Alstom and Schlumberger Seal a Joint Agreement to Develop Carbon Capture & Storage Readiness Studies For Power Plants

PARIS, Nov. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Alstom and Schlumberger have announced the signature of an agreement for mutual collaboration in the joint offering of CCS*-ready studies. These innovative studies will conduct a technical analysis of a power plant to identify how it should be adapted to accommodate an Alstom CCS system. The studies will also include an evaluation of potential CO2 storage sites for the power plant, as well as an evaluation of required investments for future CO2 transport and storage. The offer is designed to facilitate the future conversion of power plants to CCS and the securing of environmental permits as well as optimising time-to-market periods and associated costs.

"Our customers are increasingly demanding full support, from the flue gas outlet to the downhole, to ensure that their new power plants are CCS ready. Assessing this readiness will be a mandatory requirement for all large fossil-fuelled power plants in Europe by 2011**. Similarly, the State of Queensland in Australia recently announced that no new coal fired power station will be approved in the state unless it is CCS ready" said Andreas Lusch, Senior Vice President, Alstom Power Thermal Systems.

The first wave of large-scale CCS demonstration projects, such as AEP's Mountaineer in the United States or Vattenfall's Schwarze Pumpe in Germany, also requires an integrated approach along the value chain. This agreement is designed to offer this type of comprehensive service, both for new and existing power plants.

"We see tremendous added value for our customers in this joint offering, including optimised project sequence and technical and economic fine-tuning of the entire capture, transport and storage chain," said John Tombari, Vice President of Schlumberger Carbon Services.

Alstom's agreement with Schlumberger brings together the expertise of two industry leaders and pioneers in the development of CCS technologies. As an original equipment manufacturer providing key equipment for the energy market, Alstom will bring its know-how in post-combustion and oxy-combustion capture technologies as well as its strong Plant Integrator(TM) experience. Schlumberger Carbon Services brings the resources, technologies, and expertise in managing all phases of geological carbon-dioxide (CO2) storage projects, projects in which it is actively involved throughout the world today.

Most published climate change targets call for a reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by a factor of two in 2030, and complete de-carbonisation of the power sector by 2050. The joint effort initiated by Schlumberger and Alstom brings an immediate option to power plant developers world-wide facing increasingly strict environmental regulations.

*CCS - carbon capture and storage
** Source : EU Directive on the Geological Storage of CO2 (January 23rd 2008).

About Schlumberger
Schlumberger is the world's leading supplier of technology, integrated project management and information solutions to customers working in the oil and gas industry worldwide. Employing approximately 79,000 people representing over 140 nationalities and working in more than 80 countries, Schlumberger provides the industry's widest range of products and services from exploration to production.

Schlumberger Carbon Services provides technical expertise, project management and technology for comprehensive carbon dioxide geological storage solutions, consistent with care for health, safety and the environment. For more information, visit www.slb.com/carbonservices.

Schlumberger Limited has principal offices in Paris, Houston and The Hague and reported consolidated revenues of $27.16 billion in 2008.

About Alstom

Alstom CO2 Capture Systems is at the forefront of carbon capture technology development. Since 2006, as part of its multi-product strategy, Alstom has announced agreements with AEP, Statoil, Vattenfall, E.ON, Total, DOW and PGE Elektrownia to test CO2 capture technologies in the U.S. and Europe. To date, Alstom has started operation at five CO2 capture pilot projects, with EPRI and We Energies in Wisconsin, USA, E.ON in Sweden, Vattenfall in Germany, Total in France, and Dow in USA..

Alstom is a global leader in the world of power generation and rail infrastructure and sets the benchmark for innovative and environmentally friendly technologies. Alstom builds the fastest train and the highest capacity automated metro in the world, and provides turnkey integrated power plant solutions, equipment and associated services for a wide variety of energy sources, including hydro, nuclear, gas, coal and wind. The Group employs 81,700 people in 70 countries, and had orders of euro 24.6 billion in 2008/09.