appropriate and reliable power source. The total forecasted load for Safaniya oil field is 237 MW, as
indicated in Table 1 [1].

Table 1—Safaniya’s Load Forecast and Distances

Safaniya Oil Field Load Forecast (MW) Distance From Shore (km)

North 152 54
Central 49 44
South 36 24

Power Transmission Analysis

Electrical power transmission systems were developed more than a century ago. Such transmission
systems still continue to advance and progress to this day. After a careful analysis of the forecasted loads
of the Safaniya oil field, the feasibility and economics of the two alternatives, namely HVAC and HVDC,
can be assessed. Once the method of obtaining power onshore is established, the task is then to transfer
the power offshore.
Offshore electrical power transmission is done through the utilization of submarine power cables.
Eventually, different electrical power supply projects will have their own justifications for choosing the
transmission method and technology that conforms to their power system planning standards. Technical
characteristics and the economic aspects that play a key role in selecting the optimum investment strategy
need to be analyzed.
Technical Comparison of HVAC vs. HVDC Both HVAC and HVDC power transmission technologies
have been in use for a long time. While evaluating the power transmission option to be implemented for
a certain situation, there are some general technical characteristics that need to be considered, as shown
in Table 2. In a HVDC power transmission system, tapping of power from any point is very difficult and
very expensive. HVDC power transmission does offer flexibility on the operating frequency of the power
network, which is not possible for the HVAC system. An important feature in HVDC transmission is that
a voltage source converter based HVDC power system has the ability to rapidly control the flow of
transmitted active power, while also being able to independently exchange reactive power with trans-
mission systems [2]. The design of HVDC cables is also simpler than the design of HVAC cables. The
need for three phases in HVAC transmission increases the number of cables required, resulting in a more
voluminous cable [3]. Therefore, HVAC power cables have a higher environmental impact compared to
their HVDC counterpart. The performance of HVAC offshore power transmission systems is also more
established than the HVDC system, which is still developing.
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Table 2—General Comparison of Technical Characteristics of HVAC vs. HVDC

Technical Characteristics HVAC HVDC

Tapping of Power Easy Difficult

Frequency Control Unavailable Available
Reactive Power Control Unavailable Available
Power Flow Control Difficult Easy
Cable Design More Complex Less Complex
Power Transmission Distance Less More
Power Transmission Capability Lower Higher
Cable Losses Higher Lower
Transmission Losses Lower Higher
Offshore Performance Established Developing

The distance over which power needs to be transmitted is a critical factor in determining an appropriate
power supply system for any given case. For greater distances of several hundred kilometers, an HVDC
system will have a higher power transmission capability and lower transmission and cable losses.
Economics of HVAC and HVDC HVAC is the conventional method of transmitting electrical energy
and has low power loss over short distances. For transmitting power to offshore facilities through
submarine cables, the option has to be carefully studied as it becomes a challenge due to the increased
charging current caused by the extended length of the power cables at high voltage levels. On the other
hand, most of HVDC losses are incurred due to the use of power electronics. Terminal and conversion
stations contribute considerably in increasing the investment cost for HVDC projects. The availability of
the HVDC power supply system is an area of major concern while considering the operation of such
power systems. This is due to the frequently required and scheduled maintenance activities that need to
be performed. Additionally, the scarcity of spares for the HVDC power system components and
subsystems in the event equipment failure contribute to increased costs.
Variations in critical factors such as the power transmission distance and transmission voltage levels
have a strong impact in the selection of any power supply system. Higher DC terminal costs can be
attributed to the converters and advanced power electronics, which are not required in HVAC power
supply systems. The critical distance between both HVAC and HVDC systems, as demonstrated in Figure
2, is generally considered to be between 60 km to 80 km for submarine cables. The best practice within
the industry is to implement HVAC power systems for distances up to 80 km, and transmission capacities
up to 1000 MW. For longer distances, an HVAC submarine transmission system is not economically or
technically feasible [3]. This is because a massive amount of cable capacitance will result in a large
quantity of reactive power flow for lengths of HVAC cable exceeding the critical distance. Reactive power
has a strong effect on system voltages, and it must be balanced in the grid to prevent voltage problems.
The voltage needs to be within the desired tolerance in order to push the power demanded by loads
through submarine cables. For higher power capacities and longer distances, the lower cost of the HVDC
electrical conductors outweighs the cost of the electronics, and it becomes the more efficient solution.
OTC-25704-MS 5

Figure 2—HVAC vs. HVDC cost [4].

