Electrical distribution system analysis for off-shore oil production facilities

This paper addresses electrical distribution system problems that affect the reliability of power to oil-field pump motors and support loads. An offshore oil facility is used as an example. Field measurements at numerous platforms were conducted and subsequently analyzed to evaluate power quality concerns. A power system study was completed offsite to provide computer simulation of the electrical system under numerous operating conditions. Electrical considerations include fault current calculations, protective relay coordination, load flow harmonic analysis, transient stability and motor starting. The principal results of this work were a series of recommendations involving operations changes and/or adding conventionally available hardware borrowing from other industry experiences.