Ship classification organization American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) has granted approval in principle for a floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel for blue ammonia designed by MODEC Inc. and TOYO Engineering Corp. Blue ammonia is ammonia produced using natural gas with emission mitigation technology such as carbon capture. The MODEC-TOYO FPSO is intended to use associated gas conventionally reinjected into the reservoir. For carbon dioxide (CO2) mitigation, the vessel would include a facility to capture and store emissions from the process of converting gas to ammonia, as well as CO2 from gas turbine generators, according to MODEC. “The concept of producing blue ammonia offshore is achieved by combining MODEC’s expertise in overall layout, hull design and mooring technology, cultivated in Oil & Gas FPSO projects, with TOYO’s expertise in ammonia production process design and FPSO equipment design”, MODEC said in a press release Thursday. The FPSO’s hull, which stores and offtakes the produced ammonia, was developed with help from Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Co. Ltd. TOYO meanwhile has partnered with Houston, Texas-based engineering firm KBR Inc. for its ammonia production technique. “This blue ammonia is expected to serve as an alternative fuel and hydrogen carrier in the energy transition”, MODEC said. “MODEC considers this AiP [approval in principle] as an initial step in the development of a floating solution for alternative energy production and will continue to strive to refine and mature this concept to address the key challenges for commercialization identified through this development, aiming to provide a safe and affordable alternative energy supply solution”. The blue ammonia FPSO is positioned as the first concept design among floating alternative energy production systems envisioned in MODEC’s business plan for 2024-26. MODEC also aims to develop floating facilities for hydrogen and methanol, according to the plan published February 14, 2024. Under the plan,

In a release sent to Rigzone on Thursday, Baker Hughes announced “major gas technology orders for Venture Global LNG”. Baker Hughes said in the release that it has been awarded a major contract to provide a modularized liquefied natural gas (LNG) system and power island to support Venture Global LNG projects in the United States. The company added that it has also signed a multi-year services frame agreement, including maintenance, inspection, repairs and engineering services, to support phases one and two of Venture Global’s Plaquemines LNG project in Louisiana. Baker Hughes noted in the release that the equipment order and services agreement were both secured in the fourth quarter of 2024. The company did not provide the value of the deals in the release. Rigzone asked Baker Hughes how much the deals are worth and if they will result in more jobs or job retention. A Baker Hughes spokesperson told Rigzone the company was “unable to disclose the value of the deals mentioned, as this information isn’t public”. The spokesperson added that Baker Hughes “can’t provide further details about the project at this time”. “As power demand surges, LNG has a critical role to play in providing a reliable, flexible fuel source that can be quickly scaled to meet rising demand,” Lorenzo Simonelli, the chairman and CEO of Baker Hughes, said in the release. “We have been a trusted partner in natural gas operations for more than 30 years, and our collaboration with Venture Global is a key example of what our industry needs more of today: businesses coming together to leverage best-in-class technologies and services that can deliver reliable and efficient natural gas operations to support sustainable energy development,” he added. Mike Sabel, the CEO of Venture Global, said in the release, “Baker Hughes continues to be a trusted partner

The European Commission said Thursday it plans to award nearly EUR 1.25 billion ($1.3 billion) in grants to 41 cross-border energy infrastructure projects, mostly in the study stage. The funding is from the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) for Energy, which supports the implementation of the European Union’s Trans-European Networks for Energy (TEN-E) Regulation. The regulation aims to link national and regional power, low-carbon gas, hydrogen and carbon dioxide infrastructure. Thursday’s announcement constitutes “the largest call for proposals under the current CEF Energy program, both in terms of applications received and funding awarded and goes beyond the call’s initial indicative budget of EUR 850 million”, the Commission said in an online statement. The call was made last year as the inaugural grant deployment of the revised TEN-E Regulation, put into effect June 2022 to align with the EU’s goal of turning into a net-zero emissions economy by 2050. The selected projects announced Thursday, consisting of 36 studies and five work proposals, had obtained the status of Project of Common Interest or Project of Mutual Interest in 2024 under the TEN-E Regulation, the Commission said. Almost EUR 750 million has been earmarked for eight power grid projects, including offshore and smart grids. The bulk of the grid allotment at EUR 645 million will support the Bornholm Energy Island project. The project involves the building of a first-of-a-kind hybrid interconnector in the Baltic Sea that links to Denmark and Germany. The project will integrate three gigawatts (GW) of offshore wind capacity, according to the Commission. “Another grant for construction works of almost EUR 33 million will go to Danube InGrid, a cross-border smart electricity project between Hungary and Slovakia that will integrate renewable energy and more efficiently balance the system”, the Commission said. The other six – located in Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, France, Slovakia and Spain – will receive study support. “To help decarbonize