Safaniya Power System Selection Both alternatives, HVAC and HVDC, are technically capable of
supplying power to Safaniya. An engineering study has been conducted by the company through a
consultant to evaluate the best alternative for transmitting power. The study states that both alternatives,
HVAC and HVDC with voltage-source converters (VSCs), are technically feasible for supplying power
to the Safaniya offshore oil field. For the lower megawatt-kilometer situation in Safaniya, HVAC
transmission was a more feasible choice due to its lower power requirement [1]. As summarized in Table
3, the higher overall capital cost, maintenance cost, and power losses associated with a HVDC system for
the specified distances given in this situation makes the HVAC power supply system the preferred strategy
to be implemented in the Safaniya oil field. All the facilities requiring the power are within the critical
distance. As a result, in the commissioning of the first phase of supplying electrical power to Safaniya,
HVAC submarine power cables were laid. Power was obtained from the local utility company at 230 kV
to be transmitted offshore. In accordance with the study, Safaniya’s offshore tie-in platforms (TP) 18 and
20 were fed through 115 kV and 230 kV submarine cables respectively, as demonstrated in Figure 3.

Table 3—Economic Characteristics of HVAC vs. HVDC – Within Critical Distance

Economic Characteristics HVAC HVDC

Cable Cost Higher Lower

Cable Installation Cost Higher Lower
Substation Cost Lower Higher
Substation Installation Cost Lower Higher
High Voltage Equipment Cost Lower Higher
Maintenance Cost Lower Higher
System Availability More Less
Power Loss Less More
Reactive Power Compensation Not Required Not Required
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Figure 3—Subsea voltage levels at Safaniya - first phase.

Commissioning the Power System

In an offshore power supply system, the most critical and unique component is the submarine cables. The
weakest points of any power cable are the cable splices, cable joints, and cable terminations. Therefore,
all high voltage submarine power cables laid in Safaniya to transmit electrical power from onshore to
offshore facilities were installed as a single piece. The submarine power cables transmitting power among
the offshore facilities were also single pieces. The absence of joints in these submarine cables is expected
to result in an extended and trouble free equipment operating lifetime, resulting in a more reliable power
system. Given the distances of the remote offshore loads, the total length of the submarine power cables
to be laid is significantly increased. Laying these submarine power cables is now a major challenge.
Laying of Submarine Cable Considering the value of equipment at stake, the laying of subsea cables is
an extremely critical and complex operation. The entire length of submarine cable to be laid comes from
the manufacturer on one vessel. One vessel cannot do the task of laying the complete submarine power
cable from the shore to the offshore facilities. The relatively shallow water depth of Safaniya also
demanded a careful analysis of weather patterns, to determine the ideal weather window to execute this
complex submarine cable laying operation.
Prior to initiating the operation, complete bathymetry of the seabed is obtained. The submarine power
cable arrives to site on a custom-built deep water cable laying vessel (DWCLV), and a specified amount
of cable has to be transpooled over to a shallow water cable laying barge (SWCLB). Once the transfer of
the submarine power cable is complete, as per the arrangement shown in Figure 4, the laying process can
commence.
OTC-25704-MS 7

Figure 4 —Transpooling operation of submarine cable.

The two vessels sail in opposing direction, with the DWCLV sailing to the offshore platform in
Safaniya, and the SWCLB toward the shore. The DWCLV can lay the cable at a much faster rate than the
SWCLB. The SWCLB is also a highly customized subsea cable laying barge, which can handle being
grounded at low tides. The SWCLB’s movement in shallow water is assisted by tugboats. Tugboats are
able to maneuver vessels like the SWCLB by pushing or towing them. Touchdown of the actual submarine
power cable being laid is done in a precise manner, and monitored using sonar and echo sounder devices.
Given the high maintenance cost of repairing damaged submarine power cables, and the extended time
required to make such repairs, offering protection to the submarine power cable during installation stage
is paramount. Furthermore, to prevent accidental damage from fishing boats in the future, a trench is dug
a specified distance from the shore. Therefore, as the SWCLB gets closer to the beach landing, the
submarine cable is laid to rest at the predetermined precise locations in the appropriate trench. Other
exposed sections of the submarine cable that can potentially get damaged are later covered with a concrete
mattress. Through a highly automated management system among the SWCLB and tugboats, the
submarine cable is laid up to the shore. Once the SWCLB reaches the beach, a crane lifts the submarine
power cable and assists in completing the laying of the cable on the shore end up to the Transition Yard,
which is indicated in Figure 3. From the Transition Yard, the submarine cable is terminated to connect to
the incoming overhead transmission lines from the onshore electrical substations. These onshore electrical
substations are the source of the power. Careful attention needs to be given to the following submarine
cable properties while executing the complex task of laying the submarine power cable:
● Minimum bending radius
● Stiffness parameters (axial and bending)
● Number of allowable stacks
● Allowable maximum tensile strength
● Maximum side wall pressure
The suitable cable laying tension can be obtained from the following formula:

