GlassPoint Solar

The world's first solar EOR project, operated by Berry Petroleum Company in Kern Country, CA, USA.

In 2011, GlassPoint deployed the world's first commercial solar EOR project at an oilfield operated by Berry Petroleum in Kern County, Calif., USA.[8] Built in less than six weeks, the system uses the sun's radiant heat to produce approximately 1 million British Thermal Units (Btus) per hour of solar heat. GlassPoint partnered with local firms TJ Cross Engineers and PCL Industrial Services, as well as San Francisco based REM Design, to construct the system, which spans 7,000 square feet of land on the 100-year-old oilfield. The enclosed trough system preheats water to 190 °F used as feedwater for Berry Petroleum's gas-fired steam generators.

A solar enhanced oil recovery project commissioned by Petroleum Development Oman

In May 2013, GlassPoint commissioned the Middle East's first solar EOR project, a 7MWth system developed in partnership with Petroleum Development Oman (PDO), the largest oil company in the Sultanate of Oman. The system produces an average of 50 tons of emissions-free steam daily.[9] operated successfully for more than 4 years, generating an average of 50 tons of emissions-free steam per day that fed directly into existing thermal EOR operations at PDO's Amal West oilfield.[10]

The system was completed on time, on budget, and with no Lost Time Injuries demonstrating GlassPoint and PDO's shared commitment to health, safety, security and the environment (HSSE). During the first 12 months of operations, actual performance of the GlassPoint system matched output models within a few percent and steam production continues to exceed contracted performance targets. The system recorded 98.6% uptime and maintained regular operations during severe dust and sand storms. The automated roof-washing unit proved particularly effective in all weather events, restoring system performance overnight.[11] The project served as a performance and operational baseline for larger steam generators in Oman and provided PDO with valuable information for planning potential large-scale projects in the future.

In July 2015, Petroleum Development Oman and GlassPoint Solar announced that they signed an agreement to build a 1 GWth solar field. The total solar field will be 1.8 km and the total project will be 3 km. The project, named Miraah, will be the world's largest solar field measured by peak thermal capacity.[12]

In August 2017, GlassPoint and its contractors crossed the threshold of 1.5 million man-hours worked without lost time injury (LTI) at Miraah.

In November 2017, GlassPoint and Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) completed construction on the first block of the Miraah solar plant safely on schedule and in line with budget, and successfully delivered steam to the Amal West oilfield.[13]

As of November 2018, the first 100 MWt of Miraah are operating and meeting all performance targets.[14]

In November 2017, Aera Energy and GlassPoint Solar announced a joint project to create California's largest solar energy field.[15] Located at the South Belridge Oil Field, the project, called Belridge Solar, will be the first in the world to incorporate solar steam generation with solar electricity generation.

The Belridge Oil Field resides near Bakersfield, California. Once completed, the facility is projected to produce 12 million barrels of steam annually through a 850MW thermal solar steam generator. It is planned to reduce the natural gas used at the Belridge Oil Field for the production and extraction of heavy oil in its enhanced oil recovery process (EOR).

Additionally, a separate 26.5 MW electricity generating facility using photovoltaic panels is planned to power oilfield operations.

A rendering of the Belridge facility, which, when done, will be the largest in California.

This new facility is predicted to reduce carbon emissions by more than 376,000 metric tons annually.[16] This will offset more than one-third of all the cars driven in Bakersfield. It is also expected to create hundreds of jobs throughout California.

This project highlights a growing trend of oil and gas companies partnering with the solar energy industry.

In November 2018, GlassPoint and Occidental Petroleum of Oman signed an agreement to cooperate on a solar thermal project to facilitate oil production on an oilfield in the Sultanate of Oman.

The agreement outlines plans to generate up to 100,000 barrels of solar steam per day for heavy oil production at Mukhaizna oilfield. The proposed solar thermal plant would exceed two gigawatts and could save more than 800,000 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions each year.

Occidental of Oman would purchase the steam under a long-term off-take agreement, providing a cost-effective, zero-emissions alternative to steam generated using natural gas.[17]

In January 2018, GlassPoint signed a collaboration agreement with a host of partners to establish its corporate social responsibility initiative, the ‘GlassPoint Innovation Spur’.

The program is set to contribute and sustainably drive innovation within Oman's renewable energy and water management sectors. The list of partners includes The Research Council (TRC), Innovation Park Muscat (IPM), Public Authority for SME Development (Riyada) and Sharakah.

An intensive full-cycle incubation program, the GlassPoint Innovation Spur will provide aspiring Omani entrepreneurs with an integrated ecosystem of scientific, technical and business support. The two-year program will equip participants with valuable skills through coaching and mentorship, as they transform their innovations into implementable businesses. Robust screening, selection, and testing criteria is in place to ensure originality and economic feasibility. Selected entrepreneurs will receive practical support to further develop their inventions and establish businesses before being linked to investors.[18]

In September 2018, GlassPoint Solar in partnership with Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) announced a new technology center.

The joint initiative is called SolaRISE for Solar Research, Innovation, and Sustainability in Energy. It was formed to develop and test solar technologies in oil fields.

Researchers will focus on cutting costs and automating operations. The center also will pilot and evaluate solar energy uses for other industrial processes in Oman and worldwide.[19]