Thursday March 29, 2012
Petronas, Total to study potential of CO2 field
KUALA LUMPUR: Petroleum Nasional Bhd (Petronas) has signed a heads of agreement (HOA) with France-based Total to jointly study the development and production potential of K5, a high carbon dioxide gas field offshore Sarawak.
Under the agreement, Petronas’ newly established upstream research unit Exploration and Production Technology Centre and Total will explore the possibility of developing the field in ways that are technically, commercially and environmentally viable.
The scope of the study will also include the development of carbon dioxide management technologies in the areas of carbon capture, transportation and sequestration.
The study is set to commence immediately and will take 15 months to complete. Discovered in 1970, K5 is a sour gas field with up to 70% carbon dioxide content. It is located about 230km from Bintulu in water depth of 80m.
Successful development of and eventual production from such a field requires extensive study and research, and if the study finds it viable, K5 will be the first gas field with more than 50% carbon dioxide content to be developed in Malaysia.
As more and more discovered gas resource in Malaysia contains high carbon dioxide, it is important that Petronas develops the expertise and technological know-how to develop this resource in the safest, most responsible manner.
The application of new technologies is part of Petronas’ continuous efforts to ensure the security of energy and gas supply to the nation.
The HOA, which was signed at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, here on Tuesday.