Tech Trends
New technologies focused on lowering carbon footprint
Energy companies around the world are investing in technologies and collaborating with tech giants to reduce their carbon footprint.
New digital platform to support energy transition for oil and gas companies
Eni, the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) and Google Cloud have announced they are building a new open digital platform supporting sustainability in the industrial supply chain. Starting from the energy world, the platform will progressively extend to all industrial sectors. The platform will allow all players in the energy sector throughout the value chain to share their experiences in sustainability, growth plans and information in compliance with the existing regulations. The idea stems from the common interest of the three companies to support a path of energy transition and sustainability in the industrial sectors.

Each of the partners will bring its expertise to help develop a collaborative and noncompetitive culture to establish better understanding and best practice sharing around sustainability throughout the industrial chain. Eni will contribute its industrial skills, the quality of its supply chain and its strategic commitment to a fair and sustainable energy transition. BCG will bring its strategic angle on ESG objectives, a valuation and growth model, and the value proposition for the platform. Google Cloud will contribute its excellent competency in cloud computing, Big Data and artificial intelligence.

New project to reduce expenditure and emissions in offshore drilling operations
A collaborative, green solution developed between Kongsberg Maritime, COSL Drilling Europe AS and NOV is poised to generate major environmental and financial savings in offshore drilling operations. COSL’s Energy Control project has been launched as a means of simultaneously slashing greenhouse-gas emissions and substantially lowering fuel and maintenance overheads on the company’s rigs situated on the Norwegian shelf in the North Sea.

Collaboration between the firms arrived at an integrated solution that combines Kongsberg Maritime’s energy management systems with NOV’s research into energy optimization. A core principle of the joint solution was to limit and optimize generator usage, and it was soon established that the rig would still be able to carry out full drilling operations using only three of its diesel generators on average. By halving the generator capacity, the engines operate at higher loads, which in tandem with the switch-off of the other units’ results in radically improved fuel efficiency, a sharp decrease in carbon deposits and a concurrent reduction in maintenance requirements. The annual figures are impressive: fuel consumption will be reduced by about 2,300 tons, CO2 emissions by 7,300 tons and NOx by 125 tons, equating to an overall saving in fuel and emissions of more than 25%. The project is approved and supported by the NOx Fund, a Norwegian government initiative for reducing NOx emissions.

The Kongsberg integrated control system keeps the vessel’s position, monitors and controls vessel functions, and actively distributes energy across onboard consumers.
The Kongsberg integrated control system keeps the vessel’s position, monitors and controls vessel functions, and actively distributes energy across onboard consumers.
(Source: Kongsberg Maritime)
Companies partner to develop lower carbon hydrogen solution for LNG trains
Baker Hughes and PAO NOVATEK have signed a cooperation agreement aimed at reducing carbon emissions from natural gas and LNG production. The two companies will cooperate on the development and implementation of innovative compression and power generation technology solutions from Baker Hughes for NOVATEK’s LNG projects, supporting NOVATEK’s emissions reduction, raising efficiency and supporting long-term sustainability. The agreement will begin with a pilot program to introduce hydrogen blends into the main process for natural gas liquefaction to reduce CO2 emissions from LNG facilities, including NOVATEK’s Yamal LNG complex. Baker Hughes will provide engineering and turbomachinery equipment to convert existing natural gas liquefaction trains at Yamal LNG to run on hydrogen blends rather than solely run with methane from feed gas.
Mobile power system achieves emission compliance, improves frac performance
Thriving in today’s hydraulic fracturing market requires reliable power and performance while reducing emissions. NRG Technologies, an AFG Holdings Co., recently field-tested their novel technology alongside its DuraStim electric powered fracturing pump. The DuraPax mobile power unit performed successfully and surpassed strict emission standards despite severe heat and varying power loads. The technology delivers 3.6 MW of continuous duty power per trailer, while fully complying with EPA Clean Air Act standards. No additional exhaust stacks or catalysts are required. The power unit’s NOx emissions are 40 to 50 times cleaner than blended fuel systems. At full load, it is 75% lower than EPA CO2 emission requirements. This remote power system achieves emission compliance and high operational performance across a broad range of operating parameters. Reliable, economic operation is ensured by continuous run times as high as 750 hours before preventive maintenance is due. Versatility is further enhanced by a low, 60-psi to 100-psi gas supply requirement, versus 535-psi turbine demands. Generator output of 480 v is easily transformed up or down to meet specific voltage requirements. Powerful enough for hydraulic fracturing, the versatile mobile unit also provides emissions-compliant economic electricity generation to run rigs and other wellsite operations, along with the option to sell back to the grid.
The DuraPax mobile power system features a modular design
The DuraPax mobile power system features a modular design, providing scalable power for oil and gas field applications, petrochemical, mining, general industrial and other commercial and emergency power needs. (Source: NRG Technologies)
Environmentally friendly water dissolvable ceramic tooling offers faster completion, reduced costs
Victory Elements has released water dissolvable ceramic tooling for hydraulic fracturing and maintenance of oil and gas wells. The novel system, featuring solid frac balls and hollow delivery balls, fully dissolves in water and brine solutions without acidification and eliminates mechanical processes to remove or retrieve standard frac balls. The system provides performance and cost advantages compared to conventional practices including faster completion times, reduced completion costs, enhanced well performance and less environmental impact. Another development is Victory’s water dissolvable hollow ball that can deliver additives, such as paraffin breakers, acids and antimicrobials, to targeted well locations for timed release and activation. This targeted delivery capability can minimize the volume and cost of additives rather than saturating wells with costly materials to meet performance objectives. The dissolvable hollow ball is also being evaluated for restimulation processes whereby existing fissures in surrounding geologic formations can be temporarily closed for refracturing. The ceramic hollow balls naturally dissolve in surrounding frac fluid and are removed in dilute concentrations with brine flowback as oil and gas flow are reestablished.

Editor’s note: The copy herein is compiled from press releases and product announcements from service companies and does not reflect the opinions of Hart Energy. Submit your company’s updates related to new technology products and services to Faiza Rizvi at frizvi@hartenergy.com.

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