Hyzon Motors, a global supplier of zero-emissions hydrogen fuel cell powered commercial vehicles, is teaming up with Schlumberger Limited, a technology company specialising in energy, to reduce emissions in upstream oil & gas operations
A joint development agreement (JDA) between the two companies will see Hyzon utilising high-power fuel cell systems for heavy-duty commercial mobility to co-develop zero-emissions fuel cell power generations solutions.
"Hyzons's fuel cell technology was purpose-built to withstand the challenges of heavy duty trucking; the durability, the performance, and power required for that application provide the foundation for fuel cells to power Schlumberger oil & gas field operations," said Parker Meeks, chief strategy officer, Hyzon Motors.
This technology should neatly integrate into Schlumberger's portfolio of Intelligent Power Management solutions. It is projected that the first fuel cell power module in oil and gas field operations will take place late 2022, beginning with powering an onshore drilling rig application.
"Building a lower-carbon future while meeting the ever-growing demand for energy requires unprecedented accountability, newfound operational efficiencies, and early investment in promising technologies," said Brian Winter, product manager for Rig Equipment, Schlumberger. The fuel cell power systems implemented in well construction operations will lead to the elimination of generator noise, vibration, and maintenance, while a drilling rig powered by hydrogen fuel cell systems is projected to consume approx. 2.5 tonnes per day of hydrogen; when fuelled by zero carbon intensity hydrogen, around 10,000 tonnes of CO2 would be eliminated per year. "Schlumberger is excited to pilot Hyzon's hydrogen fuel cell systems to power rigs and enable rapid drilling decarbonisation today," concluded Winter.