2013-03-18 10:12:58 -

Wärtsilä Corporation, Trade Press release, 18 March 2013, at 11 am EET

This new patented product has been recognised by the Offshore Technology
Conference (OTC) with the 2013 Spotlight award for reducing offshore oil and gas
sector operating costs while benefiting the environment.

Wärtsilä has introduced a unique product, GasReformer, which uses steam
reforming technology to convert associated gas to a quality that can be used as
fuel in Wärtsilä's range of gas fuelled engines. The Wärtsilä GasReformer is yet
another example of the company developing highly efficient products and
demonstrating integration capabilities which ensure environmentally and
economically optimised solutions.

Wärtsilä GasReformer has been awarded the Offshore Technology Conference (OTC)
2013 Spotlight on New Technology Award. The award recognizes innovative new
products that provide significant impact for offshore exploration and
production. The award   criteria were that the product must be new, less than two
years old, innovative, proven, have broad interest and appeal for the offshore
industry, and provide significant benefits beyond existing technologies.

The Wärtsilä GasReformer is an innovative new product that enables gases
produced during oil production, which by nature are rich in heavy hydrocarbons,
to be converted into a methane rich product for utilization in Wärtsilä dual-
fuel engines operating at full performance levels. Traditionally such gases
would be flared and wasted. While catalytic conversion of hydrocarbon feeds to
hydrogen is a known process dating back to the early 20(th) century, the
Wärtsilä GasReformer represents a totally new application under quite different
conditions than that of the traditional process.

"Wärtsilä has considerable experience in the treatment of gaseous fuels for fuel
cells, and this patented product is a result of this development work. It is yet
another example of the company's ability to develop solutions that combine both
economic and environmental benefits. The uniqueness of the GasReformer is in its
ability to convert unwanted heavier fractions from the gas into methane. By
turning otherwise waste gas into fuel, the system significantly lowers operating
costs while notably enhancing environmental sustainability. In locations where
flaring is prohibited, this is especially important," says Tore Lunde, Director
Wärtsilä Oil & Gas Systems.

Utilizing associated gas

Associated gas from oil production is normally considered as waste and is
consequently flared into the atmosphere. The World Bank-led Global Gas Flaring
Reduction Partnership estimates that globally around 150 billion cubic metres of
gas are flared or vented every year, causing some 400 million tons of carbon
dioxide in annual emissions. That is equivalent to 30 per cent of the European
Union's gas consumption. The Wärtsilä GasReformer treats this gas and converts
it into a stable composition that can be used as fuel for Wärtsilä engines. This
means that oil platforms and FPSO's, which demand high levels of power, can
utilize an energy source that was earlier not used at all. Furthermore, since
the power demand was previously met using marine diesel oil (MDO), the bunkering
of MDO can mostly be eliminated when using the GasReformer. This results in
direct and measurable cost savings.

Read more about Wärtsilä Gas Systems

GasReformer, image 1
GasReformer, image 2

For further information please contact:

Mr Peik Jansson
Product Manager, GasReformer
Wärtsilä Oil & Gas Systems
Tel. +358 50 585 8688
peik.jansson@wartsila.com

Ms Mirja-Maija Santala
Media Manager
Wärtsilä Corporation
Tel. +358 400 793 827
mirja-maija.santala@wartsila.com



Wärtsilä in brief
Wärtsilä is a global leader in complete lifecycle power solutions for the marine
and energy markets. By emphasising technological innovation and total
efficiency, Wärtsilä maximises the environmental and economic performance of the
vessels and power plants of its customers.
In 2012, Wärtsilä's net sales totalled EUR 4.7 billion with approximately
18,900 employees. The company has operations in nearly 170 locations in 70
countries around the world. Wärtsilä is listed on the NASDAQ OMX Helsinki,
Finland.
www.wartsila.com




GasReformer 1: 
 hugin.info/131481/R/1685886/552500.jpg

GasReformer 2: 
 hugin.info/131481/R/1685886/552501.jpg



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Source: Wärtsilä Oyj Abp via Thomson Reuters ONE
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