BASF and ExxonMobil form gas-treating alliance

BASF and ExxonMobil Catalysts and Licensing will work together to develop new gas-treating solvents and process technologies for use in natural gas processing and refining.

The collaboration will see the German chemicals giant market and license technologies developed by the partners along with its own OASE gas-treating technologies and ExxonMobil’s FLEXSORB gas-processing technology.

Chris Birdsall, president of ExxonMobil Catalysts and Licensing, said the alliance will provide technologies to increase capacity, reduce energy consumption, and meet tighter sulfur specifications.

Heidi Alderman, senior vice president, intermediates, for BASF said: “By bringing together two highly capable research and development teams, we expect to accelerate technology development and reduce the time to market.”

BASF agreed to sub-license ExxonMobil’s FLEXSORB technology in 2015. It has been applied at more than 120 plants since it began use in 1983. The technology removes hydrogen sulfide in the presence of CO₂. It is sold on the basis that it has a selectivity advantage that allows high hydrogen sulfide removal at low solvent circulation rates, resulting in lower energy consumption compared to conventional processes, with low corrosion and lower foaming compared to conventional gas-treating solvents.