The UK submitted a plan to the United Nations to cut its CO2 emissions by at least 81 percent by 2035, just as the country’s status as a global climate leader comes under increased scrutiny. The government fleshed out the goal Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced at the COP29 summit in November, touting its credentials as the first Group-of-Seven country to phase out coal, its phaseout of new cars relying solely on the combustion engine by 2030 and its policy of not issuing new oil and gas exploration licenses. By submitting its so-called Nationally Determined Contribution, the UK is marking itself out as one of the few large economies boosting its ambitions against a backdrop of inflation and concern over the cost of the climate transition.  “The UK’s bold new climate plan means it is even better placed to cash in on the climate action boom,” said Simon Stiell, executive secretary of UN climate change. “Other countries, across the G20 and around the world, should follow suit.” Still, the Labour government’s green credentials have been questioned as it pushes to build a controversial third runway at London’s Heathrow airport. It’s also facing a key test over how it will deal with a court challenge to fossil fuel developments in the North Sea. There’s growing concern over global climate action. US President Donald Trump is set to pull the world’s highest historical emitter out of the landmark Paris Agreement of 2015, which committed countries to keeping global warming below 2C and ideally 1.5C. The European Union is also facing a stiff challenge from climate skeptic parties across the continent. “The UK has demonstrated it is back in the business of climate leadership,” according to the plan published Thursday. “There is no global stability without climate stability.” All countries have to submit their

American oilfield services firm Baker Hughes (NYSE:BKR) has beaten analyst profit estimates with an 8% increase in revenue and a 36% jump in adjusted net income in its full year results. Baker Hughes achieved an adjusted profit of $0.70 per share in the fourth quarter, surpassing analyst expectations of $0.63. The company’s industrial and energy technology (IET) segment experienced strong growth, with orders rising by 44% and revenue reaching $3.5 billion. Baker Hughes attributed the surge to robust demand for compressors, turbines and other modular systems used in gas processing. The IET segment also secured $3.8bn in orders in the fourth quarter of 2024, supported by strong liquefied natural gas (LNG) orders. This week, Baker Hughes also secured a major contract with Venture Global LNG in the United states. Overall, the company booked $13bn in orders in 2024, its second highest order year ever. Baker Hughes chairman and chief executive officer Lorenzo Simonelli said the order performance “highlights the end-market diversity and versatility of our portfolio”. “As reflected in our strong 2024 results and our exceptional margin improvement, Baker Hughes has evolved into a more profitable energy and industrial technology company,” he said. “Company results are benefiting from strong execution, sharpened commercial focus and improved productivity gains.” Despite strong growth in its IET segment, Baker Hughes saw revenue decline by 5% in North America in its oilfield services segment. Meanwhile, international revenues, which includes the company’s North Sea and European operations, saw a slight decline, with a 1% decrease compared to the previous year. Recommended for you BP isn’t moving fast enough in the energy transition

Norwegian oil and gas firm Equinor has awarded Tromsø-based Lufttransport RW a contract to operate five Leonardo AW189 helicopters for offshore flights. The aircraft will be used to transport passengers to offshore facilities on the Norwegian continental shelf (NCS) from bases in Sola and Florø. The company joins CHC and Bristow in operating offshore flights for Equinor on the NCS, with the agreement last for seven years with options for a further six years. Equinor said the total value of the contract, including options, is worth approximately 7 billion NOK (£499m). Last year, Equinor signed agreements to procure 15 new offshore helicopters aimed at reducing reliance on the Sikorsky S-92 model. Sikorsky S-92 helicopter at the Gina Krog field in the North Sea. (Photo: Øyvind Gravås – Woldcam / Equinor ASA) After the removal of the Airbus Super Puma from operations in the industry, the S-92 has over time become the dominant aircraft for flights in the offshore oil and gas sector. But there are some concerns about the safety record of the S-92 following a crash in Norway last year which killed an Equinor employee during a training exercise. Helicopter operators have also struggled with a spare parts crisis for the S-92, leading to efforts to diversify the offshore fleet in the North Sea. Equinor helicopter fleet In addition to the five AW189 helicopters from Leonardo, American firm Bell will deliver 10 Bell 525 helicopters to Equinor from 2026. The AW189 and Bell 525 are both super medium-type helicopters, with space for 16 passengers. Equinor senior vice president Ørjan Kvelvane said the safety of employees who travel by helicopter is the firm’s “utmost priority”. “New helicopters will make helicopter traffic more robust,” Kvelvane said. “Safe, predictable and efficient transportation is crucial to safely maintain a high activity level on