As the energy industry collectively moves to reduce its carbon footprint, the lack of accurate emissions data continues to be an obstacle. Often, greenhouse gas emissions from the wellsite are estimated based on the amount of fuel purchased. However, there is lack of information on the amount of fuel used and opportunities for emissions optimization.

RigCLOUD, a provider of cloud-based rig instrumentation, analytics and digital operations platform has released its Drilling Emissions Reports, which are designed to help users optimize engine utilization and reduce their carbon footprint while drilling.

The tool, which is available to both drillers and operators, provides accurate and reliable data on fuel consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, CO2 per foot drilled, average engine load and average number of engines online during each drilling activity—all accessible with the click of a button.

To optimize emissions output, drilling contractors and operators have visibility into the minimum engine requirements throughout the well construction process. This capability enables customers to reduce their environmental impact without compromising operational performance.

“The number of E&P companies making commitments on Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions is growing rapidly and these commitments have extended beyond publicly traded supermajors,” Kolby Franz, operations manager at RigCLOUD told Hart Energy. "RigCLOUD’s emissions reporting and analytics are enabling operators and drilling contractors to keep their commitments on reduction of Scope 1 emissions by providing visibility into a critical component of the production process—drilling.”

He continued, "There are four primary components on the emissions reduction journey: Measure, report, set targets and reduce. We’ve covered the measurement and reporting. We’ve also set targets based on the minimum engine requirements by drilling operation. In the coming months, RigCLOUD will support all four steps of the operator’s emissions journey," he said.

Franz noted that by incorporating engine management, operators will have confidence that their drilling rigs are emitting the lowest amount of greenhouse gases possible without compromising performance or safety. "This will be a game-changing technology that we’re considering for other applications beyond drilling. It’s an exciting time in the industry because we are using our technology and competencies to solve complex climate challenges in an impactful way," he said.

Built and owned by Nabors Industries, RigCloud plans on enhancing its tool by adding engine optimization and management solutions. The technology will be upgraded to provide activity-based estimations of peak power demand using AI-based predictions. Similar to modern cars with auto-stop features, rig engines will cycle on or off as required during certain drilling activities to optimize greenhouse gas emissions.

Subodh Saxena, SVP of Nabors Drilling Solutions, said: “This is an exciting time in the industry as we embrace sustainability with the same collective sense of urgency that enabled us to deliver substantial operational efficiency gains and overcome safety challenges. We are using RigCLOUD’s technology across Nabors’ fleet to improve our carbon footprint in the oil field and I expect that this type of technology will be embraced across the industry.”