Gas Quality News

Wärtsilä introduced an upgraded version of its Wärtsilä 20DF dual-fuel engine that delivers increased power output, has a reduced environmental impact, and will feature a lower fuel consumption. It will also further increase the engine’s fuel flexibility by allowing a much wider gas quality span, down to methane number (MN) 65, while still delivering full output.The engine’s power per cylinder is increased from 185 to 195 kW, while the methane slip is lowered by as much as 40%, thereby reducing the CO2 emissions, according to the manufacturer.

MAN Energy Solutions said Wednesday it has won an order to supply its MAN B&W 7G80ME-GI Mk9.5 dual-fuel engines for a series of 10 300,000-dwt very large crude carriers (VLCC) being built by Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co. (DSME) in South Korea. HSD Engine will construct the engines, also in Korea.The newbuilds—including four for Advantage Tankers, three for AET and three for International Seaways—will operate globally on charter to oil major Shell. The series' first vessel is slated enter service in 2022…

Damen Shiprepair & Conversion has signed off on the conversion of a dredger to dual-fuel operation on liquefied natural gas (LNG) and marine gas oil (MGO), and which is powered by MAN 35/44DF engines.The conversion of the ‘Samuel de Champlain’ is the first of its kind in Europe and is part of an EU-supported initiative to promote LNG propulsion in short-sea vessels operating along the European Atlantic coast.The 117m, 8,500m³ trailing suction hopper dredger is owned by Rouen-based GIE Dragages-Ports and operated by Port of Nantes-Saint-Nazaire.

International Maritime Associates has completed a 12-month study of the global market for floating gas liquefaction plants and floating LNG regasification terminals. The 150+ page study, published by World Energy Reports, is the most detailed analysis yet made of this growing business sector. Project Success EvaluationThe IMA study is the first professional effort to systematically look at the universe of FLNG and FSRU projects in the planning stage – and categorize the likelihood of each making the development investment hurdle.

Hartmann Reederei, the German ship-management company, has confirmed that two of its vessels – the 36,000 m3 LEG (liquefied ethylene gas) carriers Gaschem Beluga and Gaschem Orca – powered by the world’s first ME-GIE (-Gas Injection Ethane) two-stroke engines have collectively accumulated 10,000 hours of operations since entering operation at the end of 2017.The carriers were ordered by Hartmann and Ocean Yield of Norway, and constructed at Sinopacific Offshore Engineering (SOE)…

European Autumn Gas Conference, The Hague: Greater use of LNG as fuel would reduce global emissions of greenhouse gases, but barriers remain to its widespread adoption. One challenge is the varying compositions of LNG fuel globally, which can lead to engine damage and failure. DNV GL has now addressed this by developing a new online PKI Methane Number Calculator1 to match fuel quality with an engine’s requirements, and which can also support the development of an international standard. The PKI Methane Number Calculator can be applied to a wide range of engine types and used across the entire supply chain by engine manufacturers, ship and truck owners, traders, as well as international policy makers on LNG.

Following a successful Network Innovation Competition bid in 2015, DNV GL has secured innovation funding from SGN to partner in a project to demonstrate the viability and practical reality of a mixed-source, energy-centric gas network for the future. The project was developed, and will be delivered, in partnership with SGN who are one of the UK's key gas distribution operators, and industry leaders in innovation. The integrated energy network of the future must be flexible, secure, cost effective and above all safe. The changing gas industry, driven by a reduced North Sea supply is increasingly required to accommodate gas from more diverse sources such as biomethane and shale gas.

Until now, there has been no international standard describing the methods for fiscal measurements and suitability for liquefied natural gas (LNG) as a marine fuel, despite the growing international market for small scale LNG bunkering. DNV GL’s updated Recommended Practice (RP) is the first industry guidance on how to perform quality measurements and quantity metering of LNG fuel supply. In order to continue meeting and supporting the market in its growing demand for cleaner fuels and versatile LNG applications, DNV GL has updated its RP for Development and operation of LNG bunkering facilities (DNVGL-RP-G105). The RP now includes a section dedicated to determining LNG quantity and its properties.

At the beginning of 2015 the exhaust limit values for sulfur oxides (SOx) grew ever tighter in emission controlled areas. And with the start of 2016, nitrogen oxides (NOx) values in certain emission control areas (ECAs) will be even more restricted. Dual fuel engines such as the newly developed MaK M 46 DF from Caterpillar help to support the drive for cleaner emissions in the maritime sector. Able to alternate from gas to diesel mode during operation, the new engine range offers the flexibility to operate vessels reliably in all geographical areas…

Caterpillar Oil & Gas will unveil the new Cat CG137-8 natural gas generator set  at the Bismarck Civic Center in Bismarck, North Dakota during the 2014 Williston Basin Petroleum Conference  now in progress from May 20 – 22nd. The new Cat CG137-8 generator set provides 282 ekW (352 kVA), 60 Hz @ 1800 rpm of rated power, offering customers an additional power node to complement existing Cat power solutions in land production applications. The CG137-8 generator set will now be available to order from the global Cat dealer network. “The CG137-8 generator  set power node is a great addition to the proven Cat G3306B (135 ekW) and CG137-12 (400 ekW) oilfield generator sets, Russ Goss, Caterpillar Oil & Gas  new product introduction project manager said.

Wärtsilä is participating for the first time in ADIPEC, the currently running Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference, for the first time, and is showcasing their Gas Reformer technology amongst other related hi-tech products. Also present at the event is Wärtsilä’s established Valves brand, which has demonstrated its pumps and valves capabilities in past ADIPEC events as part of the Hamworthy brand. The Wärtsilä GasReformer addresses the common challenges of gas, including low methane content and number, fluctuating gas quality and the presence of higher hydrocarbons. By converting higher hydrocarbons in natural or associated gas to increase fuel gas’ Methane Number, the GasReformer improves the Wärtsilä DualFuel engine’s performance and fuel flexibility.

Statoil said Britain risks losing out on gas imports if it does not change its pricing system for bringing natural gas onto the mainland from offshore fields. Rune Bjornson, managing director of Statoil (UK) Limited, said the recently introduced system of auctioning entry capacity, or access rights to the national pipeline system, produced very high, volatile prices. "We are not happy with the regime. We would like to have a predictable, stable regime which is more reflective of actual costs," Bjornson told Reuters in an interview. The erratic prices produced by the auction system will discourage producers like Statoil, one of Europe's main gas suppliers, from supplying gas into Britain where demand for natural gas is booming, he said.