FUELSAVE and Seadrill partner on decarbonising offshore drilling

Seadrill’s 6^th generation West Saturn drillship will be fitted with FUELSAVE’s solution FS MARINE+, which optimises combustion through the dynamic injection of hydrogen, oxygen, water and methanol. By making combustion more efficient, the system significantly reduces fuel consumption and harmful emissions, such as CO₂, nitrogen oxides (NO_X) and black carbon (BC). Emissions of CO₂ are expected to be cut by 10-15%, and nitrous oxide (NO_X) by 30-80%.

Three FS MARINE+ units will be deployed on the drillship. There will be one in each engine room, with each unit connected to two engines. This will support a total of 6 HIMSEN 16H32 / 40V engines with 8000 kW each, or 48 000 kW MCR in total. Each will be specially configured for the vessel’s operational load profile, in line with DP3 configuration.

FUELSAVE’s CEO Marc Sima said: “Advanced combustion conditioning has a remarkable potential to actively decarbonise the offshore industry by reducing emissions at the source in a safe and efficient manner. Our solution has a unique value proposition for the retrofit market, as the offshore sector understands the importance of decarbonising its activities. We are proud to partner with Seadrill and deploy our solutions in this field for the first time, in collaboration with the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) as the classification society and HIMSEN as the engine manufacturer, and we look forward to supporting the offshore oil and gas sector throughout its decarbonisation journey.”

“The impact of FS MARINE+ is immediate and significant, with black carbon emissions cut by up to 33% and particulate matter by up to 40%, along with reductions in other greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, such as nitrogen oxide (NOX) emissions. Because it actually cleans up the combustion, advanced combustion conditioning leads to real emission reductions beyond mere primary fuel savings. Furthermore, the system is easy to retrofit and pays for itself through its OPEX savings from fuel economies, as well as a reduction in lube oil and maintenance-related costs. With more carbon offsetting schemes and tax benefits likely to enter into force in the coming years, the option will be even more attractive for businesses in the foreseeable future.”

Seadrill’s COO Leif Nelson commented: “This innovative technology will have an immediate impact on our emissions and significantly reduce the environmental footprint of our operations. At a time when the entire sector must move towards sustainability, this solution will be key to support our decarbonisation ambitions.”

Built in 2014, the West Saturn is a 6^th generation ultra-deepwater drillship adapted for water depths up to 3600 m. The high-spec drillship, which is equipped with features such as a double derrick and automated drilling control, will be deployed in the Bacalhau field in Brazil. Partners in Bacalhau are: Equinor, ExxonMobil, Petrogal Brasil and Pré-sal Petróleo SA.

FUELSAVE was founded in 2012 to reduce emissions in the transport and maritime sectors and enhance the energy efficiency of various industrial applications.

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Read the article online at: https://www.oilfieldtechnology.com/offshore-and-subsea/13072021/fuelsave-and-seadrill-partnership-to-decarbonise-offshore-drilling/