According to the company, under a technology development and commercialization agreement between Total and CrystaTech, the companies are working to develop a regenerable process for the continuous removal and recovery of sulfur depositions in sour gas well bores.
CrystaTech is modifying its proprietary CrystaSulf hydrogen sulfide removal process to develop the new technology for this downhole application. The new Downhole Sulfur Recovery (DSR) technology relies on the use of physical solvents that absorb and carry the sulfur out of the well bore.
Total is involved in all aspects of the technology development effort, and has decided to move to the pilot unit demonstration phase of the project. The company plans to use the regenerable technology for the production of sour gas reserves, which provides economic and environmental benefits, claims the company.
Existing technologies require producers to either shut-in gas production while injecting disposable solvents to clear blocked well bores, or inject non-regenerable solvents on a continuous basis or use chemical regeneration processes.
