Aberdeen SPE to host well abandonment seminar for oil and gas professionals

Posted by Odyssey Communications on Monday, June 08, 2009

Location
Aberdeen, UK

Full Details

AECC event will provide unique European forum for major industry environmental focus on 30 June 2009

As part of its 2009 programme of events, the SPE (Aberdeen Section) is organising a major seminar on well abandonment and related issues. Chaired by SPE Aberdeen chair-elect, Chris Nussbaum, this will be the major 2009 event in Europe to address vital well abandonment issues.

The one-day event at Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre (AECC) will include a series of technical presentations on the latest well suspension and abandonment techniques.

‘We are experiencing a high level of interest in this unique seminar,’ says Chris Nussbaum, ‘and we have scheduled a number of technical sessions to be given by specialists from the major players in the European well abandonment field. More than half the delegate spaces have been allocated, and a number of specialist contractors are mounting technical exhibits at the event.

‘Our goal is to improve oil and gas industry awareness of both statutory and guideline changes, and we know that this event will not only inform delegates but will also allow us to share industry best practice. Well abandonment is entirely concerned with the long term protection of the environment in a cost-effective way and we have made major steps forward recently, which we want everyone to share.’

A number of major decommissioning projects are currently either underway or being planned in the North Sea region. SPE recognises that abandonment is not only a key environmental issue, but also a commercial one for the coming decade - and now is the time to pay attention to this vital area. A study – also to be presented at this seminar - recently estimated the current UK market at fifteen billion pounds (£15bn) to be spent over the next decades.

Paul Dymond, Oil & Gas UK Operations and Supply Chain Director, who will be delivering the keynote speech, said: ‘The two key issues facing the North Sea well abandonment community are the need to maintain the focus on safety and integrity, and the current high operating cost base. The Oil & Gas UK North Sea Well Abandonment Study has identified that there is a far greater number of wells and a significantly higher cost involved in abandoning them than was previously thought. The big challenge therefore is how the industry can work smarter to keep costs lower, while remaining focused on safety and integrity.

‘The latest version of the UK Guidelines for Suspension and Abandonment of Wells, published earlier this year, takes these issues into account, and I believe the Well Abandonment Seminar presents an excellent opportunity for operators and service companies to gain a deeper understanding of this document and its rationale, and to share and learn from the ideas and best practices that are helping to shape the future for this very important sector of our industry.’

SPE believes that this forum will be of great benefit to the UK oil sector right now because UK Oil & Gas’s Working Group 4 has just completed two major pieces of work that relate to the Well Abandonment market - a complete re-write of the industry Guidelines for Well Abandonment, and an inventory of the upcoming well abandonments in the UK North Sea. Industry experts will explain recent revisions to industry guidelines and requirements, as well as market assessment.

‘The conference is also being supported and addressed by StatoilHydro,’ says Chris Nussbaum, ‘who will highlight the Norwegian position on well abandonment and environmental protection. Speakers include Jules Schoenmakers of Shell Europe on behalf of UK Oil & Gas Working Group 4, and Colin Smith of BP’s Miller abandonment project, as well as speakers from StatoilHydro.’

Jules Schoenmakers commented on the event: ’SPE has managed to put together a programme of high quality and good diversity. The presentations cover recent experiences with abandonments of subsea and platform wells in the Northern and Southern North Sea. The moving technologies and regulations will be addressed, as well as the outlook of this business segment.’

Because Aberdeen is a major centre of industrial best practice and the SPE section in Aberdeen is the largest in Europe, Chris Nussbaum expects a major turnout from the oil and gas industry. ‘The networking opportunities of an event like this should not be underestimated,’ he says..

To build further on the seminar discussion will be taken forward to, ITF – the Industry Technology Facilitator – is hosting a Well Abandonment Technology Framing Session on the following day - 1st July.

Bringing together a number of the industry’s major operator and service companies, the event will explore the technology gaps that exist to perform rigless abandonment using Light Weight Intervention Vessels (LWIV), and identify new opportunities for funding research and development.

David Liddle, operations director at ITF said: ‘In the North Sea alone some 25% of subsea wells could potentially be abandoned or plugged using LWIVs.

‘There are significant cost savings to be achieved from using a LWIV to permanently abandon wells. ITF is hosting its well abandonment theme day to understand, from the operating and service community, what the key challenges are and what new technology is required to open up new opportunities in rigless abandonment.’

For further information please contact
Shirley Muir, Odyssey Communications 01224 325495
Chris Nussbaum, TecWel and SPE 01224 822555

SPE Well Abandonment Seminar

Date 30 June 2009
Time 8 00 to 16 30
Place Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre
Bridge of Don, Aberdeen AB23 8BL
To book Online with a credit card at www.hulse-rodger.com
Telephone +44 (0)1224 495051
Email spe@hulse-rodger.com

COST
Members (SPE/EI) £235 plus VAT (£270.25)
Non-members £290 plus VAT (£333.50)
Academic & student members £50 plus VAT (£57.50)
Group discount: pay for four places and get the fifth free

For more details about the ITF event on 1 July, please contact ITF on 01224 853409, or visit www.oil-itf.com

SPE Aberdeen

The SPE Aberdeen Section http://www.spe-uk.org/aberdeen-section.htm works closely with the oil & gas industry, the government, the institutes and academia to advance the learning of its members in all aspects of the industry; offshore, onshore and internationally.

Its members are active in all walks of life within the oil and gas industry and hold cross disciplinary seminars with colleagues across many institutes and organisations.

For young and old, male and female and just about every nationality SPE has over 2000 members, 4 student chapters and a very strong board. Its aim is to enhance the industry experience and help people achieve their true potential.

Category
Oil Industry Organisation Information