Newly developed sensor has created a growth company and reduced offshore chemical usage

Challenge

When gas is extracted from underground, it contains hydrogen sulfide (H₂S), which corrodes the pipes used to transport it. To address this, operators in the oil and gas industry add the chemical H₂S scavenger to remove the hydrogen sulfide before the gas is sent to the refinery. Currently, large quantities of H₂S scavenger are used to meet regulatory quality standards. However, the amount of hydrogen sulfide in the gas varies between different wells, and since it is challenging to measure the exact levels of hydrogen sulfide, excessive amounts of H₂S scavenger are often used.

Solution

Participants in the H2SMAN innovation project have developed, installed, and tested a new measurement and dosing system on two offshore oil and gas installations in the Danish North Sea. The system includes a newly developed sensor that provides precise measurements of the hydrogen sulfide levels in the extracted gas. The sensor data is then used to fine-tune the dosing of H₂S scavenger, ensuring that hydrogen sulfide levels remain low before the gas is transported onshore. This eliminates the need for environmentally and economically costly overdosing of H₂S scavenger.

Result

The project’s new technology offers a potential chemical savings of 10-40% through the use of the sensor, translating to a potential cost reduction of 10-20% on purchasing the expensive chemical. The sensor has been commercialized, and Danish operators have already installed it permanently or are in the process of planning its installation. During the project, the sensor was certified under the ATEX directive, a requirement for offshore equipment installation.