Haiyou Guanlan, China's first far-reaching floating wind power platform, was connected to the power grid of the Wenchang oilfield cluster on May 20, according to China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC).
It marked major progress in China's deepsea wind power technology and was a milestone for the country in green offshore oil development.
A bird's-eye view of Haiyou Guanlan, China's first far-reaching floating wind power platform [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]
Operating in waters about 136 kilometers from Wenchang, South China’s Hainan Province, Haiyou Guanlan has an installed capacity of 7.25 megawatts and is fixed with nine anchor chains.
The green power it generates is connected to the power grid with a 5-kilometer dynamic submarine cable.
Once operational, the platform is expected to generate 22 million kilowatt-hours of power annually, all of which will be used in the production of the oilfield cluster. The power output is equal to that produced by burning nearly 10 million cubic meters of natural gas and represents a reduction of 22,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide.
The offshore oilfield power system is the lifeline of an offshore oil and gas platform, guaranteeing highly-efficient and stable daily production.
The current power used in oilfields around the world is mainly based on fossil energy; wind power-based energy is a clean and low-carbon alternative for deepsea oilfield production.
To reduce the uncertainty of wind power and to guarantee the continuous and stable operation of the power grid, the Wenchan oilfield cluster launched a new mode integrating wind power, natural gas-based power and smart power grid, which links the four fuel stations of the oilfield cluster with Haiyou Guanlan platform through energy management, wind turbine monitoring and wind power estimation systems. The mode realizes the integrated control and management of wind and oilfield power, and ensures the security and stability of the oilfield micro power grid.
(Executive editor: Xie Yunxiao)
