Cummins starts full production of HSK78G natural gas engine for fracking after EPA Tier 2 certification
Cummins has begun full unit production of its 78-litre HSK78G natural gas engine for hydraulic fracturing after winning EPA Tier 2 certification for mobile off-highway use.
- 3,000 bhp
- 78 litres
- 12
- EPA Tier 2 Large Spark-Ignition Mobile Off-Highway (MOH)
What Happened
Cummins Inc. (NYSE: CMI) has begun full unit production of the HSK78G natural gas engine for deployment in hydraulic fracturing applications, following certification approval for EPA Tier 2 Large Spark-Ignition Mobile Off-Highway (MOH). The HSK78G is the first and defining engine within the Cummins SPP portfolio, a range of Spark-Ignited Pumping Power solutions developed for well-servicing applications. The 78-litre engine combines high power density with variable-speed lean burn natural gas technology, which Cummins calls an industry first, to meet the demands of modern frac operations.
3,000bhp
Delivered from a 78-litre, 12-cylinder design, which Cummins says gives leading power-per-cylinder performance for the hydraulic fracturing market.
- 3,000 bhp from 78 litres of displacement in just 12 cylinders, for leading power-per-cylinder performance in the frac market.
- A high-output architecture with a lower part count, supporting improved total cost of ownership.
- Reduced service complexity and integration with traditional platform designs.
- A transmission- and pump-alignment-agnostic approach that lets equipment manufacturers, integrators and operators choose how to configure a full system.
- Compact architecture that eases integration across a range of pumping equipment configurations.
Cummins says the HSK78G is proven through oilfield operation, delivering diesel-like transient performance and robust load response to produce a familiar operating profile and support a smooth, reliable transition to natural gas power. Adding variable-speed technology lets the engine precisely align power output with changing operational demand, which Cummins says supports optimized fuel efficiency, reduced component wear and greater flexibility across varying frac duty cycles. The combination of familiar operation, high power-per-cylinder output and integration flexibility is pitched as efficient, reliable power without compromising practical performance.
“The release of the HSK78G marks an important milestone for both the engine and our wider Cummins SPP portfolio. Delivering 3,000 bhp from this compact size engine with only 12 cylinders gives our customers exceptional power density, while variable-speed technology and integration flexibility allow performance to be applied around the needs of their operation. Following extensive field validation, we are excited to bring these capabilities into wider customer deployment.”
The release follows a development program of extensive test-cell and field validation focused on durability, system integration and load response under dynamic operating conditions. That work produced the operating experience Cummins needed to move the HSK78G to EPA MOH certification and fleet-level deployment. With certification approved, Cummins is progressing the engine into full production and customer deployment, and says continued operation across customer fleets will build on the experience accumulated during development as availability of the platform expands across the hydraulic fracturing market. As the first engine in the Cummins SPP portfolio, the HSK78G showcases the performance, efficiency and integration foundations for Cummins' broader spark-ignited pumping power offerings, with future SPP solutions set to build on the benchmarks it establishes.
Why this matters
Cummins' HSK78G aims to give hydraulic fracturing operators diesel-like performance from natural gas, and it is now certified and in full production. Equipment manufacturers, integrators and frac operators are affected, since the engine is designed to fit existing system configurations. As the first engine in Cummins' SPP portfolio, its fleet performance will set benchmarks for later spark-ignited pumping power products.
Terms in This Story
- hydraulic fracturing
- A well-completion technique that pumps fluid underground at high pressure to crack rock and release oil or gas.
- lean burn
- An engine combustion strategy that runs a fuel-air mixture containing more air than is needed for complete combustion, typically to improve fuel efficiency.
- bhp
- Brake horsepower, a unit measuring the usable power an engine delivers at its output shaft.
- Mobile Off-Highway (MOH)
- An EPA emissions category covering engines used in mobile equipment that does not travel on public roads.
Summarised from the linked release; details can be imperfect — always verify against the original source.