We have a proven track record of pioneering innovation that has yielded significant value in terms of production and recovery.

We see technology as a way to differentiate ourselves and have a department dedicated to drive innovation and to identify, acquire or develop - often through partnerships with service providers, universities and other oil companies - the technologies our development projects and producing assets need.

Maersk Oil holds more than 35 oilfield technology patents.  Where possible, we seek to deploy our technologies commercially with our technology development partners.  

Maersk Oil has patented a new system of protecting well completion components from sand erosion. Sand erosion, in fields that have been fractured using sand and in fields that produce from unconsolidated formations, has been a problem for the oil industry for decades.

After partnering up with ESK Ceramics – a company that makes bullet-proof vests –we came up with a solution; the ceramic screen, now patented and trademarked as PetroCeram.

The ceramic screen has been placed in three zones of a well in the Danish North Sea. Tests from the wells show that the screen is working perfectly. The invention has earned Maersk Oil and ESK a nomination for the 2010 ONS Innovation award.