Aberdeen’s Oil & Gas Innovation Centre (OGIC) (www.ogic.co.uk) has invested £300,000 in three new energy projects with the potential to improve efficiency and cut costs in the oil and gas industry.

The first project will see Blue Gentoo work with the University of Aberdeen to develop an Intelligent Hydrate Tool (IHT).

This will automatically control mono-ethylene glycol (MEG) injection by monitoring hydrocarbon parameters — calculating both the MEG required and any subsequent injection adjustments in real time – without routine human intervention.

The IHT will learn effective human and computer-devised injection strategies for hydrate prevention, re-using them in the appropriate circumstances and providing a detailed justification of the adopted strategy.

Combining AI technology with proven software and engineering techniques, the system also aims to enhance oil recovery, minimise production risks and offer environmental benefits.

The second project will see Cambridge-based Corrosion Radar Ltd work with Robert Gordon University (and with the University of Strathclyde) to take its new remote monitoring and analytics system to the next stage.

This has been developed to monitor corrosion under insulation (CUI) using permanently mounted sensors to locate problem areas in complex pipeline networks.

The company will then seek a partner to perform field trials. The system will allow operators to move from reactive- and risk-based inspection programmes, to a more targeted and predictive corrosion management programme.

The third project will see Phoenix RDS work with Heriot-Watt University to develop a flow control device that will identify potential changes in the property of fluids passing through a pipeline and ensure that the desired polymer mixture is maintained.

This project will include field trials with scaled 3-D models to identify and highlight pressure changes and viscosity degradation. Last year, OGIC pledged more than £1.5 million in support of over 25 projects — both in the UK and overseas.

The organisation gives the oil and gas industry a single access point to the knowledge and capabilities of Scottish universities.

It part-funds projects with the potential to deliver technology solutions related to the exploration, production and decommissioning challenges facing the industry.

Its key aims are to stimulate knowledge exchange and research activities and to provide an environment that supports the development of the next generation of business innovators, academics and entrepreneurs in Scotland.

OGIC CEO Ian Phillips (pictured) said: “These three projects provide an excellent insight into the range of opportunities available to technology developers, not only in the UK but across the globe. Each innovation has the potential to solve real industry challenges, while delivering significant cost savings and minimising potential risks offshore.”