Oman is set to make a significantly large investment to set up solar project to boost natural gas production from its oilfields. Energy giants Shell and Total are set to partner
with the Oman government to set up a large-scale solar project to boost
natural gas production. Petroleum Development Oman will be
the financial partner to the project, while California-based GlassPoint
Solar will be the technology provider.
The solar project, with an estimated capacity of 1,021 MW, is not
expected to generate electricity but generate steam, which would be
injected into the oil wells to force out gas. GlassPoint has been
experimenting with such solar projects to boost oil and natural gas
production. Royal Dutch Shell and State General Reserve Fund of Oman
teamed up to invest $53 million in the company last year.
Glasspoint Solar manufactures and installs aluminium mirrors near oil
fields that concentrate solar radiation on insulated tubes containing
water. The steam generated from heating the water is injected into oil
fields to recover heavy crude oil or natural gas. The use of renewable
energy like solar power makes great economic sense, as the fuel cost
associated with this enhanced oil recovery technology is practically
zero.
GlassPoint has been running a demonstration project in Oman since
2012 and plans to setup local manufacturing and supply chain
infrastructure. The company claims that solar power steam generators can
reduce gas consumption and greenhouse gas emissions by 80% each in such
enhanced oil and natural gas recovery projects.
The project is expected to become operational in 2017. Oman is an
oil-rich country but lacks in significant natural gas reserves. The
country is now looking to significantly increase the natural gas
production from oilfields by pumping high-pressure steam into ageing
wells.
http://cleantechnica.com/2015/07/09/oman-plans-600-million-solar-project-boost-natural-gas-production/