Integrating Renewable Energy Behind-The-Meter In Upstream Oil and Gas Operations - Part II

The cost of solar photovoltaic power has decreased over the past 15 years making it an attractive option for oil and gas companies to cost-effectively reduce their Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions. This paper is the $2^{{\mathrm {nd}}}$ paper in a two-part series describing the integration of behind-the-meter solar PV in an upstream oil and gas operation, using a case study based mainly on solar power plants being installed in West Texas and New Mexico, as well as one commissioned in California in 2020. The first paper covered the feasibility, organization, early concept engineering, and project development of behind-the-meter solar power in an oil and gas operation. This paper discusses the engineering, design, commissioning, and initial operation of the solar farm. The authors explore the technical aspects specific to integrating these farms in operational oil and gas environments plus the economic and logistic challenges faced during execution.