3M Ceramic Sand Screens have saved PHM up to 50% cost over SCON solution. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

Material science and technology provider, 3M, has released via Offshore Network a case study illustrating how an Indonesian oil and gas corporation Pertamina Hulu Mahakam (PHM) deployed Ceramic Sand Screen to cost effectively unlock marginal field assets 

While coiled tubing-deployed chemical sand consolidation (SCON) or slickline deployed through tubing metallic screens are the conventional approaches to sand control at PHM, they are limited by its operating envelope and technical constraints. There is a need identified to unlock production with a change in filter media material.

3M Ceramic Sand Screens have saved PHM up to 50% cost over SCON solution and delivered 200% higher productivity than through tubing metallic screen solution by integrating 3M advanced ceramic materials into a sand screen assembly.

Assets like in Tunu and Peciko, reservoirs are marginal and multi-layered sand series which are highly unconsolidated and poorly sorted sands with an average of 20 to 30% porosity. 3M Ceramic Sand Screen have been initially trialed in these conditions and enabled in optimising sand control completions.

Within a span of 4 years, more than 80 wells in various fields of PHM have been successfully replicated.

Download the case study to learn about:

*How 3M solution has impacted to unlock production from marginal assets

*How material change enables optimised and cost-effective sand control completions

*How 3M material science empowers and contributes to their energy customers to develop improved, safer and more sustainable solutions

Click here to learn more.

Linz Electric SpA has acquired a 60% stake in KWG. (Image source: Linz electric)

Linz Electric SpA has acquired a 60% stake in KW Generator GmbH (KWG), marking a significant milestone in their nearly two-decade-long partnership.

The move brings together two respected European manufacturers and blends Italian innovation with German engineering to address evolving global energy challenges.

The two companies offer highly complementary alternator product lines, and this strategic alliance results in one of the world’s most complete portfolios for power generation.

Their combined capabilities span a wide range of applications, from traditional generator sets to solutions supporting the energy transition, including mobile refrigeration, earthmoving machinery, and other equipment requiring continuous, reliable and flexible power.

New opportunities

With energy reliability and system resilience gaining renewed global importance, the strengthened partnership allows Linz Electric and KWG to pool expertise, resources and vision to deliver tangible solutions worldwide.

KWG brings advanced technologies and long-standing relationships with OEMs in sectors such as material handling, heavy-duty equipment, and extreme operating environments.

Linz Electric, part of the Pedrollo Group, contributes a well-established international distribution network and a direct presence in the US, opening up fresh opportunities and customer segments for KWG.

The acquisition reinforces Linz Electric’s position as a key player in a rapidly changing energy landscape, where innovation and strategic collaboration are central to long-term growth and competitiveness.

This partnership also strengthens the Pedrollo Group’s energy business. With annual revenues of US$540mn (€500mn), the group is increasingly recognised not only in water management and applied technologies but also as an influential force in the energy transition.

Giulio Pedrollo, CEO of the Pedrollo Group and founder of Linz Electric, said, "After years of collaboration, I am excited about the opportunities this transaction offers: the partnership between Linz Electric and KWG is a clear example of how international cooperation between companies that share values, vision and expertise can generate new opportunities for growth and development. Together, we are ready to face the great challenges of global energy transformation. We will continue to invest with determination in innovation, quality and customer service, while keeping our production roots firmly anchored in our home territories. For us, this project represents a concrete testimony to the value of European manufacturing excellence, capable of competing and innovating on an international scale."

Michael Werner, CEO and shareholder of KWG, added, "With Linz as our majority partner, we are confident in our ability to address the competitive landscape and capitalize on new growth opportunities. This partnership demonstrates our commitment to providing superior products and services to our customers."

Michael Kurz, technical director of KWG, said, "This collaboration with Linz is a strategic move that will allow us to leverage their extensive distribution network and technical know-how. Together, we can achieve greater innovation and offer even better service to our customers globally."

The company reported a drop in Scope 1 emissions. (Image source: Siemon)

The Siemon Company has announced a major step forward in its sustainability efforts, achieving a 52.5% absolute reduction in its combined Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions between 2021 and 2024.

This achievement highlights Siemon’s ongoing commitment to environmental responsibility and reinforces its long-term goal of operating more sustainably while ensuring consistent, reliable product delivery for its global customers.

The company reported a drop in Scope 1 emissions from 271 to 195 tonnes of CO₂ equivalent, and a significant reduction in Scope 2 emissions from 1,163 to 486 tonnes over the same period.

These improvements are the result of a comprehensive strategy that included extensive energy audits to identify and address inefficiencies, a shift toward renewable energy, especially solar power, and widespread upgrades to lighting and HVAC systems to enhance overall energy efficiency. Siemon also rolled out robust waste reduction and recycling initiatives and made targeted improvements to its manufacturing processes to support lower energy consumption and emissions.

