Brazil's Constellation Marine Diesel Treatment Technology Receives ABS Approval in Principle

en.Wedoany.com Reported - On October 7, the Fuel Processor fuel treatment technology project of Brazilian offshore drilling contractor Constellation Oil Services received an Approval in Principle (AiP) certificate from the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS). The technology produces an emulsified fuel by mixing water with diesel for use in the diesel engines of offshore drilling units, aiming to improve combustion efficiency and reduce fuel consumption and related emissions. The project is currently in the pilot phase, with system implementation and testing underway aboard the Laguna Star drillship, and has not yet entered the stage of large-scale commercial application.

The project was signed and launched at the end of 2025 and is planned to run until 2028. It is jointly developed by Constellation and Petrobras, with research and development funding from the research, development and innovation funding mechanism stipulated by the Brazilian National Agency of Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels (ANP). Clean Energy Power Systems (CEPS) participates in the technology development, while the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio) serves as an independent third party responsible for verifying the project results.

The Laguna Star, tasked with the pilot project, is a sixth-generation ultra-deepwater dynamically positioned drillship built in 2012 by Samsung Heavy Industries of South Korea. The vessel has a maximum operating water depth of approximately 3,048 meters and a maximum drilling depth of approximately 12,192 meters. The Fuel Processor system will prepare an emulsified mixture of diesel and water through onboard fuel treatment equipment, which will then be delivered to the diesel engines for testing. The project parties have not yet published data on fuel consumption, pollutant emission reduction ratios, or engine performance verification after the tests.

In addition to obtaining the Approval in Principle for the fuel treatment technology, Constellation also signed a memorandum of understanding with ABS for cooperation on emission reduction technologies for offshore operations. The two parties will conduct research on technologies including hybrid operation of battery energy storage systems (BESS) with ship power systems and closed bus operation, including developing technical guidelines, organizing technical discussions, and exploring subsequent certification work. The related energy storage and power system cooperation remains at the stage of technical research and certification preparation.

Constellation is also collaborating with Petrobras and the University of São Paulo on a digital twin project, which is being advanced separately from the fuel treatment technology. The AiP obtained by the Fuel Processor represents recognition of the current technical solution and still requires onboard testing and independent verification to be completed.