WIRELINE ISSUE 27 SPRING 2014

PILOT FORUM

OPERATIONS

examine the potential for applyingEOR basin-wide. TrevorGarlick,BP’s regional president NorthSea, is leading thework.He says: “We are looking forward to the application ofEOR (low salinitywater-flooding) on theClair field.For smaller fields,or assets that requireEORequipment tobe retrofittedontoexisting infrastructure, gettingEORgoingwill bemore

of applyingmisciblegas (carbondioxide) and chemical EOR (for examplepolymer injection), aswell as low salinity water-flood, to improve theefficiencyof hydrocarbon recovery across four areas, namely, pore scaledisplacement, sweep, drainage and time.The aim is tobring average recovery levels up toover 50per cent. Industry understanding of EOR techniques has been enhanced through a number ofworkshops attended by senior industry representatives and subsurface specialists in theUK supply chain. Studies have also been carriedout to

Improvedarea stewardship In2012, thePILOT InfrastructureAccess WorkGroup (IAG) sought toensure thatUKCS infrastructurewouldbeboth accessible and fit forpurpose for the long-term futureof the industry. Following the IAG’s research, InfrastructureRejuvenationWorkGroups wereestablished to focus on ‘areas of special economic interest’ around critical hubswithin the centralNorthSea (CNS) andnorthernNorthSea (NNS). Taking into account thedifferences in each area, the individualworkgroups are working towardsmaximisingeconomic recovery throughgreater collaboration and enhanced area stewardship. CalumMcGregorMBE, joint ventures manager forTAQA’sUKbusinesswho leads theNNSworkgroup, comments: “Since theywereestablished in2013, each workgrouphas hadgood and consistent representation fromoperators active in the areas, togetherwith representatives fromDECC andOil&GasUK. Ideas havebeengenerated andplans developed to address theunique characteristics and requirements of each areaof special economic interest.” “The aim is toproducepractical business plans for existing assets, discoveries andprospects capable of deliveringmore of the remainingpotential within eacharea.” He adds: “Ideally, the aim is toproduce practical business plans for existing assets, discoveries andprospects capable of deliveringmoreof the remaining potentialwithineach area.There is a clear need for the industry todeliveron these collaborativeefforts toensurewe are moving in the right direction.” A thirdworkgroup focusedon the southernNorthSea (SNS) has recently been formed toexpand this study. Formore information, please contact operations@oilandgasuk.co.uk. Also seewebcasts fromabreakfast briefingonPILOT’s initiativesat www.oilandgasuk.co.uk/news/ Maximising_Economic_Recovery.cfm.

challenging. I ampleased that industry is coming togetherwith theDepartmentof Energy&ClimateChange (DECC) to look atEORpotential, andvery importantly, to explore synergiesbetween fields.” “I ampleased that industry is coming togetherwith the Department of Energy&ClimateChange to look at enhanced oil recovery (EOR) potential, and very importantly, to explore synergies betweenfields.” WhendidPILOToriginate? PILOT, the jointgovernment-industry forum,was formed in2000 to take forward a strategy formaximisingeconomic recoveryof theUK’shydrocarbon resourceand securinga sustainable, long-term future for theUKContinental Shelf. Its creationwas oneof the recommendations froma reportpublished in1999byagovernment-industry Oil andGas IndustryTaskForce,whichwas setup thepreviousyear toaddress the impactof the lowoil priceat that time. What isPILOT’s remit? PILOTadvances initiativesdirectedat reducingcosts, eliminatingbarriers and maximising theeffectivenessof resources tobringabout a futurewhichcould still see theUKoil andgas industrymeetinghalf thecountry’soil andgasneeds in 2020.PILOTcoversmatters relating toall phasesof theoil andgas lifecycle, from exploration,development andproduction through todecommissioning. Whoparticipates inPILOT? PILOTmeets twiceayearand is chairedbyEdwardDaveyMP, the secretaryof state forenergyandclimatechange, andvicechairedbyMichael FallonMP, theminister for energy. IndustrymembershipofPILOTcomprises representatives from theoperator andcontractorcommunitieswho represent abroad spectrumof views.This includes eightmembersof theOil&GasUKboard, andaround five independentmembers –all industry leaders at amanagingdirector/chief executive level. Also involvedare representatives fromkeyUKGovernmentdepartments aswell as theScottishGovernment;AlistairCarmichaelMP, the secretaryof state forScotland; officials fromHMTreasury; and tradeunion representatives.Membership is reviewed every twoyears. TheDepartmentofEnergy&ClimateChange’sOil andGas IndustryDevelopment teamprovides theSecretariat toPILOT.TheSecretariatworks toensure the successof the initiatives andworkareasdriven fromPILOT,whichaim tomaximise recoveryof thenation’s indigenoushydrocarbon reserves andalso improvecompetitivenessof the supplychain. Formore information,pleasevisit www.gov.uk/government/policy-advisory-groups/pilot#role-of-the-group. PRESENTINGPILOT

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THE MAGAZ I NE FOR THE UK OF F SHOR E O I L AND GA S I NDUS TRY