Seadrill, Fuelsave partner to decarbonize offshore drilling

July 13, 2021
Fuelsave will deploy its combustion conditioning technology on the Seadrill drillship West Saturn.

Offshore staff

HAMBURG, Germany – Fuelsave will deploy its combustion conditioning technology on the Seadrill drillship West Saturn.

FS MARINE+ is said to optimize combustion through the injection of hydrogen, oxygen, water, and methanol. By making combustion more efficient, the system reduces fuel consumption and emissions, such as carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrogen oxide (NOx) and black carbon. CO2 emissions are expected to be cut by 10-15%, and NOx 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 six HIMSEN 16H32 / 40V engines with 8,000 kW each. Each will be specially configured for the vessel’s operational load profile, in line with DP-3 configuration.

Fuelsave CEO Marc Sima said: “Advanced combustion conditioning has a remarkable potential to actively decarbonize 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 decarbonizing its activities…

“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 emissions, such as nitrogen oxide 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.”

Seadrill COO Leif Nelson said: “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 decarbonization ambitions.”

The West Saturn is a 6th generation ultra-deepwater drillship adapted for water depths up to 3,600 m (11,811 ft). It features a double derrick and automated drilling control. The drillship will be deployed at the Equinor-operated Bacalhau field offshore Brazil.

07/13/2021