Aker Solutions to build digital twin for Wintershall’s Nova field

Norwegian engineering company Aker Solutions has been appointed by Wintershall to build a complete digital replica of the Nova production system to enable data driven engineering, production and maintenance decisions.

Nova was discovered in 2012 and is situated in the Quadrant 35 area in the Norwegian North Sea.

Aker Solutions was awarded the contract to deliver the subsea production system for the field in early 2018. Wintershall submitted a plan for development and operation (PDO) for the Nova field to Norwegian authorities in May 2018. Nova will be developed as a subsea tie-back connecting two templates to the nearby Gjøa platform for processing and export.

Aker Solutions said on Thursday that, through two separate agreements, it would provide both a fully interactive digital replica of the integrated production system as well as undertake a study to enable live data streaming and condition monitoring of the subsea equipment.

The digital twin will become an advanced replacement to traditional paper-based handbooks and equipment documentation, ensuring that all relevant engineering data is held centrally in a single, interactive and searchable solution. It will be built on a cloud-based architecture capable of processing live data and ensuring that vital engineering information is kept up to date at all times.

The connected study to enable live data streaming from the subsea production equipment will be instrumental in driving forward real time subsea condition monitoring, production optimization and predictive maintenance for the field.

“These ground breaking pieces of work will ensure that the Nova field operates as a truly digital asset,” said Are Føllesdal Tjønn, Head of Software Development for Aker Solutions.

“We are delighted to work with our customer to support the realization of their ambitious digital plans and to help set new standards for the energy industry.”