Optimized Use of Chemicals Reduces Both Environmental Impact and Costs

An innovation project has successfully tackled cost and environmental concerns in oil and gas production. “The project combines the best of both worlds,” says a partner.

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is an unwelcome companion in oil and gas production in the North Sea. It is corrosive to pipelines and highly toxic and flammable, making its handling challenging.

To address these issues, operators add H2S scavengers to the production process. While scavengers remove H2S, they leave deposits in pipelines, necessitating maintenance. Moreover, scavengers are costly and environmentally burdensome.

In response, a consortium formulated the SCAVenger OPtimization (SCAVOP) project, aiming to tackle all these challenges simultaneously.

“Significant resources are devoted to H2S scavengers, primarily MEA Triazine, and there are potential economic and environmental benefits in optimizing the H2S removal process. These opportunities have been explored in the SCAVOP project,” says Marco Maschietti, Ph.D., and lecturer at the Department of Chemistry and Bioscience, Aalborg University.

A Precise Approach to Chemical Savings

Supported by EUDP, the SCAVOP project has devised new recommendations for using these chemical-intensive solutions efficiently. The partners developed a simulation model to optimize the application of H2S scavengers in the oil and gas industry. This model provides producers with a precise understanding of how H2S scavengers remove gas from underground sources when it reaches the topside.

This optimization enables producers to reduce the consumption of these environmentally and economically intensive chemicals in oil and gas production.

“The project combines the best of both worlds,” remarks Anders Andreasen, Head of Department at Ramboll:

“It reduces the economic costs of chemical injection and minimizes environmental impact. It’s a great example of how these projects deliver value,” he adds.

Partners:

• Crossbridge Energy
• TotalEnergies Denmark
• Aalborg University
• Rambøll Denmark
• Mouritsen
• Energy Cluster Denmark

Project Period: May 2019 – December 2022

Budget: Approximately DKK 7.3 million in total budget. The innovation project is supported by EUDP.