USING LNG FOR UPSTREAM OIL AND GAS OPERATIONS

摘要

Noble Energy, Inc. recently conducted a field study to evaluate the use of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to reduce diesel fuel usage in their drilling and hydraulic fracturing (frac) operations. Noble contracted four drilling rigs with three different types of aftermarket kits that enabled diesel engines to run on a combination of diesel and vaporized LNG, which is referred to as dual- fuel operation. The boilers on these rigs were converted to run on either 100% LNG or 100% diesel as a backup. Noble also contracted two frac crews with engines that utilized dual-fuel kits. Several field test programs were carried out from 2013 - 2016 with the objective of evaluating LNG kit and supplier performance. In this paper, Noble and Trimeric will summarize this evaluation of LNG use in upstream drilling and fracturing operations. The paper will discuss how equipment reliability and field support from LNG suppliers and kit manufacturers are differentiating factors in the success of LNG use. It will also discuss the importance of minimizing disruptions caused by the LNG supply and equipment in order to keep the operations crews onboard with the LNG use campaign. The importance of load optimization in order to maximize diesel displacement and minimize total fuel use will be reviewed, along with how this affects drilling and hydraulic fracturing operations differently. Generalized conclusions from safety reviews and an emissions testing campaign will be presented.