Aker BP is the second largest player in oil and gas exploration and production on the Norwegian continental shelf. As the operator of the Yggdrasil development project (formerly NOAKA), Aker BP decided early on that the project should include a digital twin. The Yggdrasil project is currently the largest oil and gas project under development on the Norwegian continental shelf, with around 650 million barrels of recoverable oil equivalents and investments of around NOK 115 billion.
Aker BP's ambition is that the Yggdrasil project will be on stream Medio 2027. Operations are planned with one large offshore platform that will be partially manned, accompanied by two unmanned platforms, nine subsea templates and five wells. To succeed with this ambition, Aker BP wanted to create an advanced digital twin of the Yggdrasil project. With a comprehensive digital overview of systems and components, Aker BP and its partners will have much greater control over what needs to be done on the platforms.
Aker BP wanted to create an advanced digital twin of the Yggdrasil project to succeed with its ambitious operational strategies.
Implementing an effective digital twin was crucial for Aker BP's operating strategy: Low staffing offshore, less maintenance, and low onshore staffing.
Aker BP needed to be operating and optimising the field as best as possible in order to keep the largest platform manned for four weeks at a time, and unmanned for two weeks.
Providing digital trust
When Aker BP decided to go for a digital twin in late 2020, DNV had just finished developing its Recommended Practice (RP) DNV-RP-A204 for Digital Twins.
A digital twin supports decision-making and can help optimise production in several ways. Aker BP’s digital twin helps them in production optimization, barrier management, condition monitoring, maintenance, logistics, and more. This allows them to significantly reduce the number of personnel onboard the offshore facilities and even let them be periodically unmanned.
The requirement specifications in DNV's RP gave Aker BP a framework that made it clearer what was required of them to deliver the digital twin. The RP describes the best practice for developing, implementing, and operating a digital twin so that it provides trustworthy information that adds real value to the project. The RP provides a framework and process that creates digital trust for complex digital systems.
With this guidance, understanding how digital services could be developed and put together became easier for Aker BP. In addition, Aker BP received – for the first time – specific traceable and verifiable sets of requirements for their suppliers.
Impact
- The digital twin is crucial for Aker BP's operating strategy: Low staffing offshore, less maintenance, and low onshore staffing.
- With a comprehensive digital overview of their systems and components, Aker BP and its partners have much greater control over what needs to be done on the platforms.
- Aker BP received – for the first time – specific traceable and verifiable sets of requirements for their suppliers.
Key stats
- Aker BP wanted to create an advanced digital twin of the Yggdrasil project.
- The Yggdrasil project is currently the largest oil and gas project under development on the Norwegian continental shelf.
- Recommended Practice (RP) DNV-RP-A204 for Digital Twins provided Aker BP with a framework and process to create digital trust for their complex digital systems.