Baker Hughes and SOCAR have signed a contract for an innovative emission-reduction solution aimed at reducing routine flaring at SOCAR's Heydar Aliyev oil refinery in Baku, Azerbaijan.

The contract, signed at COP29 in Baku, will integrate Baker Hughes' gas recovery and hydrogen sulphide (H₂S) removal system into the refinery's infrastructure.

This initiative aligns with Azerbaijan's commitment to the global methane pledge and the COP28 presidency's oil and gas decarbonisation charter.

 It aims to recover up to seven million normal cubic metres of methane annually and reduce CO_₂ emissions by up to 11,000tpa. The system will also allow SOCAR to use the recovered gas as fuel, reducing fuel consumption and operating costs.

Baker Hughes chairman and CEO Lorenzo Simonelli said: “We must reduce emissions by 45% this decade to put us on the right path to reach net zero by 2050. The industry has an imperative to act now, and we can do it with existing technology solutions that can be deployed today.

“This award is a testament to our companies’ shared commitment to act on emissions abatement and represents another significant milestone in Baker Hughes’ journey to help customers drive more sustainable and efficient operations.”

The project’s execution is set to begin immediately, with full commissioning expected within 24 months.

This integrated gas recovery and H₂S removal system is part of Baker Hughes' extensive emissions abatement portfolio, designed to enhance productivity, boost efficiency and deliver scalable value across customer operations.

Earlier this month, Baker Hughes secured significant contracts with Petrobras to supply 77km of flexible pipe systems to be deployed across Brazil’s pre-salt fields.

The multi-year agreement includes risers and flowlines for hydrocarbon production, and associated gas and water injection services.