Hess Electrifies Bakken Rigs to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Lower Energy Costs

NORTH DAKOTA - Hess Corporation has replaced diesel fuel with electricity to power its four Bakken drilling rigs – a project that over the next five years is expected to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions from these rigs by approximately 50% and energy costs from these rigs by nearly 70%. The change has also reduced truck traffic, noise and odors that result from delivery and use of diesel fuel.   

If electrical power is interrupted, backup diesel generators are immediately deployed to avoid drilling disruption. During the project’s pilot in 2022, using electricity as the rigs’ primary energy source increased reliability through the provision of a secondary power source. It is also expected to reduce drilling downtime.

To complete this project, Hess worked closely with Nabors Industries and Mountrail-Williams Electric Cooperative. Canrig, an affiliate of Nabors, supplied a transformer and the equipment necessary to distribute utility power to the rig. Mountrail-Williams Electric installed highline power to the well pads and assisted in making a final connection to the distribution equipment onsite.

Hess Corporation is a leading global independent energy company engaged in the exploration and production of crude oil and natural gas. More information about our onshore operations is available at https://www.hess.com/operations/onshore. More information on our commitment to sustainable business practices is available at https://www.hess.com/sustainability.