CNX to Bring All-Electric Well Drilling System to Region

CNX plans to bring an electric-powered drilling system to the Appalachian Basin, continuing its innovation into cleaner forms of gas production. The company recently announced it had reached an agreement with Dynamis Power Solutions of Texas for the hybrid drilling package, which will use on-site natural gas combined with battery storage to power the rig, decreasing diesel engine emissions and reducing fuel use. CNX was the first gas producer in the region to use an all-electric hydraulic fracturing fleet starting in 2018, reducing emissions from diesel-powered units as well as from truck traffic bringing fuel to the well pad. The technology has since been adopted by numerous gas companies operating in the area. CNX recently announced a four-year extension of the initial agreement. The new technology is expected to begin operation in the second quarter of 2023, but CNX did not indicate where it would be used or how much it will cost. “We’re pleased to once again be the first mover on new technology that advance sustainable and state-of-the-art natural gas development in the Appalachian Basin,” CNX Chief Operating Officer Chad Griffith said in a release. “Our partnership with Dynamis advances our position as the region’s lowest cost producer, while continuing to driving meaningful environmental and community solutions in what is already the world’s most prolific and environmentally friendly natural gas basin.” CNX has also announced that it had developed proprietary technology to produce compressed natural gas and hydrogen on-site as part of its partnership with Pittsburgh International Airport. It hopes the to further transition its fuel mix for powering the Dynamis equipment to hydrogen-enriched natural gas to provide further GHG reductions.