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Managing energy efficiency and operation requirements for drilling oil rig.

Name: Quality Energy
Address: 27 Roberna Street, Moorabbin Victorian, VIC, 3189, AU
Telephone: 1800 736 374

The problem

Quality Energy was given the task of improving the power factor of a land rig owned and run by Ensign Energy. The land rig required more drilling power than the four generator sets (engine and alternator) installed could provide. We discovered that Low Power Factor was limiting the drilling power potential of the rig, resulting in the gen-sets not delivering the maximum power. Ensign Energy contacted Quality Energy to explore an alternative solution to installing another gen-set, which would require high infrastructure and maintenance cost.

The solution

Over the years Quality Energy has worked on numerous projects in the Oil & Gas sector so we understand the nature of drilling rigs' electrical systems. Quality Energy installed our customised Power Factor Correction Units, which had a 2.88MVar capacitor bank to improve the power factor from 0.4-0.5 inductive to the gen-set requirement of 0.7 PF.

Benefits and Outcomes

The installation of the PFC Units was far more cost-efficient than the purchase of a new gen-set. PFC units also require no additional fuel.

Now the rig is running closer to peak efficiency without the need to add more generation to perform the job at hand. It’s a win for Beach Energy, Ensign Energy and the environment.