Omega Simulation to Undertake Two Offshore Oil and Gas-Related Decarbonization Promotion

Omega Simulation Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Yokogawa Electric Corporation, announces that it has been selected by the Nippon Foundation, a private, non-profit grant-making organization, to undertake two projects as part of the Nippon Foundation - DeepStar*1 Joint Research and Development Program for the promotion of decarbonization in the field of offshore oil and natural gas. These projects are scheduled to commence on June 1.

The two research & development projects are (1) the optimization of compression performance of CO2 using process model-based control technology, and (2) hydrogen-natural gas blends phase behavior for safe offshore pipeline transport of low-carbon energy. Both projects are developing necessary core technologies to promote decarbonization. In these research and development projects, Omega Simulation will conduct joint research with the Center for Hydrate Research of the Colorado School of Mines*2 to demonstrate and model changes in the physical properties of hydrogen, natural gas, and carbon dioxide while utilizing the company's Mirror Plant*3 technology.

Project overviews
1. Optimization of compression performance for carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) using process model-based control technology
o Objective
Development of control technology to maintain CO2 in a liquid state
o Background
If captured CO2 can be kept in a liquid state when it is injected for sequestration (storage), compressor power consumption can be minimized. For this reason, it is expected that it will become standard practice to operate at a pressure level that is sufficient to maintain CO2 in a liquid state. The development of this technology is expected to enable efficient monitoring, fault prediction, and optimal operation planning for CCS, and will lead to improved safety and efficiency.
o Method
- Modeling of CO2 phase (state) changes (gas, liquid, solid [dry ice]) depending on temperature and pressure
- Utilizing these models to develop control technology that maintains CO2 in a liquid state even when conditions fluctuate
2. Hydrogen-natural gas blends phase behavior for safe offshore pipeline transport of low-carbon energy
o Objective
Development for safe transportation of hydrogen and natural gas in a blended state
o Background
Required for the transportation of hydrogen using existing natural gas pipelines
o Method
- Based on actual data, modeling the characteristics of hydrogen-natural gas blends that vary based on the level of purity and presence of impurities
- Using these models to display the characteristics of constantly changing hydrogen-natural gas blends on a cloud-based wide area monitoring system
- Using these models to develop technology that derives safe and optimal operating ranges