Safety and Environment

The GreenHouse Gas project (GHG) includes:

• feasibility studies for CO₂ storage in depleted fields, gas storage fields, saline aquifers in Italy;
• implementation of a pilot project for the injection of CO2 into the Cortemaggiore storage field, as cushion gas in substitution of natural gas;
• pilot test in saline aquifers;
• safeguarding CO2 capture technology through International initiatives (e.g. JIP CO₂ Capture Project - CCP2 project).

Collaborating in research is another way to pursue innovative and effective technologies to reduce CO₂ emissions. In 2008 Eni signed a strategic agreement of cooperation with Enel that includes:

• the implementation of the first Italian project that integrates Enel's CO₂  capture pilot project by postcombustion at the Brindisi plant with Eni's CO₂  injection pilot project at the exhausted field in Cortemaggiore; the two companies will also create a pilot pipe in Brindisi that will transportCO₂ in the dense state;
• a detailed feasibility study to implement an integrated large-size demo plant for one of Enel's coal-fired plant;
• a joint study on the national potential of CO₂ storage.

In addition to signing this strategic agreement, Eni, Enel and the Ministry of Environment signed yet another agreement that pursues the verification of the diffusion of CO₂ capture techniques and promotes renewable sources of energy.
More details in R&D Alliances & Collaboration

During hydrocarbons extraction from reservoir a big amount of water is produced. The volume of water does not remain constant over time, but the percentage increase passing the time.
The presence of water enlarges the hydrocarbons production costs since it decreases the productivity capacity of the wells, increasing the treatments complexity on hydrocarbons. The water treatment is a delicate issue in the oil industry, both from economical and environmental point of view.
In the last years Eni has developed different projects for optimizing the water treatment processes and for improving the quality of the water. The produced water, once treated, can be reinjected into the reservoir or discharged in surface (sea, rivers, desert). The use of innovative technologies both in onshore (Egypt) and in offshore (Italy, Congo) has allowed the discharge of water into surface with oil in water concentration less than country regulations where reservoir is placed.
Application of innovative technologies for oil and salt removal, in an onshore plant in Italy (Val d'Agri), will allow to improve the quality of the reinjected water and to transform the produced water in a resource, using it as industrial water.

Since several years Eni is committed for improving energy efficiency in its facilities. Born as a working methodology in refinery and petrochemical plants, now even upstream facilities are built using clean technologies, in order to minimize both environmental impact and GHG emissions, and plant operative costs.
The research projectEnergy Management in Up – Midstream of Oil and Gas Industry wants to define a design methodology, supported by energy and plant emissions analysis, and by the transfer of new low impact technologies (high efficiency electric motors, fuel cells, heat recovery for electricity production, ORC - Organic Rankine Cycles), in order to achieve high efficiency. Compared to the plant baseline, this methodology provides a direct effect on fuel reduction and greenhouse gases emissions. The environmental benefit from this approach can be accounted for as energy savings and monetized within the European and international CO₂ exchange programs (ET-Emission Trading and CDM-Clean Development Mechanism).

Energy Management interventions, based on energy audits and computer model calculations, can double the overall efficiency reducing CO₂ emissions of 50%.

The commitment of Eni in using renewables (solar, wind) in upstream plants is supported through the transfer of ready-to-buy technologies.
The initiatives of greatest interest are:

• Western Desert Solar Project: Eni E&P will build a 58 kWp photovoltaic system in the Western Desert in Egypt by 2010. The system will generate electricity to power the lifting system (output pump) of an oil field.
• Libyan Solar Project: Eni E&P is investigating the possibility of installing a hybrid system with solar photovoltaics in the Libyan desert. The system, with minimum size of 1 MWp, will power ESP production pumps and allow substantial savings in OPEX and reduction in CO₂ emissions.
  

Fiber optic sensors represent one of the most promising solutions for the continuous monitoring of many important parameters relevant to the integrity, security and operational behaviour of new and existing structures during the whole lifetime (like static and dynamic structural loads, pressure, vibration, temperature). This technology is well known and has many applications in onshore activities like civil engineering (dams, bridges, galleries, buildings), nuclear and industrial plants, aerospace.
Transfer to the offshore Oil&Gas is ongoing but requires specific efforts for the development of engineered and qualified solutions, capable to meet the demanding requirements of the offshore applications (aggressive environment, pressure, installation constraints, capability to operate for lifetime in the order of tens of years).
In the framework of past R&D projects, Eni has promoted the development and experimental qualification of innovative monitoring technologies based on fiber optic sensors, aimed at transferring to offshore Oil&Gas scenarios solutions presently developed for onshore applications (civil, industrial). Results obtained indicate that the technologies developed are ready for being transferred into real operational scenarios.
To accelerate the fiber optic technologies applications specific projects are ongoing in order to study and verify applicability.

The En-Z-Lite process allows to effectively remove organic contaminants from groundwater within the limitation prescribed by law and guaranteeing the return of water with suitable quality to be used in the plants (for example in the production of demineralized water). Eni filed the patent in 2007.
In 2008 it was designed a demonstration plant capable of removing organics from water by adsorption on hydrophobic synthetic zeolites, respecting to strictest standards on MTBE levels and applicable to wastewater treatment plants to obtain a current suitable for the production of steam.
Licensing out to third parties is currently going on.

Ensolvex technology is a process of solvent extraction for the remediation of polluted soils patented by Eni, which allows to decontaminate the soil up to the limits imposed by DM 471/99.
The procedure can remove organic contaminants from soil without altering its characteristics and can provide treatment to remove hydrocarbons with ethyl acetate, a biodegradable and non toxic solvent, which is then regenerated by distillation and ready to be used again. The advantage of this technology is its low environmental impact compared to other treatments (eg those thermal) due to limited gas emissions.
In 2008 a demo plant of 4 t / h was installed at the Gela refinery.
Licensing out to third parties is currently going on.