We aim at reducing the environmental footprint of oil and gas production with a focus on the Danish sector of the North Sea. In particular, we do research on the optimization of offshore topside processes and improved methods in the use of production chemicals, which are key factors for keeping the Danish oil and gas production sector competitive while reducing the environmental impact of the industry. While focusing on improving the existing offshore oil and gas processes supporting as clean as possible oil and gas production during the energy transition period, we are also focusing on the future perspective of offshore oil and gas infrastructures. In this regard, we are focusing on the re-use and adaption of offshore oil and gas infrastructure to support CO2 storage and on developing new ideas for revamping and reusing the existing infrastructure towards productions based on renewable sources, such as Power-to-X applications. The group is currently focusing on the following actions:

- Optimization of H2S scavenging operations in offshore oil and gas production. This topic is dealt from several perspectives, including: (i) optimization of the conventional H2S scavenging process using MEA-triazine, which is the chemical currently applied to remove H2S from the natural gas; (ii) cleaning of the wastewtaer produced from the H2S scavenging process by means of innovative processes; (iii) testing new green and biomass-based H2S scavengers that could substitute MEA-triazine. In all cases, the overarching goal is to decrease the environmental impact of this operation. In this context, we are currently running several projects: (i) Scavenging Optimization (SCAVOP), funded by EUDP and involving TotalEnergies, CrossBridge Energy Fredericia and Mouritsen A/S. The project involves one PhD student and it is focused on the kinetics of the reaction of MEA-triazine and H2S, whcih is invetsigated by means of Raman Spectroscopy. The target of the project is to optimize the process in order to reduce the use of MEA-triazine for the same H2S removal target. The project will be completed at the end of 2022. (ii) ZeroH2S, funded by the Danish Offshore Technology Center and involving two postdoctoral researchers, focused on the combination of membrane technology, for recovering the unspent H2S scavenger (MEA-triazine), and hydrothermal oxidation (HTO), which is applied for cleaning the spent scavenger. The project will be completed in 2024. (iii) Kinetcis of Green Scavengers, funded by the Danish Offshore Technology Center and inovlving one PhD student, focused on testing new green H2S scavengers as potential substitute of MEA-triazine.

- Oil-Water Separation in the presence of production chemicals. The focus of our research is to investigate the side effects of production chemicals used in offshore oil and gas production on the oil-water separation on topside separators. As a matter of fact, several chemicals are used in offshore oil and gas production for various reasons (e.g., preventing corrosion and scaling, limiting microbial growth). However, in some cases, these chemicals may end up in the topside oil-water separators where they can hinder the oil-water separation, which could lead to an increased oil discharge into the sea. In this context, our current focus in on the investigation of the side effects of film forming corrosion inhibitors on the topside oil-water separation. We are currently running one project funded by the Danish Offshore Technology Center on this topic, involving one postdoctoral researcher. The project will be completed in 2023.    

- Adaption of existing infrastructure to CO2 storage. The focus of our research is to analyze corrosion issues in CO2 transportation and injection into wells, wiht the aim of evlauating the feasibility of the reuse of offshore oil and gas infrastructure for upcoming CO2 storage applications.