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INTPART-International Partnerships for Excellent Education and Research

Field Development in Remote and Harsh Environments - Innovative student-based research

Alternative title: Feltutvikling i fjerne og ugjestmilde miljø - Innovativ student-basert forskning

Awarded: NOK 3.8 mill.

Exploration, field development, and production of hydrocarbons are moving farther north, into deeper water, into more remote locations and harsher physical environments. Health, safety, and environment plays an even larger role than in traditional hydrocarbon development, and there is a need for new and better technologies, new models for operation, a deeper understanding and scientific knowledge of the operational environment and the interplay of all these factors that includes ice management. With the discoveries offshore of Newfoundland, Canada and in the High North of Norway, Canada and Norway are facing many similar challenges. Remoteness, harsh and environmentally sensitive areas, and restrictions on the operational window due to fog and ice are just a few of the challenges. The Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) in Trondheim, Norway and Memorial University of Newfoundland (MUN) in St. Johns, Canada, together with the industrial cluster GCE Blue Maritime are teaming up to establish and develop an international partnership for excellent education and research focusing on field development in remote and harsh environments. Through this project researchers and students from NTNU and MUN within petroleum technology, marine technology and logistics have established closer collaboration and conducted a number of reciprocal visits to Trondheim and St. Johns. Several joint project proposals have been developed, several MSc and PhD candidates have supervisors from both universities. A strong basis for future collaboration has been established. One main activity in the project has been the annual summer school with 6 students from each institution working together for 6 weeks on field development. GCE Blue Maritime, Equinor and Shell have also contributed into the summer school. Another is annual workshops alternating between Memorial University and NTNU, with the latest one being held in June 2018 at Memorial University with participants and presentations by a number of academic institutions and companies on Newfoundland, as well as NTNU. The project has also lead to contact with Petroleum Research Newfoundland & Labrador, in addition to several universities in Northern America.

One main activity in the project has been the annual summer school with 6 students from each institution working together for 6 weeks on field development in remote and harsh areas. GCE Blue Maritime, Equinor and Shell have also contributed into the summer school. Another is annual workshops alternating between Memorial University and NTNU, with the latest one being held in June 2018 at Memorial University with a large number of participants and presentations by academic institutions and companies on Newfoundland, as well as NTNU and Equinor. A third activity is the development of relevant courses til be implemented in curricula at MUN and NTNU. The project has also led to contact with Petroleum Research Newfoundland & Labrador, in addition to several universities in Northern America.

Exploration, field development, and production of hydrocarbons are moving farther north, into deeper water, into more remote locations and harsher physical environments. Health, safety, and environment plays an even larger role than in traditional hydrocarbon development, and there is a need for new and better technologies, new models for operation, a deeper understanding and scientific knowledge of the operational environment and the interplay of all these factors that includes ice management. With the discoveries offshore of Newfoundland, Canada and in the High North of Norway, Canada and Norway are facing many similar challenges. Remoteness, harsh and environmentally sensitive areas, and restrictions on the operational window due to fog and ice are just a few of the challenges. The Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) in Trondheim, Norway and Memorial University of Newfoundland (MUN) in St. Johns, Canada are teaming up to establish and develop an international partnership for excellent education and research focusing on field development in remote and harsh environments. Building on leading research groups at both institutions, a number of complementary fields of education and research have been identified related to field development in remote and harsh environments: Integrated operations, increased and enhanced oil recovery, drilling, integrated logistics support & emergency preparedness, underwater vehicles, autonomous operations and safety and risk management. Through developing a tight link between the two institutions and between research and education, NTNU and Memorial University, and including the industrial cluster GCE Blue Maritime, will develop a long-lasting collaboration that is expected to enable the two institutions to become world-leading in field development and operation in remote and harsh environments.

Funding scheme:

INTPART-International Partnerships for Excellent Education and Research