WIRELINE AUTUMN 2014 ISSUE 29

TECHNOLOGY STRATEGY

Q&A

Technology talks The drive to put technological innovation at the forefront of the strategy to maximise economic recovery has shifted up a gear. Wireline finds out more from the chairman of the new Oil and Gas Technology Leadership Board, Paul Warwick of Talisman Sinopec Energy UK.

Q: Why is technology so high on today’s agenda for the UK Continental Shelf? A: The easiest-to-recover UK oil and gas reserves have been extracted and advances in technology have already helped companies recover hydrocarbons from more technically- challenging fields, including those with heavy oil and very deep reservoirs, difficult shallow-water gas fields, or those with high pressure, high temperature characteristics. In the future, however, activities on the UK Continental Shelf

Q: What is the Oil and Gas Technology Leadership Board?

A: The Oil and Gas Technology Leadership Board (TLB) has evolved from the Technology Work Group, which was created in 2012 as part of PILOT, the government-industry forum. That group’s objective was to develop a strategy that ensures technology development is collaborative, focused on priority areas and suitable for multi-field application. Both PILOT and the Department for Business, Innovation & Skills (BIS) acknowledged the need for a body, such as the TLB, to drive this strategy forward. The rate of

(UKCS) are likely to be characterised by an even greater number of smaller upstream companies, less prolific fields, the need to achieve higher levels of oil and gas recovery, an increased focus on asset integrity and tougher economics. It is crucial therefore that we continue to develop new technologies to meet these challenges so that we can sustain production over the coming decades. Sir Ian Wood outlined technology’s central role in maximising economic recovery of the UK’s oil and gas in his recommendations following an independent

technology development and deployment to improve exploration success, increase recovery and safely extend the operating lives of oil and gas fields is, after all, one of the key factors that will determine the UKCS’ future. The TLB is made up of senior leaders from industry, academia, and representatives from the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), Innovate UK (the Technology Strategy Board), BIS, the Department of Energy & Climate Change (DECC) and the Industry Technology Facilitator (ITF). The NERC representative

“The rate of technology development and deployment to improve exploration success, increase recovery and safely extend the operating lives of oil and gas fields is, after all, one of the key factors that will determine the UK Continental Shelf ’s future.”

review of the UKCS, which was commissioned by energy secretary Edward Davey MP and published earlier this year. Sir Ian emphasised that industry and government must work together to identify the key technology requirements and make sure the resources are put in place to deliver them. The Scottish Government’s recent report on “maximising the total value added” also prioritises technology.

will also connect the TLB with the other relevant research councils (especially the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council).

Q: What is the TLB’s remit?

A: The TLB will drive focused UK-wide activity by establishing technology delivery groups in priority areas, as identified by the PILOT Technology Work Group and the Wood Review (see organogram left for the key technology themes). These groups will develop technology road maps for research and development (R&D) by the end of this year. The TLB will also clarify the business processes needed to support research through to deployment and undertake an R&D oil and gas funding study, recommending a model for the UK. It will liaise with the UK Government’s R&D funding and support mechanisms through the auspices of PILOT and the Oil and Gas Industry Council. The Council is implementing the joint government-industry Oil and Gas Industrial Strategy launched last year. The TLB will strengthen connections between industry and organisations such as the ITF and the Oil and Gas Innovation Centre (OGIC), which was established by the Scottish

Oil and Gas Technology Leadership Board

Field Development

Exploration

Mature Field

Decommissioning

Seismic imaging and evaluation

Small field development/ subsea

Well plugging and abandonment

Enhanced oil recovery Improved oil recovery Production efficiency - integrity and reliability

Priority technology areas for the Oil and Gas Technology Leadership Board

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