Numerical Simulation (CFD & FEA) in Offshore Oil and Gas Production

Saudi Aramco, the world’s largest oil producer, anticipates oil demand to reach a record 104 million barrels per day in 2024, despite the global shift towards sustainable energy and electric vehicles. CEO Amin Nasser asserts that sustainable energy has yet to prove it can replace hydrocarbons in terms of current requirements and price levels.

A paper presented at the 2017 Offshore Technology Conference in Houston by Francois Ars and Renato Rios highlights the existence of over 12,000 offshore installations worldwide since 1947. The UNEP’s Global Marine Oil Pollution Information Gateway notes that offshore production accounts for approximately 30% of global oil and 50% of natural gas output.

Due to engineering challenges, costs, and technical difficulties, oil and gas production is increasingly utilizing floating production systems. The latest “Floating Production Outlook Report (2024-2028)” by Energy Maritime Associates (EMA) forecasts demand for these systems to reach $173 billion over the next five years.

In this month’s Spotlight feature, Livio Furlan discusses the use of numerical simulation in designing and planning structures for marine mineral resource extraction. He explains how these simulations help ensure compliance with environmental standards and regulatory certification

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