The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently reinforced the current trend of natural gas-powered equipment when it granted certification to two of GE’s Waukesha engines for mobile, non-road applications: the L7044, a 1,680-horsepower, 1,200 kW 12-cylinder engine, and the smaller 5794, a 1,380 horsepower, 1,000 kW 12-cylinder engine.
Aaron Trexler, the senior product line manager at Waukesha Gas Engines, advocates replacing older diesels with this more flexible option for powering drill rigs and oilfield equipment, citing significant cost savings and lower emissions. The engines’ ability to run on cleaner natural gas and less expensive site gas doesn’t hamper its diesel-like performance, he says. Trexler was scheduled to take part in a panel discussion about natural gas technologies for drilling applications at last month’s HHP Summit in Chicago. National Driller caught up with him for a few questions about the advantages of running mobile rigs on rich-burn combustion.