SPE 94432

Baselining and Reducing Air Emissions from an Offshore Drilling

Contractor's Perspective
M. Cadigan, SPE, and K. Payton, SPE, Noble Drilling Services Inc.

Copyright 2005, Society of Petroleum Engineers Inc.

This paper was prepared for presentation at the 2005 SPE/EPA/DOE Exploration and
Production Environmental Conference held in Galveston, Texas, U.S.A., 7 9 March 2005.
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Abstract
In recent years, global climate change and local air quality
have become some of the most pressing environmental
concerns. These concerns have led to collaborative
international efforts to reduce the concentration of greenhouse
gases and criteria pollutants. Greenhouse gases include carbon
dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) that
occur naturally and as the result of human activity. Criteria
pollutants include emissions of nitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxide,
carbon monoxide, and total unburned hydrocarbons. Drilling
contractors can play an important role in environmental
stewardship by reporting carbon emissions from drilling
operations, eliminating redundant emission measurements, and
leading the industry in efforts to reduce these emissions.
Noble Corporation is proactively pursuing methods to
manage and reduce greenhouse gases and criteria pollutant
emissions, improve diesel engine efficiency, and reduce diesel
consumption as a means of lowering emissions. This paper
presents Nobles current environmental initiatives and
successes to date, including:
The completion of a three-year base line inventory of
greenhouse gas emissions from its drilling units
worldwidea first in the drilling industry
Voluntary participation in the EPA Climate Leaders
program, a greenhouse gas emissions monitoring and
reduction program
Nobles strategy for setting targets for reducing the
amount of greenhouse gases produced by its offshore
drilling operations and improving diesel engine
efficiency through new diesel-injection technology

Implementation of a new rig-engine efficiency program,

which has led to the reduction of nitrogen oxide (NOx)
emissions by 30% and fuel consumption of 2%, a cost
reduction that will amount to an average of $5,000/year
for each engine.

To establish a base line of greenhouse gas emissions,

Noble used ChevronTexacos SANGEA Emissions
Monitoring Software and equipment specifications to calculate
greenhouse gas emissions retroactively and establish methods
to measure greenhouse gas emissions going forward. In
addition, Noble is measuring the output of criteria pollutants
using Continuous Emissions Monitoring System (CEMS)
technology and is evaluating the performance and durability of
the technology in harsh offshore conditions, with the ultimate
goal of installing gas analyzers on all of its offshore assets.
Reducing its fuel consumption not only reduces emissions
of greenhouse gases and other pollutants, it promotes a cleaner
workplace and allows Noble to pass along fuel cost savings to
its customers.
Introduction
Greenhouse gases released naturally and from human activity
have the ability to absorb heat in the earths atmosphere,
subsequently warming the earths surface and atmosphere.
One potential result of anthropogenic greenhouse gases is
theorized to be a global climate change, the ramifications of
which could be significant. Controlling and monitoring the
release of these gases is paramount in lessening the potential
affect that they may have on the environment.
Noble is taking several important steps in an effort to
reduce greenhouse gas emissions from its drilling activities.
These steps include establishing a baseline of its greenhouse
gas emissions, monitoring and reporting emissions, and
improving rig engine efficiency. All of these efforts are
controlled and monitored as part of Nobles ISO 14001
certified management system. To date, all of Nobles
operating rigs worldwide are certified to ISO 14001 by Det
Norske Veritas (DNV).

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SPE 94432

Establishing a Baseline
In order to identify technologies and methods for reducing
greenhouse gas emissions from its operations and potentially
initiate an internal cap-and-trade program, Noble took the
initiative to establish a fleet-wide baseline of greenhouse gas
emissions. In a cap-and-trade program, total emission
allowances are capped. When a company has excess
allowances as the result of emissions improvements, etc., it
can trade those allowances to another company or entity that
requires additional allowances.
Beginning in 2002, Noble employed a consulting company
to perform a pilot inventory that would quantify annual
greenhouse gas emissions aboard one of its drilling rigs, the
Noble Earl Fredrickson. Once the significant sources of
greenhouse gas emissions were determined, emissions levels
were calculated for years 2000 and 2001 using equipment
specifications, including operating horsepower, annual run
time, and diesel fuel usage. The inventory included all
greenhouse pollutants directly emitted from significant rig
sources. Based on the pollutant-specific Global Warming
Potential (an index that compares the relative potential of
greenhouse gases to contribute to global warming), the
emissions were converted to CO2 Equivalents to demonstrate
the potential environmental impact of the greenhouse gases
released.
The total CO2 Equivalent emissions for 2000 and 2001
were 9,437.64 and 9,907.92 metric tons per year, respectively.
Most of the emission sources were identified as diesel-driven
electrical generators and equipment.
The findings of the baseline inventory prompted Noble to
complete an inventory of every rig in its fleet in 2003 to
develop a global baseline (Fig. 1). Using ChevronTexacos
SANGEATM Emissions Monitoring Software, Noble used
equipment specifications and fuel consumption records to
calculate greenhouse gas emissions retroactively, establishing
a three-year baseline of greenhouse gas emissions for each rig.
Noble is the only drilling company that has used this software
to create a baseline for emissions. Methods were also
established to measure emissions levels going forward.

