ITF, the oil and gas Industry Technology Facilitator, is calling on international technology developers to come forward with proposals to tackle technology issues associated with high-pressure high temperature (HP/HT) production and produced fluids management.
Such is the strategic importance of HP/HT that selected projects stand to secure 100% funding.
The output from two technology challenge workshops (TCWs) held in Aberdeen has resulted in two global ‘calls for proposals’ urging petroleum companies and their supply chains, research institutes and academia to come forward with ideas to address specific technology gaps.
Both calls are open invitations to encourage any organisation to submit proposals for the sponsorship of research and development and/or field trials of innovative technologies within the themes of HP/HT and produced fluids management.
HP/HT prospects are generally categorised as wells operating at high pressures in the region of 10-15,000psi (pounds per square inch), extreme high pressures from 15-20,000 psi and ultra high pressures from 20-30,000 psi.
On the temperature scale, high temperature developments are considered to be between 300-350F, extreme temperatures are approximately 350-400F and ultra high on the scale of 400-500F.
ITF is calling for proposals to broadly tackle seven specific HPHT technology areas:
Alternatives to alloy steels (liners/coatings)
Reliable downhole permanent monitoring systems
Downhole chemical injection systems
Extending well life in HP/HT fields suffering from depletion-driven compaction
Improved elastomer technology
MWD/LWD and wireline; increase sensor reliability, robustness and temperature/pressure rating and well-bore strengthening
Turning to fluids management, during the August workshop on this issue, more than 40 separate areas of interest were identified. This is seen as evidence of the scale and depth of the issues experienced by the industry on this particular theme.
The main issues identified within the theme of produced fluids management that form the basis for the call for proposals consist of:
Produced water management
Produced sand management
Process control and design
Subsea separation
ITF’s operations director, David Liddle, told Energy: “We have worked closely with our members to develop a cohesive understanding of the specific technology gaps facing the industry around HPHT developments and produced fluids management.
“Considered by the industry as particular areas of focus, these challenges are experienced on an industry-wide, global scale and have a real impact on the cost effective and efficient management of hydrocarbon recovery.
“As environmental exposure to chemicals continues to be a prime concern, the challenges facing the international oil and gas community in the management of produced fluids is a key driver in the call for proposals.
“There is a growing emphasis on the environmental impact of produced fluids. It is time for the industry to take a fresh look at our established solutions to produced fluids management and to challenge ourselves to come up with innovative solutions.”
The closing date for applications is the end of November 2010.