A new company which has development of gas treatment technologies among its objectives has been created today, 18 February.
Established by Statoil and its Framo Engineering affiliate, Framo Purification's principal activity will be to market compact solutions for drying and cleaning natural gas.
This company also has expertise in separating carbon dioxide and sulphur from flue gases and oil from liquids.
The oil and gas industry represents the main market, but fish farming, local authority waterworks and the shipping industry could also benefit from Framo Purification's technology.
Rights to commercial use of nine Statoil patents have been conferred on the company, which will initially construct pilot facilities for trials.
The most important will be placed at Statoil's Mongstad refinery near Bergen to test selective removal of carbon dioxide and sulphur from natural gas. Separating out just one of these substances increases capacity in the treatment plant.
"Involvement in this company shows that we're taking the environment seriously," says Per Henning Hanssen, Statoil's project manager for Framo Purification.
"It's important that we're able to meet the challenges presented by environmental concerns."
He adds that the group will have to handle more difficult gases in future, while environmental standards are also being tightened.
The two backers are putting up NOK 25 million in share capital for Framo Purification. Support has also been provided by the Research Council of Norway.
Substantial sums will initially be invested by the company, which will have about 10 employees, but it expects to be making an operating profit of NOK 15-20 million within five-six years.
The pilot facility will be built at Framo Engineering's facility at Fusa near Bergen.