Until now, drilling on Brage has typically required the use of two gas turbines to serve the additional power demand, resulting in two turbines operating at part load and with low efficiencies. There is at the same time a goal on Brage to operate as much as possible with only one gas turbine on high load with accordingly high efficiencies, lower fuel costs and emissions.

By establishing an energy plan for drilling activities, it may be possible to better predict the need for two turbines, and thereby only operate the additional turbine when it's really needed. The trend today is to start the second gas turbine and leave it running until it's certain it's not needed again, and with such a plan this can be challenged.

Emission, fuel and maintenance savings for this improvement opportunity have not been fully assessed. But based on expectations of 5% reduction in use of two gas turbines, the annual reduction in CO₂ emissions will be 1957 tons.

Wintershall is assessing this improvement opportunity on Brage.