DNV partners up with Ocyan, LZ Energia to decarbonise drilling operations

Ocyan, a subsidiary of the Novonor group that provides solutions for the upstream offshore oil and gas industry in Brazil and abroad, and LZ Energia, developer of technological solutions to reduce its customers’ operations fuel consumption and air pollution, have appointed DNV, the global independent energy expert and assurance provider, as a technical advisor on their Brazil project intended to decarbonise drilling operations.

According to DNV, it will act as an independent third party in the qualification process of a system injecting hydrogen as an additive in the internal combustion engines of drilling rigs, in order to reduce diesel consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from drilling.

DNV said its technology qualification process will ensure that the technology achieves the expected degree of maturity, following provisions in DNV-RP-A203, which provides the industry with a systematic approach to technology qualification, ensuring that new technologies function reliably within specified limits.

The company’s comprehensive approach involves three fully integrated fronts: the technology’s qualification process (demonstrating the performance and reliability of the system), the assessment of operational risks (with a focus on the safety of the new system and of the drilling rig), and the assessment of class requirements (evaluating the requirements of the Classification Society for the issuance of an “Approval in Principle” for the system).

“DNV’s expertise and purpose across energy systems makes us well placed to support the safe, efficient, and accelerated decarbonisation of upstream oil and gas, especially with innovative and important projects like this one, which, once scaled, will accelerate the decarbonisation of the oil and gas sector. Our cross-disciplinary approach ensures that all technological, safety, and regulatory aspects are fulfilled prior to deploying the technology, providing transparency and trust for the different stakeholders,” said Alex Imperial, Vice President of Energy Systems, South America, at DNV.

Leandro Brandão, Business Manager at Ocyan, said: “Starting from a pilot concept that LZ uses in engines for the road segment (trucks), we are adapting it for use in large engines of our rigs. By using hydrogen together with diesel, and optimising combustion, the differential of the proposal is saving fuel and emitting fewer pollutants.

He continued: ”After carrying out a pilot test on one of our rigs earlier this year to validate the concept, we are still in the first phase of the project, which includes the delivery of the functional prototype of the product. Having overcome all the challenges of this phase, in the future, we intend to continue with a second stage, whose efforts will be based on tests in a relevant environment and the commercialisation of the product.”

The Ocyan and LZ Energia project is also supported by Shell Brazil through the RD&I investment clause of the National Petroleum Agency (ANP).

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