Waukesha-Pearce Industries Inc. and GE Energy recently completed the deployment of three Waukesha VHP L7044GSI natural gas engines for Antero Resources and Patterson-UTI Drilling Co. LLC in Harrison County, W.Va., where Antero is performing drilling operations in the Marcellus Shale.
‘The low-cost nature of switching to natural gas-fired rigs versus the conventional diesel-fired rigs and the intense focus on reduced emissions make the Series Four 7044 a terrific choice,’ says Kevin Kilstrom, vice president of production for Antero Resources.
In addition to enabling Antero to realize fuel-cost savings (natural gas is half the price of diesel in the region), the L7044GSI engines have a reduced maintenance schedule versus other spark-ignited and diesel engines.
‘Rich-burn engines operate at lower cylinder pressures, providing longer operational times between oil changes, top-end overhauls and complete overhauls,’ explains Brian White, president of GE's Waukesha gas engines business unit.
Antero says it intends to replace additional drilling-rig diesel engines with natural gas power in other locations.
