Are all-electric platforms viable in the Gulf of Mexico?

Traditionally, fixed and floating offshore production facilities in the Gulf of Mexico have used gas turbines (or engines) for large mechanical drives while providing separate gas turbines (or engines) for power generation. An alternate approach using electric power for feeding all loads, including large mechanical drives, is gaining favor as the scope of Gulf of Mexico facilities increase. During the initial design of a facility it is critical to understand the different options that are available with regard to the driver selection. These options include using gas turbines for power generation with the options of having large mechanical drives coupled to gas turbines (traditional method) or using gas turbines only for power generation and utilizing all electric drives for the mechanical loads. The critical areas that need to be evaluated in making this driver selection decision are project specific and typically include life cycle cost, capital expenses, space and weight limitations, and emissions. For the all-electric facilities, the use of fixed speed versus variable speed drivers is also considered to improve energy efficiencies and operability.