These efforts form part of the company’s broader ESG strategy, which includes setting science-based targets and collaborating with supply chain partners on sustainable practices.

Looking ahead, Siemon plans to continue investing in advanced energy technologies and maintain its transparent reporting practices to ensure accountability and help customers meet their own climate goals.

“We are proud to announce this significant reduction in our GHG emissions as a critical step in our decarbonisation journey. Our commitment to innovative energy solutions and continuous improvement in operational efficiency is a testament to our proactive approach in addressing climate change. By investing in renewable energy, optimising processes, and engaging in comprehensive energy audits, we are setting new benchmarks for sustainability in our industry and building a more resilient and efficient supply chain to better serve our customers in the long run”, said John Siemon, chief technology officer and chief operations officer, Siemon.

Flaring is a leading source of the MENA region’s emissions

Fossil fuel operations in the Middle East and North Africa emitted around 20 Mt of methane in 2024, nearly all from oil and gas operations, with Iraq, Iran and Algeria accounting for more than 30% of the flared volumes and related methane emissions, according to the IEA’s latest Global Methane Tracker 2025

The annually updated Global Methane Tracker presents the IEA’s latest sector-wide emissions estimates – based on the most recent data from satellites and measurement campaigns – and discusses the various abatement options.

Flaring is a leading source of the MENA region’s emissions, accounting for around 25% of the total. Performance varies greatly, with Libya, Algeria and Iran having upstream methane intensities that are two to six times higher than Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates – all of which perform better than the global industry average.

Satellites made more than 800 methane emission observations over Algeria, 400 in Iran, and 165 in Iraq, with incomplete combustion from burning pits identified as the leading source of emissions in Algeria and Egypt, followed by gas lift system vents and equipment venting. A previous campaign in Iraq found flaring and direct venting as major sources. The IEA is working alongside the Clean Air Task Force and CCAC to support Iraq’s oil and gas mitigation efforts.

Many of the region’s national oil companies have joined the OGDC (Oil & Gas Decarbonization Charter) or OGMP 2.0 (Oil & Gas Methane Partnership), including the UAE’s ADNOC, Libya’s National Oil Corporation (NOC), Saudi Arabia’s Aramco, Bahrain’s Bapco Energies and Petroleum Development Oman. All countries in the region participate in the Global Methane Pledge except for Algeria, Iran and Syria, with many also taking part in the World Bank’s Zero Routine Flaring by 2030 Initiative. However fewer countries have developed regulations focused on limiting oil and gas methane emissions. Flaring and venting restrictions are common in most countries, but flared volumes have increased by over 50% since 2010.

Global methane emissions remain stubbornly high

Globally, the fossil fuel sector is responsible for nearly one-third of methane emissions from human activity. Record production of oil, gas and coal, combined with limited mitigation efforts, has kept emissions above 120 million tonnes (Mt) annually.

Abandoned wells and mines – included in this year’s Global Methane Tracker for the first time – contributed around 8 Mt to these emissions in 2024. Closure plans should include measures to mitigate methane emissions, the IEA says, noting that timely action is critical for effective mitigation as most emissions result from mines and wells that have recently been abandoned.

A further 20 Mt of methane arises from bioenergy production and consumption.

According to the Tracker, around 70% of annual methane emissions from the energy sector could be avoided with existing technologies such as leak detection and replacing faulty equipment. The IEA points out the cost-effectiveness of such measures, since the gas that is captured can be resold.

The Tracker finds that methane abatement could have made around 100 billion cubic metres of natural gas available to markets in 2024. A further 150 billion cubic metres of natural gas is flared globally each year, the majority of which is part of routine practices and can be avoided.

IEA analysis finds a huge range in methane emissions intensities across different countries and companies. Raising awareness and spreading best practices are essential to narrow this gap, it notes.

Satellites are bringing increased transparency, with satellite-detected emissions from super-emitting methane events at oil and gas facilities rising to a record high in 2024.

While current methane pledges by companies and countries cover 80% of global oil and gas production, only around 5% of global oil and gas output demonstrably meets a near-zero methane emissions standard. The focus should now be on turning pledges into action, the IEA says, with strong action needed to prevent a 0.1% C rise in global temperatures by 2050.

“Tackling methane leaks and flaring offers a double dividend: it alleviates pressure on tight gas markets in many parts of the world, enhancing energy security – and lowers emissions at the same time,” said IEA executive director Fatih Birol. “However, the latest data indicates that implementation on methane has continued to fall short of ambitions. The IEA is working to ensure that governments and industry have the tools and knowledge they need to deliver on pledges and achieve the goals they have set.”