Event seeks out solutions to drive down costs and increase efficiency
Leading oil and gas industry figures will give their views on the growing importance of technology in helping the sector tackle cost and efficiency challenges in a difficult business environment at the Technology Showcase in Aberdeen on March 4.
The conference, organized by the Industry Technology Facilitator (ITF) in partnership with Oil & Gas UK, will take place at Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre and aims to highlight the emerging technologies needed to improve production efficiency and curb rising operating costs in the UK Continental Shelf. The exhibition will showcase latest innovations from companies, universities and technology institutes across the UK.
The opening session will include presentations from Paul Warwick, executive vice president Europe Atlantic for Talisman Energy and Philippe Guys, managing director of Total E&P UK.
In his role as chair of the UK Technology Leadership Board, Mr. Warwick will present on evolving technology priorities for the North Sea industry. He said: "Our industry faces many challenges operating in the mature environment of the UKCS and beyond. This creates opportunities for us to develop and deploy new and existing technologies to deliver greater capital efficiency, improved safety and reliability, and operational excellence.
"To be successful, we will require renewed creativity, ingenuity and innovation and focus on how we recognize and apply new and emerging technologies. This change in approach will help to attract the next generation of technical graduates and apprentices."
Mr. Guys will speak about Total's technology roadmap and its support of the UK Technology Leadership board. He said: "Total takes a long term view when it comes to technology and we are looking to a future where innovation and the adoption of new technology will play an ever more vital role. Total has built on its many years of experience in the North Sea and also made use of the research and development work our company has generated across the world."
Other organizations set to present at the event include GE Oil & Gas, BP, Shell, Chevron and Baker Hughes. The event is also being supported by the Department of Energy & Climate Change and the Department for Business Innovation & Skills.
The four focus areas are:
• Drilling Efficiency, Well Intervention and Abandonment
• Efficient Water Injection, Handling and Processing
• Better Imaging, Targeting & Recovering our Reserves
• Digital Monitoring, Robotics and Autonomous Systems
Dr. Patrick O'Brien, CEO of ITF (photo) said: "There is no doubt of the vital role that technology will play in maximizing reserves and creating cost efficiencies in a low barrel price decline. The Technology Showcase aims to bring to life some of the areas where innovation can make the most dramatic difference from drilling more efficiently to supporting better imaging to target recovery. It's the ideal platform for pin-pointing practical solutions and collaborating to address the ongoing cost pressure challenges."
Oonagh Werngren, operations director at Oil & Gas UK, said: "The industry is operating in a difficult business environment which means that we must accelerate the development of innovative technology specifically to ensure the long-term future of the UKCS. Technologies need to be wide-ranging but deliver greater levels of efficiency and reduced cost. The advantage of the Technology Showcase is that it allows the technology research and development community to more accurately understand operators' technology needs while industry gains a deeper insight into cutting-edge innovations which could contribute to a productive life of the North Sea beyond 2050."
The conference program includes interactive sessions in which operating companies and developers will highlight specific technology needs and solutions for discussion. Alongside the conference program, technology companies and academics will give 'Tech Talks' within the exhibition arena.
