Objective In line with the “dual carbon” goals, Daqing Oilfield is committed to rapidly advancing its green and low-carbon transformation. In its efforts to establish a low-carbon demonstration area, Sanan Oilfield—one of the main oil production plants in the old area of Daqing Placanticline—has explored alternatives to traditional heat energy used in production processes, as well as new energy methods for utilizing heat energy. As a result, a production model featuring low-carbon and digital intelligence is emerging, aimed at achieving objectives such as “all-range zero electricity abandonment”, “process re-engineering”, and “zero-carbon station”.

Methods To achieve the efficient consumption of wind and solar electricity and accommodate the characteristics of these renewable power generation modes of instability, discontinuity, and low equivalent hours, explorations were conducted to re-engineer the production system. Additionally, trials were undertaken to eliminate the heat tracing system within the station and modify the gathering and transportation mode with water tracing.

Results The application of the electric heating technique at wellbores facilitates the well-station transfer of heat sources, effectively removing and preventing paraffin buildup while increasing the temperature of produced fluids to enhance the gathering and transportation temperature. Flexible temperature control is implemented based on ambient temperatures and the temperatures of the gathering and transportation system, achieving the replacement of the traditional hot washing process. For producing wells with long gathering and transportation distances, techniques such as electric tracing, solar thermal utilization at well sites, and intelligent intermittent pumping are collaboratively employed to achieve digital intelligence. The integration of these techniques enables a zero-carbon, electrified process flow powered by clean energy, supports a condition-variable operational mode with a high proportion of green electricity consumption, and transforms rigid production loads into flexible ones. These changes align oil and gas production with the characteristics of new energy and facilitate process re-engineering.

Conclusion It is recommended to further address key issues in intelligent low-carbon production technology, considering the production status and future development trends of Sanan Oilfield. In particular, explorations should aim to define new limits for cryogenic gathering and transportation under varying production conditions and establish an intelligent micro-grid energy management and control platform. This would enable intelligent energy management and facilitate a smooth and efficient low-carbon transformation at Sanan Oilfield.