25-01-2011 15:47 Maersk Oil has purchased the rights to a new technology that enables zero-emission power generation in oil and gas plants, the company has said.

The so-called Oxy-Fuel technology, which has been developed by US company Clean Energy Systems (CES), uses oxygen to combust natural gas or other fuels to produce water, electricity and carbon dioxide (CO2). The captured CO2 can then be re-injected into a field to increase the amount of oil or gas recovered, making a plant with zero emissions a practical possibility.

According to CES, it has spent 15 years developing the high-pressure combustion technology. It describes the process as “a cost-effective alternative” to other carbon capture options such as carbon capture and storage (CCS).

“The agreement…pushes the boundaries of energy technology, allowing Maersk Oil to create unique value for potential partners and governments,” said Pieter Kapteijn, Director of Technology and Innovation at Maersk Oil. “The technology enables power generation free from CO2 emissions, while boosting oil and gas extraction in difficult or mature fields,” he said.

The process can be used in both onshore and offshore fields, but is best suited to low quality gas fields containing CO2.