The world’s largest hydraulic fracturing vessel has been launched in China. Vessels of this type make it possible to conduct hydraulic fracturing from onboard, without the need for additional equipment on offshore platforms.
The new vessel is codenamed Haiyang Shiyou 696. It is the first large-scale vessel in China to be fully equipped for hydraulic fracturing.
The vessel is 99.8 meters long, with a deck area comparable to about three and a half standard basketball courts. This makes it the largest vessel of its type in the world.
Haiyang Shiyou 696 has an all-electric drive system, with a cruising range of more than 10,000 nautical miles.
According to Chinese media, the vessel’s launch is crucial for the development of offshore oil-and-gas fields and the strengthening of the country’s energy security.
After its launch, Haiyang Shiyou 696 headed to the Bohai Sea, where it will conduct hydraulic fracturing with the purpose of boosting offshore oil and gas production.
The vessel was designed by Shanghai Merchant Ship Design and Research Institute.
