Shell promotes CO2 technology

The Jakarta Post,  Thu, 03/05/2009 1:50 PM 

JAKARTA: As state run oil and gas firm PT Pertamina is selecting partners for the development of the Natuna D-Alpha gas block, the Netherlands-based Royal Dutch Shell Plc is promoting its technology which it claims is applicable to gas fields contaminated with high levels of CO2. 

PT Shell Indonesia's president director, Darwin Silalahi, said the company had been developing a combined technology to separate CO2 from natural gas. 

"We expect this combined technology will be able to deal with CO2 contaminated fields with the degree of contamination up to 90 percent." 

Shell is included in the list of eight candidates shortlisted by Pertamina all of whom are hoping to help develop the block. 

Located in the Riau Islands, the Natuna D-Alpha block is estimated to contain 46 trillion cubic feet of gas, making it the biggest gas reserve in Asia. However, it requires big investment and advanced technology as it contains 70 percent of CO2. - JP