Using these baselines, Noble is identifying new

technologies and methods for reducing greenhouse gas
emissions from its operations, which focus on improving
diesel engine efficiency.
Monitoring and Reporting Emissions
In 2004, Noble joined a voluntary greenhouse gas emissions
monitoring and reduction program called EPA Climate
Leaders. Membership requires that Noble provide an annual
inventory of greenhouse gas emissions, evaluate methods to
reduce these emissions, and develop and present emission
reduction goals to the EPA.
Noble is currently completing its program base year (2004)
greenhouse gas emissions inventory and Inventory
Management Plan. Noble will then work closely with the EPA
to set an individualized greenhouse gas reduction goal.
Per EPA Climate Leaders Program specifications, that goal
must be:
Accepted company-wide
Based on the most recent available base-year data
Achieved over 5 to 10 years
Expressed as an absolute greenhouse gas reduction or as
a decrease in greenhouse gas intensity
Aggressive, when compared with the performance of the
industry
Improving Diesel Engine Efficiency
As a part of the strategy to reduce its operational impact on the
environment by reducing greenhouse gas emissions, Noble
began monitoring its diesel powered rigs. Since baseline
studies identified diesel engines as the source of the majority
of greenhouse gas emissions aboard Nobles rigs, Noble now
employs new diesel injection technology. This technology
combines the use of low-sac injectors and engine injector
timing retardation, thus reducing energy consumption and
NOx emissions without reducing engine response or power
output.
In diesel engines, a series of complex physical and
chemical occurrences comprise diesel combustion. The
engines design can affect those events making the engine
more or less efficient in regards to fuel use and emissions
release. The design that Noble employs uses commercially
available low-sac injectors that hold no fuel beyond what is
required for combustion and power, leaving no excess fuel in
the injector after firing. Thus, there is a reduction in the
emissions that are released.
Noble has also retarded the engine-injector timing,
lowering the temperature of combustion gases and reducing
the amount of NOx produced. Because the altered injector
timing is coupled with low-sac injectors, fuel consumption is
decreased, not increased as is normal with timing retardation.
As a result, NOx emissions are lowered and fuel efficiency is
increased.

Fig. 1 CO2 baseline

(thousands of tonnes)

emissions

for

2001

through

2003

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SPE 94432

Rig-Engine Efficiency Program

Under the new rig efficiency program, which includes the
improved diesel engine low-sac design and timing retardation
combination, NOx emissions have decreased 30%, and fuel
consumption has decreased 2%, amounting to an average
savings of $5,000 a year per engine. Total savings equal about
$270,000 per year.
An additional aspect of the goal to improve rig efficiency
is the installation of permanent devices such as CEMS
technology for continuously monitoring sulfur, NOx, and CO2
emissions (known as criteria pollutants, which contribute to
smog and pollution) of diesel engines on an operating rig. If
the results of the experiment are favorable, Noble could install
the devices throughout its global fleet, thus furthering its
commitment to reduce operational impact on the environment.
Fig. 2 provides Nobles engine emissions prior to the
installation of rig efficiency devices.

Evaluating New Technologies

To further improve its engine efficiencies and reduce air
emissions, Noble is currently evaluating additional efficiency
measures in its worldwide fleet. Some of the options currently
being evaluated include reconfiguring its rig engine power
management programs to achieve more efficient use from
fewer engines, and the use of synthetic lubricants that can
extend the life of engine oil and enhance efficiency. Nobles
power management strategy is aimed at load sharing and
minimizing inefficient low loading levels. This effort will help
the engines run more efficiently and reduce overall emissions.
While synthetic lubricants are more expensive, they have a
longer useful life and can contribute to fuel savings and
emission reductions.
In addition to these efforts, Noble continues to work with
manufacturers to test emerging injection technology for its rig
engines. Noble is currently evaluating pilot injection, which
uses two-phase diesel injection during the combustion cycle,
further optimizing engine efficiency.
Acknowledgements
Noble Corporation would like to acknowledge ChevronTexaco
for use of its SANGEA Emissions Monitoring Software and
equipment specifications and Trinity Consultants for
performing the pilot greenhouse gas inventory on the Noble
Earl Fredrickson drilling rig.

Fig. 2 Engine emission criteria pollutants (thousands of tones)

for 2001, 2002 and 2003

Developing Industry Standards

Currently, monitoring and reducing emissions is on a
voluntary basis, but as governments develop more stringent
environmental plans, it is likely that limits on carbon
emissions will be implemented. As more companies begin to
monitor and reduce emissions, the industry at large will need
to set standards and guidelines regarding emissions tracking
and reporting to avoid duplication of numbers, as well as to
assign proper credit for reductions when needed. For example,
Noble is currently monitoring and reporting its emissions and
emission reductions throughout its drilling fleet. However,
because the oil companies with which the drilling contract
exists pay for the diesel used to run the drilling rigs, that
company may also report the emissions reductions. This
situation creates a potential for duplicate reporting.
Elimination of gray areas regarding emission tracking and
reporting will help create transparency in the reporting process
and help ensure that more accurate numbers are reported
throughout the industry.

References
1. Glossary, CO2e website,
http://www.co2e.com/common/glossary.asp,
retrieved January 6, 2005.
2. Setting the Standard for GHG Management,
Climate Leaders U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency website, http://www.epa.gov/climateleaders/,
retrieved January 5, 2005.
3. Boudreaux, Clyde J. Jr.: Diesel Injection
Technology Saves Fuel, Reduces Emissions, Oil
and Gas Journal (Sept. 9, 2002) 51.

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