Aramco Uses Renewables in Gas Wells

Saudi Arabian national petroleum and natural gas company Saudi Aramco said that using renewable energy at unconventional well sites in Wa’ad Al-Shamal provides multiple benefits to the company.

"Not only is it a reliable and less expensive way to power the remote wells, but it also reduces carbon emissions and helps to save hydrocarbons for export by providing natural gas for the region’s power generation," Saudi Arabian Oil Company said.

A new collaboration between the Power Systems Renewables Department (PRSD) and Unconventional Resources (UR) is not only saving costs while creating value, but is also reducing Saudi Aramco’s environmental footprint in both energy supply and demand.

The organizations are collaborating by using green energy applications and technology in both ongoing and upcoming UR projects. Designed to ensure in-company projects reach maximum efficiency, the effort is focused on using smart solutions and demand-side management, as well as distributed generation and renewable resources to meet its goals.

To do this, PRSD is deploying renewable energy technology across applications — both off-the grid and on-the-grid connected solutions — and in its facilities, including office buildings, industrial facilities, oil and gas production wells, bulk plants, and others.

Over the years, technological improvements and decreasing costs in the energy storage field have made the use of solar photovoltaics (PV) and off-the-grid solar photovoltaic-energy storage systems preferable to more traditional forms of energy at industrial sites.

In line with this development, PRSD is using off-grid renewable energy systems as a less expensive power supply option. Used on a case-by-case basis, the solutions are most often designed for remote area facilities.

And to best identify, promote, and enable deployment of renewable energy deployment throughout Saudi Aramco, PRSD has updated the GIs and Engineering Standards to encourage their use.

UR and PRSD collaboratively are establishing a long-term business relationship to promote the use of solar off-grid systems, which prove to be less expensive and more environmentally friendly than the use of transferring power by overhead transmissions lines.