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SFI-Sentre for forskningsdrevet innovasjon

The Michelsen Centre for Industrial Measurement Science and Technology

Awarded: NOK 80.0 mill.

MIMTs main achievement has been the development of application-oriented innovative measurement solutions within three application areas: Oil & gas, fisheries & aquaculture, and environmental monitoring. MIMTs main strategy was to close jointly identified technology gaps by establishing long.term and lasting links between the user partners? need for innovation on one side and the host and the research partners? fundamental competencies in measurement science and measurement technology on the other side within the fields of acoustics, ultrasound, electromagnetism, optical technologies, and nano technology. Research partners and user partners have been pulled together in projects delivering innovation in order to stimulate active partner participation in the innovation processavoid a structure where scientific achievements or innovation was delivered to user partners not actively taking part in the projects. Scientific achivements by MIMTs research groups have been the foundation for innovation and for scientific recruitment as well as patenting. This has led to a significant publishing and dissemination activity, thereby creating ripple effects far outside the consortium behind MIMT. An example of the latter are the industry courses in measurement science and uncertainty serving more than 120 industry employees from more than 20 companies located in seven different countries. Seminars, workshops and co-hosted MIMT conferences have helped building MIMTs profile and to benefit the larger technological society. Some examples of MIMTs more than 40 innovation achievements are listed as a non-exhaustive list in order to provide a quick insight: Application area oil & gas - A lab test facility for cost-efficient optimisation of designs of seismic ocean bottom sensors. Such sensors are needed in oil & gas exploration and for long-term optimisation of reservoir utilisation. - Design of electromagnetic sensors for detection and monitoring of oil & gas reservoirs as well as future monitoring of CO2 storage in subsea geological structures - An acoustic camera technology for shortening of the costly production stop necessary for service and maintenance operations of oil and gas wells. - Measurement technology for increased accuracy of measurements of oil and gas flows in wells and in pipelines. The results are relevant for measurement technology currently metering 12% of the worlds oil production, thereby providing real-time data of vital importance for safety as well as for production optimization and ownership allocation of oil & gas from fields with multiple owners. - Optimum configurations for oil & gas flow measurement systems in order to handle the high-viscosity oil which accounts for 70% of the world?s remaining oil reserves. - Most oil & gas wells produce a mixture of oil, water and gas called a multiphase flow. The oil & gas are then separated into so-called single-phase flows consisting of either oil or gas before being sold. The importance of accurate and non-disputable measurements can be illustrated by the fact that. - Calibration technology for future high-precision and cost-efficient use of already installed industrial natural gas meters. Such meters are applied in commercial transactions and taxation of large quantities of natural gas. Example: 20% of Norway?s export of natural gas goes through a single measuring station in Easington, UK Application areas Oil & Gas, Fisheries & Aquaculture, and Environmental Monitoring - Acoustic sensor desigs for extreme temperatures and pressures encountered in oil and gas wells but also for the pressures encountered in deep-sea measurements in fisheries and oceanography - Sensor technologies for monitoring of critical marine water parameters (CO2, pH, NH3) and for monitoring of levels of chemicals (hydrogen peroxide) for removal of salmon lice - Fibreoptic communication technology (telemetry) for harsh environments

Norwegian petroleum industry holds expertise and experience that will allow it to play an important part in developing the world's petroleum resources. More intensive basic research is however recommended (cfr. OG21) to maintain and develop this position, and new measurement technologies and techniques are key components in this respect. The Michelsen Centre will target the primary measurement technology challenges, but will also take fisheries and the environment into consideration from the very beginnin g. This will be achieved by the close integration and cooperation of R&D environments and industry partners within instrumentation for the petroleum industry, fisheries and environmental applications. New means for environmental monitoring may improve not only climate models but also the ability to develop and manage important fisheries resources. In common with the fisheries industry, the development of the Norwegian oil and gas industry in the north depends heavily on environmental monitoring. The Mich elsen Centre is based on the belief that the co-existence of petroleum and fisheries industries forms a unique basis for a joint development of these industries. We foresee significant synergies as well as industrial and social benefits from combining R&D on measurement innovations for these three application areas. The primary strategy for exploiting synergies is based on the fact that each of the activities will highlight unique measurement challenges in different applications and industries, while the underlying basis in terms of expertise, measurement science and sensor technology remains a common platform. This common interdisciplinary platform will aim in particular to promote sharing of experiences and transfer of expertise and technologies between the more application-oriented research activities. Sharing of application knowledge and information between the industrial sectors is also a significant basis for exploitation of social synergies.

Funding scheme:

SFI-Sentre for forskningsdrevet innovasjon