Carbon Abatement Concept Assessment via Design-To-Value Approach to Maximize Value Preservation of Greenfield Project
Authors: Chan Y. P. , Mayarni S. , Nordin N. , Johar J. B. M. , Mengan M. R. B. 
Published: November 2024

With most industries intensifying efforts towards net zero carbon emissions, new upstream oil and gas developments strive to deliver sustainable facilities design with zero continuous emissions from day one. It can be challenging however, for fields that face high subsurface uncertainties, laden with facilities and gas export constraints. This paper provides insights into series of rigorous techno-commercial considerations and outcome of a carbon abatement-specific concept assessment exercise that adopted Design-to-Value (D2V) approach.

Design-to-Value approach has been used in various industries to systematically develop optimum concept that maximizes value creation. Starting with initial Target Value setting, Minimum Technical Requirements are identified for facilities design to support Zero Routine Flaring (ZRF) outcome, before being rolled up into abatement concept options. With further deliberation on feasibility and associated risks, Value Staircase is generated to comprehensively evaluate all options from technical and commercial perspectives in a sequential manner, where a weighted-scoring process finally brings all feasible options towards Concept Select.

D2V approach was used on an upstream oil field development at front end loading stage which consists of a Central Processing Platform that ties back to a Floating Storage and Offloading (FSO) unit, with excess associated gas of 3MMscf/d for 10 years. Lacking subsurface maturity for gas injection with little gas monetization opportunity and aggravated by constraints on gas evacuation through nearby facilities, it is difficult to meet ZRF commitment. Initial Target Value setting drove the direction of abatement concept brainstorming, followed by identification of specific process and utilities functions to focus on. Aiming to avoid routine flaring, abatement concept identification revolved around the design of gas recovery system, flaring system, power generation and corresponding pipeline and electrical cable configurations with FSO. D2V's iterative, progressive value-risk trade off exercise resulted in identification of seven (7) viable abatement concepts including a phased gas export strategy and phased Vapor Recovery Unit (VRU) design, alongside eight other potential concepts that were not shortlisted but heavily deliberated. From techno-commercial highlights observable at one glance from the Value Staircase, a weighted-scoring process finally led to a full abatement concept selection with implementation strategy. Robustness and broadness of D2V approach which covers technical, commercial and risk elements have made a difference in the quality and pace of abatement concept identification and selection process.

Methodology to generate carbon abatement-specific strategy that supports business needs must evolve as swiftly as the environmental forces that drive global sustainability efforts. Strong managerial aspirations in the sustainability agenda and creative adoption of aggressive problem-solving approaches across high-impact industries such as oil and gas are vital. The approaches outlined in this paper contribute to the global continuous effort towards new investments that fulfil net zero carbon emissions targets.