Shell and Paques form new JV

Energy and petrochemical company Shell and biotechnology firm Paques Holding are to enter into a 50/50 joint venture, Paqell, to encourage the use of biological desulphurisation in the oil and gas sector for high pressure gas applications using Thiopaq O&G (oil and gas) technology.

Paques has been utilising Thiopaq technology in the water business for atmospheric biogas desulphurisation for around a decade. In 1997 the company collaborated with Shell to introduce Thiopaq to the broader oil and gas industry, including large-scale H2S removal and sulphur recovery.

An R&D programme, which aims to provide the next generation Thiopaq O&G technology with a step change in efficiency and capacity, is currently underway. When this is completed at the end of 2012, Paqell will operate from the Watercampus in Leeuwarden, the Netherlands.

Thiopaq is currently installed in four oil and gas applications, while a further seven projects are being developed.

Machiel van der Schoot will be managing director of Paqell.