A contract to undertake a significant electrification project for Equinor’s Askepott jackup rig in Norway has been awarded to KCA Deutag.
Once the electrification project is completed in Q4 2024, the Askepott rig will be the first in Equinor’s portfolio to be powered from onshore. It will be provided by KCA Deutag’s Kenera business unit.
The Martin Linge A platform, which lies 42 kilometres west of the Oseberg Field in the Norwegian Continental Shelf (NCS) and already receives power from the coast via the world’s longest alternating current cable, will provide Askepott with high voltage cabling. Green House Gas (GHG) emissions will be significantly reduced and energy-efficient drilling operations will be made possible by the electrification of the Askepott rig in the field. When compared to using conventional diesel generators, it is estimated that the project will save twenty thousand tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) annually based on historical data and projected computations.
Kenera’s conversion of the Askepott mud treatment room into an electrical power room, complete with transformers, VFDs, and high-voltage switch boards certified to DNV classification criteria, is a crucial component of the project.
For Askepott’s daily operations, Kenera will supply a turnkey solution that includes initial procurement, detailed engineering, installation, and commissioning. Equinor and KCA Deutag’s team in Norway will then take over the project.
This project is the continuation of earlier CO2 emission reduction initiatives by Kenera, which also involved the energy optimisation of Equinor’s two Cat J rigs, the Askepott and Askeladden. As part of Equinor’s long-term low emissions strategy for 2050, these projects used CO2 and nitrogen oxide (NOx) reduction technology, which led to the elimination of more than 85% of NOx emissions.
“This project to electrify Askepott will demonstrate the opportunities for rig electrification of assets across Equinor’s portfolio and indeed the wider sector as the industry looks to reduce total energy consumption and create more sustainable drilling operations. The award is also an important milestone for Kenera, as we continue to focus upon decarbonisation technologies and the energy transition. It will demonstrate and build industry confidence in our capability to electrify offshore and mobile assets.”
Gordon Ronaldson, Senior Vice President at Kenera.
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