2024

How oil and gas competencies are shaping low carbon technologies

Low-carbon energy technologies are becoming more relevant as the energy mix evolves. Among these low-carbon energy technologies are renewable energy resources, carbon capture utilization and storage to achieve net-zero emissions targets, hydrogen as an energy carrier, and fuel cells, to mention a few. Except for solar, wind, and geothermal energy, most low-carbon energy technologies constitute relatively young industries. Some stakeholders are unaware of the similarity in skill sets between these low-carbon energy technologies and the mature oil and gas industry that can be leveraged.

In this presentation, Dr. Esuru discussed how skills and competencies in the oil and gas industry apply to a variety of low-carbon energy technologies. She presented a “Petroleum Industry to Low-Carbon Energy Technologies Competency Map” that shows where the core petroleum engineering competence and non-core petroleum engineering skills fit in the low-carbon energy space. She also provided specific examples from research in carbon dioxide storage, underground hydrogen storage, and geothermal energy to demonstrate how different competencies from the petroleum industry have been applied to advance understanding, reduce the learning curve, and accelerate project success.

The one idea she would like members to take away from this lecture is that their skill sets are transferable and relevant to several areas related to the evolving energy mix.

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Taking drilling geomechanics to the digital world and the dynamic drilling environment

The conventional methods for applying geomechanics principles to the drilling process include issuing pre-drilling recommendations for the mud weight drilling window. These are often based on simplified linear elastic analytical solutions. 

More recently, the area of application is extended by updating and re-calibrating pre-drilling models using logging while drilling data. These methods fall short from considering the different aspects of the dynamic environment of the drilling process and in exploiting the variety of other forms of data readily available to drilling engineers.

Replacing the simplified analytical solutions with a more reliable numerical model allows for more accurate prediction of wellbore rock failure. It also allows for the consideration of new forms of input data like the changes of the wellbore geometry, the dimensions of cavings detected on the shale shakers, and the influence of pressure cycling events. The goal is to go beyond the conventional methods for geomechanics modelling by venturing into the digital world to introduce new solutions for rock failure surveillance and prediction.

The main takeaways from this lecture are: 1) wellbore rock failure limits can change in response to different and common drilling events that take place as drilling progresses, and 2) we have the data and technology to deterministically quantify the change to these limits.

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Insights on preparing technical papers for the upcoming 2024 SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition

SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition (ATCE) is the leading technical energy conference and exhibition for global E&P professionals. The upcoming 2024 Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition marks the 100-year anniversary of ATCE, where experts and visionaries from around the world converge to share insights, experiences, and cutting-edge ideas in the oil and gas industry!

As a member of the ATCE 2024 Program Committee, Eng. Gilbert Omitta shall share concepts on how to prepare robust technical papers for the ATCE conference, which will be held in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA, from the 23rd to 25th of September 2024.

You are encouraged to influence the energy industry by submitting your proposal before the deadline of 19th February 2024. The Program Committee is eager to review your proposal and looks forward to shaping the technical program with your innovative and collaborative submissions.