Shell Exploration & Production Company Awards Johnson Matthey A Contract For 21 Additional Advanced SCR Systems To Control NOx From Natural Gas Drilling Rigs

Malvern, PA - Based on initial testing, the successful implementation of three Johnson Matthey (JM) Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) Systems in meeting stringent NOx and ammonia slip limits resulted in Shell Exploration & Production Company (Shell) choosing JM's Stationary Source Emissions Control (SSEC) group to supply an additional 21 SCR Systems (three Systems per drilling rig).

Diesel engines used in natural gas drilling rigs undergo dynamic load changes throughout the drilling cycle resulting in dramatic fluctuations in exhaust flow rate and NOx emission levels. Previous attempts by other SCR suppliers to control NOx emissions from these engines were unsuccessful. Johnson Matthey's advanced SCR System not only reduced NOx by 90% based on initial testing, but has also maintained an average ammonia slip of 2 to 3 ppm. The SCR System must be suitable for use in harsh environments, especially extreme temperature swings and be capable of being disassembled, moved and reassembled quickly and easily.

The state of Wyoming and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) requested all natural gas companies in the Pinedale Anticline -- currently estimated to be one of the largest gas fields in the U.S.-- to reduce NOx emissions from their drilling rigs. The current emission reduction targets for the drilling rigs, each equipped with three Caterpillar 3512 diesel engines, are 90% NOx and 10 ppm ammonia slip.

Johnson Matthey will provide complete engineering, project management, installation and service support for the 21 new SCR Systems, as they did for the first three systems. The modular design of the JM system makes them easy to transport and reassemble within the Pinedale Anticline with minimal effort.

SOURCE: Johnson Matthey