China Unveils World’s Most Powerful Floating Wind Turbine Prototype

SBM Offshore has received an approval in principle (AiP) from American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) for its NearZero floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) concept, marking a step forward in the development of lower-carbon offshore production units.

According to SBM Offshore, the NearZero FPSO design integrates a suite of low-carbon technologies at a systems level, collectively targeting a near-zero Scope 3 carbon emissions profile and achieving up to an 80% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. ABS completed its assessment based on applicable class and statutory requirements.

Key technologies incorporated into the concept include all-electric topsides, a closed-flare system, carbon capture, and a seawater intake riser/deep intake sea hose. SBM Offshore said these technologies are intended not only to reduce carbon emissions, but also to lower overall power demand on the FPSO.

SBM Offshore said the NearZero FPSO concept is fully integrated with its Fast4Ward standardized FPSO design and delivery model, positioning the concept for potential deployment on future projects. The company added that the design reflects a high level of technical readiness and can be implemented using technologies available today, supporting its longer-term objective of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.

ABS said the concept demonstrates how multiple low-carbon technologies can be combined within a single FPSO design to address emissions from offshore production, while maintaining compliance with class and regulatory requirements.

MODEC, Eld Energy to Test Fuel Cell Power as FPSO Emissions Cutting Tech

MODEC has awarded Eld Energy a contract to design and manufacture a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) pilot system for installation on one of MODEC’s floating production, storage and offloading vessels (FPSOs), advancing efforts to reduce emissions from offshore production assets.

The project follows a feasibility study launched in February 2025 as part of MODEC’s decarbonization initiatives. After completing Phase 1 activities, the companies have moved into Phase 2, covering the engineering, manufacturing, installation and offshore pilot testing of a 40-kW SOFC unit.

The fuel cell system will be manufactured at Eld Energy’s facility in Bergen, Norway, with offshore installation scheduled for 2026. During the feasibility phase, the companies carried out system design and integration studies, including laboratory testing using simulated produced gas containing heavier hydrocarbons, supporting the decision to proceed with an FPSO-based pilot.

MODEC said the project represents a step toward demonstrating solid oxide fuel cells as a lower-emissions alternative to conventional power generation on FPSOs, while maintaining operational reliability.

The Phase 2 deployment is expected to be the first real-world application of SOFC technology on an FPSO, supporting wider efforts to reduce the environmental footprint of offshore oil and gas production.

SAIRO Rig Optimization Pilot Targets Safer, More Efficient Offshore Drilling

ARO Drilling and Saudi Aramco have signed a Trial and Evaluation Agreement to pilot the Saudi Aramco Intelligent Rig Optimizer (SAIRO), a proprietary software solution developed by Saudi Aramco to enhance drilling performance using data-driven insights.

SAIRO is designed to process drilling rig sensor data, calculate performance indicators, and deliver advanced visualizations to support monitoring, optimization and efficiency improvements in drilling operations.

Under the agreement, ARO will evaluate the system’s functionalities and usability, and assess its operational benefits in real-world offshore drilling environments by integrating it into ARO’s high-specification jack-up rigs.

The six-month field trial aims to validate SAIRO’s potential to improve operational performance, safety and cost efficiency across drilling activities. Saudi Aramco will provide technical expertise and support throughout the pilot. If successful, the companies may explore a licensing agreement to extend SAIRO’s use across ARO Drilling’s operations.

SBM Offshore, Petrobras Study Carbon Capture Modules for Future FPSOs

SBM Offshore has been awarded a study by Petrobras to evaluate the application of carbon capture modules on floating production, storage and offloading vessels (FPSOs).

The study is based on a previously completed engineering and design program between SBM Offshore and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, with the concept qualified by DNV.

The proposed solution combines MHI’s proprietary CO2 capture technology with SBM Offshore’s Fast4Ward design principles, resulting in a compact modular configuration intended to reduce emissions associated with oil and gas production on FPSOs. The development forms part of SBM Offshore’s emissionZERO program.

Under the scope of the agreement, SBM Offshore will carry out the design and commercial evaluation of multiple carbon capture configurations for potential installation on future FPSOs deployed on Petrobras-operated fields.

The assessment will consider different turbine types and machinery layouts, varying gas flow rates and installed turbine power, as well as different CO2 concentrations and gas compositions.

SBM Offshore said the study will support further development of the carbon capture module design in cooperation with MHI, using the latter’s Advanced KM CDR Process technology, with the objective of enabling CO2 reduction on future FPSO projects.

Electric Actuation Tech for Subsea Electrification Set for Offshore Trials

TechnipFMC and Petrobras have kicked off a pilot of electric actuation technology as part of their shared effort to advance electrification of subsea field systems in offshore developments.

The technology, set to be integrated into a subsea tree scheduled for installation in 2026, will join TechnipFMC’s eSolutions portfolio of electrical subsea system building blocks.

TechnipFMC’s eSolutions suite is designed to enable the electrification of subsea infrastructure by replacing traditional hydraulic actuation systems with industrialized electrical components, including electrical actuators and controls. The portfolio’s modular approach aims to reduce emissions, lower operational risk, simplify field design and operations, and optimize tieback solutions while maintaining system reliability.

The pilot project leverages TechnipFMC’s more than 20 years of experience with electrical subsea systems and the substantial operational record of its eSolutions systems. Through the pilot, Petrobras and TechnipFMC intend to test and monitor the performance of the electric actuation technology under real subsea conditions, demonstrating a step toward fully electric subsea fields in future developments.

The move reflects a wider industry shift toward electrification as a tool to improve field performance and cut the environmental footprint of offshore oil and gas production infrastructure.

North Sea Gas Platform Goes Greener with Offshore Wind Power

ONE-Dyas has brought the N05-A natural gas production platform into operation using electricity supplied from offshore wind, marking a step toward low-emissions offshore gas production in the Dutch - German North Sea.

The platform is connected via subsea cable to the Riffgat offshore wind farm, enabling N05-A to operate on renewable power. According to ONE-Dyas, this makes N05-A the first natural gas production platform in the Dutch and German North Sea powered by offshore wind energy.

Electrification at N05-A extends beyond production. A mobile drilling unit, temporarily connected to the platform to drill a second well, has been converted to operate on electric power supplied through the platform. This allows both gas production and drilling activities to take place with minimal CO₂ emissions, a configuration described as unique in this region of the North Sea.

ONE-Dyas said the offshore wind-powered setup reduces greenhouse gas emissions from platform operations to virtually zero, while maintaining gas output. N05-A is expected to produce up to 2 billion cubic meters of natural gas per year, contributing to regional supply during the energy transition.

The project demonstrates how offshore wind-powered electrification can be applied to both platform operations and drilling activities, offering a pathway to reduce the emissions intensity of offshore gas developments.