New technology for removing hydrogen sulphide from wellstreams has been developed by Statoil in cooperation with Norway's Framo.
This gas must be extracted in part because it corrodes pipelines and to meet sales specifications from customers.
New features of the solution are the design of a choke and the method of mixing the chemicals required, says project manager Børre Knudsen in Statoil.
More effective use of chemicals is provided by the choke, which thereby cuts the discharge of these substances to the sea by 30 per cent.
Hydrogen sulphide is found in Statoil's producing Statfjord, Gullfaks, Veslefrikk and Åsgard fields, and in its undeveloped Huldra, Kvitebjørn and Kristin discoveries.
Plans call for the new technology to be installed on Ã…sgard B in the Norwegian Sea. After a six-month pilot run, the group will consider adopting it on other fields.
According to Mr Knudsen, the environment-friendly hydrogen sulphide project is also working on new and less polluting chemicals for removing this substance.
Treating the chemicals before discharging them to the sea will be considered as well, along with opportunities for recycling them.