The Industry Technology Facilitator (ITF) has gone from strength to strength in the past year or two, with some of the new technologies it has supported making a real difference in the field and its global expansion progressing well. Managing director Neil Poxon kicks off OE’s preview of likely talking points at September’s Offshore Europe show in Aberdeen with a look at the not-for-profit organisation’s achievements to date and plans for the future.
ITF, owned by 28 major operating and service company members from around the globe, facilitates the development of new technologies by establishing joint industry projects (JIPs) with up to 100% funding available for successful proposals. Projects launched range from early stage feasibility studies through to field trials and implementation projects.
Now in its 11th year, ITF is rapidly extending its global reach to establish new contacts outside the UK. The organisation has opened offices in Abu Dhabi, Houston and Perth so far this year, with Kuala Lumpur soon to follow. The new offices are part of an international growth strategy for engaging with existing members and developers, as well as attracting new ones. By establishing a permanent presence in these key oil and gas hubs, ITF will strive to achieve its ambitions of securing a further £50 million investment from members to launch 40 JIPs per year by 2015.
ITF has been the launch pad for a myriad of successful technologies to the oil and gas industry – some of which have been cross fertilised from other industries and innovatively adapted. To date, it has launched more than 170 new, collaborative technology projects and secured £50 million of investment from its member companies, with an ongoing live portfolio of 42 projects worth around £20 million.
The range of these technologies extends from reservoir imaging in challenging environments, to the harsh conditions of the Arctic. As today’s oil fields become more demanding to evaluate, drill and produce, the need for new technology grows. This is reflected in our expanding membership, with a number of new operators coming on board this year including EnQuest and Premier Oil.
The members debate the key issues affecting the global industry and choose the most pressing to develop. The priorities set for 2011 are enhanced oil recovery; subsea technologies; unconventional reservoirs (oil); ageing assets; drilling and well intervention.
A programme of international technology challenge workshops (TCWs) focusing on these key priorities have taken place this year in locations ranging from Houston to Aberdeen, Amsterdam to Australia. The information thus gathered is then developed and issued as global calls for proposals, where technology developers and academia are tasked with coming up with the groundbreaking solutions that can solve some of the industry’s most pressing needs.
Ultimately, implementation of technology is ITF’s number one objective and members are seeing the benefits as JIPs deliver real cost savings in the field. On average ITF is seeing eight new technologies implemented into the market each year. While it can be difficult to quantify the impact of technologies in every instance, we know that ITF has facilitated a number of subsurface projects which have cumulatively added to the collective body of knowledge within the industry. These results can have a value equating to hundreds of millions of dollars when incorporated into an oil company’s workflow.
Subsurface projects have added to the industry’s understanding of reservoirs through enhanced seismic imaging and modelling techniques to better understand the characteristics for different environments around the world.
Imaging technologies have added an order of magnitude of clarity. A better understanding of the reservoir characteristics through ITF projects has led to improved development of production methods. Airborne gravity gradiometry is an alternative imaging technique enhanced by an ITF project with ARkeX, which is now in considerable use in the industry.
One area of major impact over the past decade has been the ability to integrate seismic and non-seismic methods to enhance our ability to see hydrocarbon resources. ITF projects have brought forward controlled source electro magnetic surveying (CSEM) techniques in shallow water and the subsequent integration of seismic, CSEM and well log data.
One area of major impact over the past decade has been the ability to integrate seismic and non-seismic methods to enhance our ability to see hydrocarbon resources. ITF projects have brought forward controlled source electro magnetic surveying (CSEM) techniques in shallow water and the subsequent integration of seismic, CSEM and well log data.
The production and wells side of the industry has seen equal success. Reducing the cost of well construction has been an economic goal of the industry for many years. SlimWELL technology developed by Caledus has been designed to overcome this challenge. Repairing damaged casing has also been successfully developed through ITF projects. Hets, developed by Read Well Services, enables difficult deepwater wells to be successfully side-tracked rather than abandoned due to damage, saving the industry up to £7-8 million per application.
Technologies have been developed to enhance or meet changing legislation in oil-in-water monitoring techniques; examples include Aquapurge by Clean Water Systems, Lux Monitor by Lux Innovate, and Mimms which came through the University of Liverpool.
Other projects completed through ITF have assisted the development of a number of SMEs to enter the industry, bringing with them innovative technologies. Examples here include Brinker’s platelet sealing technology and Mud Automatics’ innovative MudWatcher.
ITF is constantly seeking trial opportunities to take projects forward after development but there still remains a potential chasm for developers. The organisation is therefore developing relationships with venture capitalists and other industry stakeholders in order to bridge the so called ‘valley of death’.
We can also bring forward special technology projects outwith the priorities set by members; so the message to developers with game-changing ideas is get in touch, the ITF door is always open.
Examples of ITF-funded technologies in the field
A prime example of developing key technologies and supporting an SME with a good idea through to reality. The technology allows for the continuous real time measurement of single point viscosity and weight of drilling fluids and transfer of data obtained. The technology has been proven through numerous sales and is now in operation on a number of drilling rigs. OE
CASH INJECTION: Specialist R&D company Lux Assure recently received new investment of £400,000 to commercialise its range of chemical monitoring technologies. The funding, from Archangel Informal Investment and the Scottish Enterprise Co-Investment Fund, will allow the firm to manufacture and sell monitoring kits as well as supporting further field trials. The first product expected to be launched with the support of this investment will be Ommica detection kit, designed for methanol and monoethylene glycol monitoring. Professor Max Rowe, who joined Lux Assure in an advisory role last year, has now been appointed a non-executive director. Prof Rowe, pictured here with Lux Assure managing director and chief scientific officer Emma Perfect, is also chairman of ITF and holds an honorary chair in the College of Physical Sciences at Aberdeen University
Subscribe
