Offshore staff
STEINHAUSEN, Switzerland – Transocean Ltd. has deployed what it claims is the world’s first hybrid energy storage system aboard a floating drilling unit.
The system is now operational on the semisubmersible Transocean Spitsbergen, which is drilling at the Equinor-operated Snorre field offshore Norway.
Transocean’s patented hybrid power technology, developed in partnership with Aspin Kemp and Associates, is said to reduce fuel consumption and increase a dynamically positioned rig’s station-keeping reliability by capturing energy generated during normal rig operations that would otherwise be wasted, and storing it in batteries. This energy is then used to power the rig’s thrusters.
This operational and safety enhancement targets a 14% reduction in fuel use during normal operations, leading to a reduction in NOx and CO2 emissions.
The company’s investment is funded in part through fuel saving incentives in its contract with Equinor and by the Norwegian NOx Fund.
President and CEO Jeremy Thigpen said: “This first of its kind hybrid power upgrade will further enhance the reliability of our operations, while simultaneously reducing fuel consumption, operating costs, and our environmental footprint.
“We are pleased and proud to work alongside Equinor to jointly identify and implement more efficient and sustainable technology to deliver high-value wells to the industry.”
10/02/2019
