Caterpillar Oil & Gas launches new solution for GHG emissions reduction
Caterpillar Oil & Gas has launched its new Cat® Dynamic Gas Blending™(DGB) Gen 2 Kit. The solution enables drilling companies to utilize existing 3512C Tier 2 power solutions to lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and reduce total cost of ownership (TCO).[1]
Solutions that support climate-related targets and maintain efficiency without incurring significant additional costs are in demand, according to Caterpillar, and the 1 MW-rated DGB Gen 2 Kit addresses a critical need in the industry, as drillers today face the complexity of improving operational efficiency and reducing GHG emissions without compromising performance and uptime.
Dual-fuel technologies like the DGB Gen 2 Kit represent a key strategy to address rising fuel costs, evolving industry regulations and the CapEx associated with new gas engines. Optimized to blend diesel and natural gas, the DGB Gen 2 Kit features advanced cylinder technology that improves combustion efficiency. Its port injection system allows for precise air/gas ratio control at the individual cylinder level, resulting in faster response times while reducing unburned gas. Multi-port gas injectors and in-cylinder pressure/temperature systems enable real-time performance optimization for each cylinder.
In addition to lowering GHG emissions, the DGB Gen 2 Kit allows up to two times diesel displacement compared to traditional fumigated technologies to achieve an average 70% diesel displacement, and up to 85% peak displacement. This significantly reduces overall fuel consumption and empowers companies to accurately estimate diesel fuel savings.[ii]
Drilling companies can upgrade all engines on a four-engine rig for nearly the same cost as one new gas-powered engine, which supports decreased capital expenses while also ensuring a diesel-like transient response. Additionally, reducing diesel consumption allows the DGB Gen 2 Kit to help lower operating expenses.
"With the DGB Gen 2 Kit, drilling companies can maximize their investments in Tier 2 engines while significantly reducing GHG emissions,” stated Derek Kamp, vice president, Caterpillar Oil & Gas. “The ability to displace 70% of diesel consumption with natural gas without purchasing a new natural gas engine helps drilling companies optimize their existing assets and profitability."
