This session will explore four different opportunities for conventional gas to maximize project value:
INDUSTRY INSIGHTS
Exploration and development of new geological frontiers and new applications of conventional gas resources
Objectives
- New effective technologies application for the mature fields
- Identification and development of new geological frontiers
- Fiscal and regulatory incentives required to stimulate development in mature fields and new reservoir types
- Optimal development concept while ensuring safety and environment protection
Examples of subject matters include
- Latest discoveries of conventional resources
- Development of new geological frontiers e.g subsalt carbonates, large deltas, foothill, rift and graben, paleoplatform
- Technological advances for mature fields extraction
- The social acceptance, regulatory issues, fiscal regulation, projects economics
Impact of unconventional resource development on the world gas market
Objectives
After the US, certain countries – Argentina, China, Algeria, Saudi Arabia – have huge unconventional resources. They will be the next ones where unconventional gas will be developed. The session will debate the key motivations of these countries, as well as the technical, economic, social challenges to overcome. Will the development of these new resources affect the world gas flow? And particularly can US LNG compete with Russian gas in Europe and the Far East beyond 2020?
Examples of subject matters include
- Unconventional potential (geographical and geological context, resources, existing infrastructures)
- Main motivations (government revenue, gas independence, reduction of GHG emissions, displacement of electric mix, economy competiveness)
- Main challenges (geology, technology, human resources, economic, environmental, political, fiscal)
- Status of current development (exploration, pilot phase, development phase)
- Impact on world gas market including LNG
- Competition between Russian gas and US LNG in Europe and Asia
- Unconventional potential (geographical and geological context, resources, existing infrastructures)
Digitization and big data transforming the E&P lifecycle
Objectives
Oil and gas companies are now entering the era of digital business. The impact of the “Internet of things” (IoT) will create new dimensions of data (and big data). The blurring line between physical and digital, along with rapid adoption of IoT, shifts businesses into new paradigms. Oil and gas companies need to reinvent themselves in preparation for the next era of autonomous business driven big data, algorithms and artificial intelligence. In this light, this session aims to share case studies on how digitalization creates value, reduces cost and improves efficiency throughout the E&P gas lifecycle. The case studies will also discuss associated challenges and changes to operating models, and bridging physical and digital divide amid the widening gap between those that can exploit these technologies vs those that cannot and how it will affect the workforce.
Examples of subject matters include
- Advance analytics, predictive and artificial intelligence
- Remote operations, automation and robotics (IoT, sensor, intelligent equipment)
- Additive manufacturing/ 3D printing
- Workforce of the future (digital tools to improve productivity and HSE)
- Integration of engineering and data driven science for evaluation and modelling
- Blockchain and smart contracts
TECHNICAL & INNVOVATION CENTRE
Technological advances to extend the lifecycle of conventional mature gas fields
Objectives
This session will debate the technological advances available for mature gas fields lifecycle extension.
Examples of subject matters include
- Maintaining production levels
- Replenishing production through developing reserves of under- and over-lying productive deposits
- Development of science intensive technologiespre
- Stimulating of gas production
- Maximize the recovery factor
- Development of predictive models to simulate subsurface phenomena
- Ways of solving operating problems
- Development of science
- Maintaining production levels
- Replenishing production through developing reserves of under- and over-lying productive deposits
- Development of science intensive technologies
- Stimulating of gas production
- Maximize the recovery factor
- Development of predictive models to simulate subsurface phenomena
- Ways of solving operating problems
New technologies to make unconventional gas development more resilient
Objectives
The dramatic reduction in US shale gas development has not been followed by rapid and significant slowdown in production. Two main factors explain that production resilience – huge improvement in operational performances, and spectacular increase in well productivity. This session is devoted to all technologies able to improve these two factors.
Examples of subject matters include
- Optimization of development strategy (rig number, well number by pad, optimal horizontal length, frac spacing, wells to refract, DUC – Drilled but Uncompleted wells)
- Improvement of operational performances (Digital, big data remote operation center, rig move, connection time)
- Optimization of well & design (open hole vs plug&perf, new completion technologies)
- New fracking technologies (alternative fluids, tailored chemicals, new proppant)
- Improvements in hydraulic fracture diagnostics
- Sweet spot and sweet area mapping (3D/3C seismic, innovative geological workflow and lab technologies)
- Stimulated Rock Volume modelling (earth model) and monitoring (microseismic)
Next generation materials to meet E&P needs
Objectives
This session will explore the innovations in material science that are both cost-effective as well as superior in performance, e.g. in terms of weight, mechanical properties, durability, and resistance to environmental degradation. The discussion should include the qualification of new materials and the applications.
Examples of subject matters include
- Nanomaterials (e.g., nanotechnology applied to proppants, equipment, separations)
- HPHT Materials (i.e., materials that can withstand much high temperatures and pressures)
- Carbon fiber and Advanced Composite Materials (e.g., strong materials that are much lighter)
- Multifunctional and Smart Materials (e.g., materials that can send information and self-repair)
Applied technology and innovations in sustainable unconventional gas development
Objectives
This session will provide an overview of emerging and technologies and approaches being applied in enhancing the production efficiency and environmental profile of unconventional gas development. The session will be comprised of case studies and overviews of new product and service applications in upstream unconventional gas fields.
Examples of subject matters include
- Understanding and avoiding induced seismicity associated with unconventional gas development (i.e. investigations of the relationship between wastewater injection and seismicity; including research contributing to state of science regarding detailed characterization of the subsurface, controlling injections, and sensing/imaging technologies)
- Preventing the disposal of large volumes of produced water from unconventional natural gas wells (i.e. research targeting the development and application of non-aqueous fracturing fluid alternatives)
- Beneficial reuse of water produced from unconventional natural gas wells (including research targeting water treatment cost reduction, water and production systems integration, economic re-use for both oilfield and non-oilfield purposes)
- Methane emissions, both vented and fugitive, occur in all segments of the natural gas supply chain, which consists of three stages: production and processing, transmission and storage, and distribution. What are the cost effective proven technologies to mitigate methane emissions across the supply chain?
- Environmentally friendly drilling – dust control, noise, rig size, congestion
