Energy technology company Baker Hughes and Russia’s largest independent gas producer Novatek have formed a partnership to retrofit facilities to allow hydrogen blends in natural gas and LNG production.

Baker Hughes’ compression and power generation technology solutions will be developed and implemented into Novatek’s LNG projects, with the aim of reducing emissions.

The first step will be a pilot programme that introduces hydrogen blends into the main process for natural gas liquefaction to reduce CO₂ emissions from LNG facilities, including Novatek’s Yamal LNG complex.

“Hydrogen technologies have great prospects to reduce the level of global greenhouse gas emissions” Mikhelson, Novatek

Novatek chairman Leonid Mikhelson said: “Baker Hughes is one of the main equipment suppliers to our Yamal LNG and Arctic LNG 2 projects. We are expanding our cooperation with them to develop efficient and economically viable solutions to mitigate the impact of climate change on our projects.

“Hydrogen technologies have great prospects to reduce the level of global greenhouse gas emissions, and further work is required to develop and adapt these technologies for operations in Arctic climatic conditions.”

Baker Hughes will provide engineering and turbomachinery equipment to convert existing natural gas liquefaction trains at Yamal LNG to run on hydrogen blends rather than solely run with methane from feed gas. 

Lorenzo Simonelli, chairman and CEO of Baker Hughes added: “We are working with Novatek to introduce the first solution for decarbonising the core of the LNG production—the turbines driving the liquefaction process.

“The combination of our world-class expertise in LNG engineering and deep experience with hydrogen compression technology positions us to further lead in reducing emissions from LNG operations and further support the energy transition.”

Novatek produces more than 77bn m³/yr, with about 9bn m³/yr of LNG sold in international markets. The Siberian Arctic three-train Yamal LNG project shipped its first LNG cargo in 2017 and its current design reached full capacity in 2018.

Hydrogen blends present significant opportunities for the natural gas sector to cut emissions for LNG turbomachinery equipment, the main mechanical driver of the liquefaction process. 

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Author: Alastair O’Dell<BR>Senior Editor