French Stakeholders Join Efforts for Gas Treatment Unit in Lacq

France’s Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault inaugurated a new gas treatment unit for the Lacq Cluster Chimie 2030 project, reads a note released by Total on Thursday. 

The new gas treatment unit, intended to promote local manufacturing and protect employment, will produce at low flow the gas for other 30 years. The investment by Total, Sobegi and Arkema is an answer to the depletion of the natural gas field. 

“The start-up of Lacq Cluster Chimie 2030 is vital to ensuring the future of the Lacq manufacturing platform and reflects our work over the last 20 or more years to plan ahead for the day when commercial gas production from Lacq is halted,” commented Yves-Louis Darricarrère, President, Upstream and member of the Executive Committee at Total.

The field was discovered in 1951, reached peak production in 1970 with a capacity of 33 mcm per day and promoted the development of an industrial hub.

According to the press release, 97% of the reserves have been used. The Lacq Cluster Chimie 2030 project is designed to supply manufacturers on the platform with cost-competitive power, steam and sulfur feedstock.