Oskar LIENEMANN
Managing Director
ARVA GREENTECH

An innovative treatment for hydrocarbon contamination

Oman

Oskar Lienemann, managing director of Arva Greentech, talks to The Energy Year about how the company’s technology brings innovation to the field of hydrocarbon contamination treatment and why it chose Oman for launching its regional operations. Arva provides procedures and products for the remediation of oil-contaminated soils, sludges and drilling cuttings.

What distinguishes Arva as an environmental services company?
Arva provides leading technologies, products and methods for large-scale treatment of oil sludge, oil-contaminated surfaces and drilling cuttings such as oil-based mud [OBM].
We are an R&D-focused company which over the past six years has developed an innovative, environmentally neutral method of cleaning and remediating any type of hydrocarbon pollution, be it in the soil or on surfaces. It is an oxidative treatment technology named Arvox, which we have fully developed in-house and patented.
Besides being very versatile, it is also very fast since the actual decontamination process takes about 30 minutes and, afterwards, the soils are cleaned and it can then be used for any purpose, like road construction or fill material.
In brief, we position ourselves as a pioneer in the industry, offering 100% environmentally neutral applications as well as engineering and consultancy services in order to support our partners to protect the environment in line with global best practices in this field.

Why does this technology represent an innovation within the industry?
Throughout the oil production chain, hazardous wastes are being generated. This can happen through spills, tank bottom clean ups, or general operations like drilling. Over recent decades most of these hazardous wastes were stored in waste yards throughout the concession areas. These waste streams can pose a threat to the environment and local communities.
Arvox is an innovative if not disruptive method because in the past thermal treatments were applied to deal with these waste streams, which left toxic byproducts behind, harming the soil and producing huge amounts of emissions.
Our technology is more environmentally friendly than thermal methods. It is cheaper and more efficient, producing little to no emissions. We can also achieve results in the same amount of time.
We have created an oxidation process that is eco-friendly and unique in the industry. This method utilises natural chemical processes to decompose a wide range of hydrocarbons and can clean different types of soils without any harm to the ecosystem.

How did you start your operations in Oman?
We identified the GCC region as a target region and Oman as an ideal first door to open. Our strategy was to kick-off operations in Oman because the state-owned oil company PDO represents a role model for the regional oil and gas industry regarding their environmental standards. Once we get PDO’s approval by actively working with them, it will be easier for us to move to other countries.
In 2019, we started collaborating with PDO and conducted a pilot project for them. This gave us the opportunity to showcase our technology on a smaller scale by treating contaminated soil, oil-based mud and oil sludge. We managed to convince PDO of the value of our process and recommended its use for the hazardous waste treatment, replacing and effectively eliminating the use of thermal treatments for the first time in history.
Following the award of our first contract, together with our local partner, Merit International, we will be supplying our technology and supervision to a local community oil and gas service company for the treatment and cleaning of 1,000 tonnes of legacy OBM in Oman. This first contract in a PDO oilfield will serve to optimise the process on an industrial scale, setting us up to use our semi-mobile treatment plant at other locations.

What else made Oman attractive for launching your business activities in the region?
Oman has shown itself to be receptive to and keen to attract new businesses, particularly when they are innovation and green-technology oriented. We found a welcoming environment, with highly supportive key institutional and industry players, from the Environment Authority (EA) to PDO. Plus, the country has always devoted significant attention to environmental protection practices, as witnessed in the creation of the Ministry of the Environment (now the EA) as one of the first in the whole region.
We sought out a solid partner that could help us penetrate the domestic market, since we were not familiar with the local business. Merit International has been an asset in bridging the cultural gaps that a company can have when landing in a foreign country as well as guiding us on the ways of doing business here. Over the past four years, we have been active in the region and Merit has greatly helped us establish good connections with the main players, from the government to the oil and gas companies, assisting us in moving our projects from the pilot to the industrial phase.
Our strategy, as shown by our collaboration with local service companies, includes improving our ICV [in-country value] and local capabilities.

What added values can Arva bring to the table to ensure oil and gas production is combined with environmental protection?
Environmental protection is becoming a trend everywhere in the world and its importance is growing, particularly within the oil and gas sector. Operators and oilfield services providers around the globe are turning greener, paying increasing attention and investing resources into methods that can reduce their carbon footprint, since the sector is a producer of significant pollution and CO2 emissions, a large slice of which comes from the waste management side. In short, procedures for the fast and eco-friendly degradation of hydrocarbons as well as remediation services represent a fundamental aspect for the future of the oil and gas industry. Arva’s products position it as a problem solver, with reliable solutions to get rid of the pollution issues related to waste products and byproducts.
Finally, the outcome of our activities can bring many benefits to the local communities and businesses. Just to give a simple example, thanks to our approach and the combination of our technology and bioremediation processes we can go so far as to turn contaminated soil into fertile land.

What are the key challenges in creating the best conditions for your business activities to thrive?
The main barrier is to generate the right awareness, show people the benefits of what a company like Arva can do. Most environmental protection issues have been gaining attention only very recently. It is a market segment in its infancy, still under development and looking for a way to take off.
Being the first mover has pros and cons. We have pioneered our technology, which comes with a higher workload and risks. Others can benefit from our efforts. However, our patented technology sets us apart, and no one else can offer what we do. Simultaneously Arva is constantly growing its technology portfolio and patent family to ensure the company is staying on the leading edge of technology development.

What is the most significant goal the company has achieved since the start of its activities in 2016?
The greatest milestone of Arva has been the development and the commercialisation of our technology, a process which required efforts and brought together scientists, engineers and business professionals sharing a common environmental vocation, with results driven by our dedication and passion for what we do.
In Oman, we are working with a local service company on a hazardous waste tender that was awarded to them by PDO. This is the largest waste management project in Oman, and we aim to play a significant role by demonstrating our expertise in hydrocarbons remediation and showcasing the value our technology can bring to the sector
In addition, we are currently working on an expansion of our product family. This involves treating the contaminated substrates with bacteria that we isolate and breed from local soils. This will completely degrade any remaining oil contamination and strengthen the soils’ biodiversity – a perfect complement to our oxidation technology.

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