where TS is the suitable cable laying tension (kg), WW is the weight of cable in water (kg/m), H is the
water depth (m), and T0 is the back tension to avoid the kink and bridge (kg). The back tension is
approximately 1000 kg. The layoff angle, ␣, of the cable can then be obtained from

The layoff angle, ␣, is further demonstrated in Figure 5.

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Figure 5—The layoff angle ␣ of the submarine cable from the vessel [5].

Toward the offshore end, once the submarine power cable reaches the offshore platform that houses the
electrical substation in Safaniya, it is taken off the DWCLV and held at the surface by floating tubes. The
end of the submarine cable is tied to a rope connected to a winch that is located on the platform. Under
the supervision of divers, the winch then pulls the submarine power cable up the J-tube and on to the
platform, as shown in Figure 6. Finally, the offshore end of the submarine cable can be terminated into
the sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) gas-insulated switchgear (GIS) of the substation.

Figure 6 —Laying of submarine cable up to the offshore platform [5].

Installation of Offshore Substations Establishing offshore substations is a feat in itself. The electrical
power transmitted offshore through the submarine cable network demands an array of high voltage
electrical equipment to be present on the offshore platforms. Consequently, part of supplying power to the
offshore facilities of Safaniya, the enormous TP-20 was installed. An ideal installation weather interval
was selected after careful analysis of a 10-year historical weather data.
Housing a complete electrical substation that supplies the remaining offshore loads, the weight of
TP-20 exceeds 6,000 metric tons. This staggering load cannot be handled by industry standard cranes.
Therefore, the installation of TP-20 was performed using a unique float-over method. In the execution of
this complex installation procedure, the offshore platform sailed to the Safaniya offshore oil field upon a
custom-built float-over vessel. The float-over vessel was narrow enough to maneuver between the jacket
legs of the platform, allowing for the mating of the topside of the offshore platform with the jacket.
Through rapid seawater ballasting of the vessel, the weight of the topside of the platform was then
completely transferred to the jacket. Upon completion of the installation of the platform, the float-over
vessel sailed away, leaving the offshore platform in place. After a complex and challenging commission-
ing operation, a complete electrical power system ready to transmit and distribute electrical power is
finally ready to deliver power to Safaniya’s remote offshore loads.
Conclusion
The intricacies in supplying electrical power to offshore facilities of the oil and gas industry cannot be
underestimated. The alternatives of HVAC and HVDC power transmission have to be carefully studied.
OTC-25704-MS 9

Economic aspects and technical characteristics have to be investigated to select the optimum electrical
power supply solution for a given case. A major setback for the HVDC power transmission system is its
reduced availability and high maintenance and capital costs compared to HVAC power transmission
system. Given the distances and power requirements, a HVAC power transmission system was the optimal
solution to satisfy the offshore loads at the Safaniya oil field. The ideal strategy to satisfy the increasing
power requirements of the Safaniya oil field was to receive power from the local utility company, and
transmit it offshore through HVAC submarine cables. Power can be further distributed to the remote
offshore loads at the appropriate voltage levels from the offshore substations. Laying of the submarine
cables and installation of offshore electrical substations are part of the complex operation of commis-
sioning an appropriate offshore power supply infrastructure, which makes offshore power delivery
possible.

References
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Paper 2009-PCIC-193.R1.
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S0378779608000965.
3. Eeckhout, B. 2007. The economic value of VSC HVDC compared to HVAC for offshore wind
farms, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven. Available: http://homes.esat.kuleuven.be/~dvherten/
eindwerk_vsc_hvdc_bram_van_eeckhout.pdf.
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