The Oil and Gas Authority (OGA) and the Oil & Gas Technology Centre (OGTC) joined forces to host a one-day industry event which showed how technology can advance and significantly lower the life-cycle cost of North Sea field developments.
The Technology Forum, held at the Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre on 22 August, focused on unlocking the UK’s remaining resources, particularly the future oil and gas developments being offered in the recently launched 30th Offshore Licensing Round.
The booked-out conference brought together operators, prospective investors and technology developers to meet and share knowledge on the latest developments in seismic, well construction, subsea tie-backs and standalone facilities.
More than 300 people attended the keynote presentation sessions and participated in the discussion and networking opportunities on offer.
This included over 35 exhibitors from SMEs to major service providers including PGS, Baker Hughes, a GE company, Amplus and Western Geco, showcasing innovative solutions, expertise and insights in the technology arena.
The audience heard from the OGA regarding the acreage and the opportunities available in the 30th Licensing Round. The OGTC discussed its ongoing projects and the opportunities to fund and support the development and deployment of new technology for the North Sea.
Gunther Newcombe, OGA Operations Director, was encouraged by the high uptake for the event, and said: “It was great to see so many people on the day which clearly demonstrates the high interest and importance of the role that technology plays in assisting exploration and field development.
“The 30th Licensing Round offers companies a significant opportunity to take a fresh look at large areas of acreage, some of which has not been available since 1965. The OGA is supporting this with a massive suite of new data packs to help companies build their portfolios.”
Chris Pearson, OGTC Small Pools Solution Centre Manager, added: “This is another first for the OGA and OGTC. We are working collaboratively with an innovative and supportive group of companies to make the license round a success.
“The showcase event highlighted how technology solutions can significantly lower the entire life-cycle cost for UKCS field developments. We can be both incremental and disruptive in our approach to how we deploy the solutions. This approach can make this stable and mature basin an attractive investment opportunity.”
The presentations from the day can be viewed here
