Drilling & Completion Tech Digest
H&P announces plans to deploy 7 more FlexRobotics systems with ExxonMobil
Building on the successful deployment of the first two FlexRobotics systems on H&P rigs, ExxonMobil is expanding its use of H&P’s technology enhancements to further advance safety, operational performance and drilling automation. H&P expects to deploy seven additional FlexRobotics systems for ExxonMobil over the next 12 months, bringing the total number of systems operating to nine.
The expansion supports ExxonMobil’s broader efforts to deploy advanced technologies across its drilling operations.
FlexRobotics technology automates repetitive rig-floor activities, helping reduce personnel exposure to higher-risk tasks while improving consistency, precision and operational efficiency.
Constellation, Petrobras move ahead with new fuel processor on deepwater drillship
Constellation received an approval in principle (AiP) certificate from the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) for its fuel processor project. The new technology is designed to emulsify water with fuel inline, ahead of the engine, with the goal of reducing fuel consumption and emissions.
The AiP validates the safety and technical soundness of disruptive solutions for which conventional regulations are still under development. The fuel processor project was contracted at the end of 2025 and is expected to run through 2028. It is being developed in partnership with Petrobras using resources from the R&D and Innovation Clause under the Brazilian National Agency of Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels. Clean Energy Power Systems and PUC-Rio are helping to validate project results.
The fuel processor technology, which is undergoing implementation and testing aboard the Laguna Star drillship, aims to improve diesel engine combustion efficiency, contributing to lower fuel consumption and reduced emissions.
In addition to the AiP certificate that was presented, Constellation and ABS also signed a memorandum of understanding to study how battery energy storage could improve the efficiency and resilience of power systems onboard a Constellation drillship.
The companies will examine the feasibility of running the vessel’s generators as a single, connected power system, rather than in isolated groups. This closed-bus approach could reduce the number of engines needed to run at a given time. And when combined with energy storage systems, it could help optimize generator use, reduce emissions and strengthen power-plant resilience during offshore drilling operations.
