Late March marks the third Unconventional Gas conference in Aberdeen. Supported by the city, what helps differentiate this event is that it is planned by the industry for the industry.
Of course, unconventional gas, particularly shale gas and its recovery through hydraulic fracturing or ‘fracking’ is a headline grabbing subject in the UK these days.
Unconventional gas is typically portrayed as the silver bullet solution to the looming energy crisis or the bringer of environmental disaster.
One thing is certain, however, many countries including the UK need to make decisions on future energy supplies.
The UK built its domestic and industrial energy on plentiful natural gas discovered in the North Sea in the 1960s. Natural gas displaced coal and for most of the last decades, has dominated power generation and heating.
Natural gas still meets 80% of UK heating requirements but has recently been displaced by coal in power generation.
In 2011, natural gas formed 40% of the UK’s energy mix and coal formed 30%. In 2012, this reversed for the first time in decades.
As North Sea gas production declines, the cost of meeting gas needs through imports rises and cheap coal displaces gas. In 2011, the UK imported more gas than it produced for the first time since 1967.
According to Alasdair Buchanan, who is COO/MD Energy Services with Senergy, it is against this background that Unconventional Gas Aberdeen 2014 takes place.
“It is an industry-led event, driven by a committee of energy professionals who want to encourage debate on the UK’s energy mix,” says Buchanan.
“While unconventional gas will not resolve all of our energy needs, it’s vital to have the debate now to get a clearer understanding of all the issues surrounding this natural resource, so a clear picture on how best to extract a domestic energy supply can be formed.
“Conference participants will give their views on important issues such as reducing our dependency on imported coal, development of a healthy supply chain and gaining the social licence to operate.
“We will hear first-hand from operators with shale licences as well as academics and technology developers active in this arena.
“The format will include presentations by speakers and interactive discussion among the participants facilitated by professionals.
“Also, for the first time, we will dedicate a showcase to the academic world in an informal evening session allowing conference delegates to see the work of, and interact with the next generation of talent in this business.
“The conference and the industry have come a long way in recent years and we, and the outside world, are so much more aware of the challenges we face today.
“This year we will build upon shared experiences in order to focus on practical solutions to securing energy supply. I would urge anyone with an interest in this industry to come along and join the debate.”
Unconventional Gas Aberdeen 2014 will be staged at the AECC on March 25-26.
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