ITF last month outlined the specific challenges that its membership of operator and service companies want to see tackled as priorities in 2012. Up to 100% funding will be available for the right solutions to some of the industry's most pressing challenges, says the not-for-profit organisation which is looking to secure some £50 million of direct investment from members – its owners – over the next three years.
The global oil & gas technology facilitator is planning a series of workshops in international locations throughout the year on the top industry priorities, such as unconventional reservoir characterisation, heavy oil, subsea (including subsea power, extra long tiebacks, produced water, separation and cleaning and replacement of valve actuators), and downhole pressure and temperature monitoring.
The first ‘technology challenge' workshop – on unconventional reservoir characterisation – is scheduled for 13 March in Aberdeen where members will prepare a roadmap to define the issues ahead of a further workshop in Houston in June. A global call for proposals will then be issued inviting technology developers to submit their innovative solutions.
The organisation tasked with driving new technology solutions also revealed that it will be establishing membership clusters in the Middle East, Australia, US and Europe to focus on the unique regional challenges and bring forward more specific joint industry projects.
ITF managing director Neil Poxon commented: ‘Members want to see gamechanging technologies in a number of key areas and our workshop programme will kick off with unconventional reservoir characterisation which was voted as one of the top priorities. Our internationalisation strategy and establishment of four regional clusters means that we will also be targeting the issues that directly affect exploration and production in these areas with the issue of calls for proposals.'
To date ITF has launched more than 180 JIPs, from early stage projects through to field trials and commercialisation. The organisation originated in Aberdeen but now also has bases in Abu Dhabi, Houston, Kuala Lumpur and Perth, Australia.
It is looking to launch 25 JIPs across the regions this year.
‘ITF has been extremely successful in securing funding for JIPs and our membership is at its highest level,' said Poxon. He urged interested companies to ‘come to us with their innovative technologies, whether they are at the early concept stage or closer to commercialisation, as there are opportunities to secure investment and also the buy-in of major operators, whilst retaining intellectual property'. DM
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