A Low-Emission Energy Solution

What services does Fugro offer for the oil and natural gas industry?

Decommissioning oil and gas infrastructure has significant environmental benefits. By dismantling outdated facilities, we can reduce pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. This process also helps in reclaiming land and water resources that were previously contaminated. It paves the way for the development of renewable energy projects, which are crucial for a sustainable future and are key to our mission as a business.

Fugro helps oil and gas field development for companies by providing essential data and insights about the earth and oceans to make their projects safer, more efficient, and environmentally friendly. Key services of ours include:

• Seabed Surveys: Gathering detailed information about the seabed to help safely place oil rigs, pipelines, and other infrastructure.

• Environmental Studies: Monitoring the environment to reduce the impact of oil and gas activities and ensure compliance with regulations.

• Offshore Positioning: Using advanced technology to guide ships and equipment during offshore operations.

• Pipeline and Structure Inspections: Checking underwater pipelines and platforms to ensure they are safe and working properly.

• Remote and Autonomous Operations: Using robots and remote systems to make operations safer and reduce environmental impact.

By integrating cutting-edge technology and expert knowledge, we support oil and gas field development from exploration to maintenance and decommissioning. This approach prioritises safety, efficiency, and sustainability at every stage.

Fossil fuels are formed through a process that takes millions of years. Plant and animal remains are buried under layers of rock and sediment, where they are subjected to high temperatures and pressures. Over time, these remains are transformed into fossil fuels.

The three main types of fossil fuels are coal, oil, and natural gas. These fuels are composed of carbon and hydrogen atoms.

We aim to play a vital role in helping manage environmental challenges faced by businesses by offering services that minimise environmental impacts and help sustainability.

The extraction, transportation, and burning of fossil fuels have significant environmental impacts. The fossil fuel industry is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, which contribute to climate change. When extracting fossil fuels, this process can lead to water pollution, land degradation, and air pollution. The burning of fossil fuels releases toxic pollutants into the air, contributing to respiratory problems and other health issues.

Fugro plays a critical role in mitigating these effects by offering specialised services that help clients reduce their environmental impact:

• Environmental Baseline Surveys: We conduct comprehensive environmental assessments before projects begin, identifying sensitive ecosystems and advising on ways to protect them.

• Remote and Autonomous Technologies: The use of uncrewed surface vessels (USVs) and remote inspection solutions minimises the need for traditional, fuel-intensive operations, significantly reducing emissions.

• Geotechnical and Geophysical Expertise: We provide precise site assessments to optimise infrastructure placement, reducing unnecessary disruption to marine and terrestrial environments.

• Monitoring and Compliance: Using real-time environmental monitoring to ensure adherence to environmental regulations and reduce unplanned impacts during operations.

• Subsea Inspection, Repair, and Maintenance (IRM): Our IRM services enable proactive identification and rectification of subsea infrastructure issues, reducing potential environmental hazards and ensuring operational safety.

Oil and natural gas are two of the most important fossil fuels used globally as primary energy sources. Oil, often referred to as crude oil, is a liquid hydrocarbon found in vast underground reservoirs. It is extracted through oil wells and processed to produce various petroleum products such as gasoline, diesel fuel, and jet fuel.

Natural gas is primarily composed of methane, a compound with one carbon atom and four hydrogen atoms. It can be converted into liquefied natural gas (LNG) for easier transportation. Both oil and natural gas are crucial for electricity generation, heating fuel, and as transportation fuel.

The extraction and use of these resources have profound impacts on the environment, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions and climate change, but they remain integral to the global energy infrastructure.

Natural gas production involves several steps, beginning with the exploration and extraction of natural gas deposits found deep beneath the earth's surface. This process often takes place in conjunction with crude oil extraction, as both resources are frequently located in the same reservoir rock formations. Advanced techniques such as hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling are employed to reach these vast underground reservoirs, enabling the extraction of large quantities of natural gas.

Once extracted, the raw natural gas is typically mixed with other hydrocarbons and impurities, including water vapor, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen sulphide. It is then transported to processing plants where it undergoes purification to remove these impurities, resulting in processed natural gas that is primarily methane. This purified natural gas is then compressed and transported via pipelines to various distribution points for use in power generation, heating fuel, and as a transportation fuel.

In some cases, natural gas is converted into liquefied natural gas (LNG) by cooling it to a liquid state, making it easier to store and transport over long distances. This liquefaction process reduces the volume of natural gas by approximately 600 times, allowing it to be shipped globally to meet energy demands. The production and use of natural gas play a significant role in the global energy mix, offering a cleaner-burning alternative to other fossil fuels like coal and oil.

Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) plays a pivotal role in the energy landscape as it offers a flexible and efficient solution for meeting global energy demands. LNG is natural gas that has been cooled to a liquid state, which significantly reduces its volume, making it easier to transport and store. This transformation allows LNG to be shipped across continents, bridging the gap between regions with abundant natural gas resources and those with high energy needs.

LNG is increasingly being utilised for power generation, industrial applications, and as a transportation fuel. Its role is expected to expand as countries seek alternatives to coal and oil, driven by the need to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and combat climate change. Compared to other fossil fuels formed, LNG burns cleaner, emitting fewer greenhouse gases and pollutants, which makes it an attractive option in the transition towards sustainable energy sources.

The LNG supply chain, from extraction to transportation, is not without environmental concerns. Efforts are underway to minimise the ecological footprint associated with LNG production and distribution. Innovations in technology and infrastructure development are key to ensuring that LNG remains a viable and environmentally responsible component of the global energy mix.