Perth company Cool Energy is preparing for field trials of a ‘gas sweetening’ technology that could allow dozens of ‘shut in’ gas fields around the world to be developed.
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Perth company Cool Energy is preparing for field trials of a ‘gas sweetening’ technology that could allow dozens of ‘shut in’ gas fields around the world to be developed.
The technology, if successful, would represent a ‘step change’ for the gas industry, which is currently unable to develop many gas fields with high carbon dioxide levels.
The technology was first developed at Curtin University’s Woodside Hydrocarbon Research Foundation under a team led by Dr Robert Amin.
The task of commercialising the technology is now in the hands of Cool, headed by managing director Jessie Inman and technology development manager Allan Hart.
They joined the company early this year after nearly $5 million of private and government funding was secured for the demonstration project, at Arc Energy’s Perth Basin operations south of Geraldton.
Woodside is closely involved in the demonstration project because it is planning to demonstrate a proprietary dehydration technology, also developed at Curtin, alongside Cool’s gas sweetening technology.
As well as managing the demonstration project, Ms Inman is trying to work out the fastest way to get the technology into the market.
That means working with gas producers during the demonstration phase so they are ready to move as soon as the testing is completed.
“We want to get it into the market once we have completed a successful demonstration,” said Ms Inman, who is hoping the first commercial application of the technology can be in Australia.
The backing for Cool’s demonstration project illustrates the diversity of funding sources available in Australia.
Financial backers include junior gas producer Nido Petroleum, listed investment company Australian Development Capital, chaired by prominent West Perth lawyer Michael Blakiston, and The Centre for Energy and Greenhouse Technology, a private Victorian company.
The Federal Government has agreed to provide $1.9 million through a Start grant while Arc Energy is providing in-kind support and in return will receive equity in Cool.
Curtin University continues to be involved. Its director of IP commercialisation, Conrad Crisafulli, is chairman of Cool and Dr Amin is a director.
The funding package was finalised in February, with Cool awarding the engineering and fabrication contract to Victorian company Process Group a month later. Commissioning and testing of the plant is due to be completed by early 2006 and that will be followed by an eight-month demonstration period.