Oct. 7 (TN) Constellation, Brazil’s largest offshore drilling company, has received Approval in Principle (AiP) certification from the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) for its “Fuel Processor” project—an innovative technology designed to boost energy efficiency and reduce emissions in diesel engines used on offshore units.
AiP validates the safety and technical soundness of disruptive solutions for which conventional regulations are still evolving, helping to pave the way for a safe transition to the operational phase. The project—contracted in late 2025 and scheduled to run through 2028—is being developed in partnership with Petrobras, utilizing funds from the Research, Development, and Innovation (R&D&I) clause mandated by the National Agency of Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels (ANP). The initiative also involves Clean Energy Power Systems (CEPS) and PUC-Rio, which acts as an independent third party to validate the results. The technology is currently undergoing implementation and testing aboard the drillship Laguna Star.
In its pilot phase, the Fuel Processor aims to enhance diesel engine combustion efficiency, thereby contributing to reduced fuel consumption and lower emissions associated with offshore operations.
“Constellation is betting on disruptive technologies as a tool to accelerate the decarbonization of its operations. This recognition by ABS reinforces the technical soundness of these initiatives and their contribution to the commitments outlined in our ESG 2030 Plan,” notes Leonardo Guimarães, Technical Director at Constellation.
Cooperation on new decarbonization technologies
In addition to securing the AiP, Constellation and ABS have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at advancing new decarbonization technologies for the offshore sector. The agreement lays the groundwork for technical discussions, guidelines, and future certification initiatives regarding hybridization via battery energy storage systems and closed-bus operations—solutions considered promising for enhancing operational efficiency and reducing emissions in offshore activities.
As the Fuel Processor and Digital Twin project—developed in partnership with Petrobras and the University of São Paulo (USP)—advance toward implementation, this new cooperation with ABS expands Constellation’s portfolio of initiatives focused on technological innovation, operational efficiency, and the decarbonization of its operations.
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