- Joint technology-focused program to pursue industrial
solutions designed to reduce environmental impact of oil and gas
production
- Companies launch an Open Innovation Challenge seeking
solutions which can improve the use of sand in onshore
operations
FAIRFIELD, Connecticut and STAVANGER, Norway, Jan. 28,
2015 /PRNewswire/ -- GE and Statoil announced a new
collaboration to accelerate the development of more environmentally
and economically sustainable energy solutions to help fuel the
future. This joint technology-focused program is aimed at driving
an industrial response to some of the biggest challenges facing
global oil and gas production, including flaring, CO2
and methane emissions, and water usage, while also optimizing
business operations.
"In order to respond to the growing energy demands of the world,
continued investments in technology and innovation are critical to
helping develop long-term, low-cost and more efficient energy
solutions," said Jeff Immelt,
Chairman and CEO of GE. "The collaboration we are announcing today
with Statoil brings together two leading technology players, and
allows us to leverage our global network of engineers and
technologists to make a profound impact on the development of
energy solutions that reduce environmental impacts. Through this
collaboration, we hope to be a model for the rest of our industry,
and to inspire thinking, creativity and innovation in addressing
the challenges of more sustainable energy."
"The challenge of achieving more efficient and sustainable
energy production is too large for one entity to address alone,"
said Eldar Saetre, President and CEO
of Statoil. "The private sector has a responsibility to
leverage its skills and expertise to contribute to the development
of new solutions. Collaboration is a key component to achieving
important positive change. This initiative with GE is a good
example of an innovative approach to accelerate innovation and help
address the energy needs of today and for the future."
Driving Efficiency through Innovation
The program will focus on developing new approaches to create
efficient, low-cost technologies for oil and shale gas production
while simultaneously reducing emissions. In its initial stage, the
collaboration builds on a foundation of concrete projects already
initiated that address key sustainability dimensions of the
industry, including:
- Reduce flaring and lower CO2 intensity
through innovative application of CNG In A Box™ as part of the
innovative Last Mile Fueling solution: Provide a full-service
natural gas fueling solution for operations by capturing,
compressing, and using natural gas that would be otherwise flared
at well sites. Compressed natural gas (CNG) can be used to fuel
rigs, vehicles, and other equipment, thereby reducing the use of or
replacing the need for diesel.
- Reduce water usage through CO2 Stimulation:
Use liquefied CO2 stimulation to both reduce water usage
in fracturing operations and increase oil and gas production.
- Increase fuel efficiency through Gas Compressor
Optimization: Increase performance, efficiency, and extend
maintenance intervals through optimization of gas compressor
components.
- Increase fuel efficiency with Turbine Online Water
Wash technology: Increase performance; reduce planned and
unplanned turbine downtime by cleaning turbines during
operation.
The collaboration, in later phases, will also pursue work on a
range of solutions, from the rapid scale-up of technologies that
help address the operational needs of the industry today to
longer-term solutions that can support the industry as it matures
to meet tomorrow's energy needs.
Initial estimates show that the successful execution of these
first five projects could result in significant combined
CO2 savings. The Last Mile Fueling solution in the
Williston Basin in North Dakota has the potential to reduce the
equivalent of 120,000 – 200,000 tons per year of CO2
emissions through reduced diesel fuel usage, while the other
projects being developed hold potential for similar, or even
larger, reductions. Additionally, the collaboration aims to reduce
water usage as well as methane and NOX emissions, while at the same
time increasing oil and gas production.
Calling All Innovators
In the spirit of this collaboration, GE and Statoil are also
launching a global Open Innovation Challenge. Knowing that great
ideas can be conceptualized outside of their own companies, the
Challenge will invite innovators from around the world and beyond
the oil and gas industry to develop potential solutions to make
energy production more sustainable. The first phase of the Open
Innovation Challenge specifically aims to address the use of sand
in unconventional operations. Focusing on sand--which requires
thousands of truck trips to transport this proppant onto the site
when drilling new wells--has the potential to reduce the
environmental impacts on local communities, lessen emissions and
make energy production more efficient. GE Oil & Gas and Statoil
will help fund the commercial development of winning
approaches.
"While the actions directly involved with producing energy have
an impact on more sustainable energy production, so too do indirect
operations that surround production," said Lorenzo Simonelli, president and CEO of GE Oil
& Gas. "At GE we know that some of the best ideas we have
brought to life were initially conceptualized outside of our
company. That's why we're launching the Open Innovation Challenge
as part of this collaboration to solicit ideas for a most unique
challenge in onshore operations. With the collaboration between GE
and Statoil, we can bring scale and resources to ideas that target
more sustainable energy solutions, and can help develop and
implement these technologies in a way that benefits us all."
About GE
GE (NYSE: GE) works on things that matter. The best people and
the best technologies taking on the toughest challenges. Finding
solutions in energy, health and home, transportation and finance.
Building, powering, moving and curing the world. Not just
imagining. Doing. GE works. For more information, visit the
company's website at www.ge.com.
About GE Oil & Gas
GE Oil & Gas works on the things that matter in the oil and
gas industry. In collaboration with our customers, we push the
boundaries of technology to bring energy to the world. From
extraction to transportation to end use, we address today's
toughest challenges in order to fuel the future. Follow GE Oil
& Gas on Twitter @GE_OilandGas.
About Statoil
Statoil is an international energy company with operations in 34
countries. Building on 40 years of experience from oil and gas
production on the Norwegian continental shelf, we are committed to
accommodating the world's energy needs in a responsible manner,
applying technology and creating innovative business solutions.
Statoil's headquarter is in Stavanger, Norway with approximately 23,000 employees
worldwide, and the company is listed on the New York and Oslo stock exchanges.