Worldwide natural gas shortages will continue through 2023. Sharply reduced Russian supplies to Europe intensify global competition for liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipments, according to the latest report from the International Energy Agency.
Acomplex scenario will present itself for Europe and all markets that rely on the same LNG supply pool. Russia has largely cut gas supplies to Europe in retaliation for sanctions imposed on it following its invasion of Ukraine. This has exacerbated market tensions and uncertainty ahead of the coming winter in the northern half of the world.
Currently, the European Union's gas storage facilities are more than 90% full, providing some security during winter. However, risks remain for Europe in case
of further supply disruptions or severe cold waves. The absence of Russian supplies and the expected increase in Chinese demand for LNG will make it difficult to refill
EU storage facilities after the end of the heating season.
In early October, the International Energy Agency executive director met in Prague with Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala and subsequently with EU energy ministers. He stressed the critical importance of solid solidarity among European countries this winter. The Czech Republic currently holds the EU Presidency. Dr. Birol recognized Prime Minister Fiala for his government's efforts to address the current energy crisis and unite European countries to respond to it.
THERE ARE RISKS TO EUROPE IN CASE OF FURTHER SUPPLY DISRUPTIONS OR SEVERE COLD WAVES.
With the OPEC+ bloc's plan to drastically reduce oil supply to the world market, the trajectory of oil supply growth for the rest of this year and next year has crumbled. This will increase prices, exacerbating market volatility and energy security concerns.
By Aldo Santillan Managing Director and Editor in Chief, Energy Capital Magazine
According to the International Energy Agency report, higher oil prices with precise and aggressive inflation and interest rate hikes may be the tipping point for a world economy already on the brink of recession. This situation will lead to a significant reduction in the growth of world oil demand. Expectations for world GDP growth are also on the downside in the face of a recession in several European countries. This also poses a risk to emerging and developing economies. The massive cut in the OPEC+ oil supply increases energy security risks worldwide. Even with lower demand, oil reserves will be drastically reduced for the rest of this year and into the first half of 2023.
WITH PRECISE AND AGGRESSIVE INFLATION AND INTEREST RATE HIKES, RISING OIL PRICES MAY BE THE TIPPING POINT FOR A GLOBAL ECONOMY ALREADY ON THE BRINK OF RECESSION.
The continued deterioration of the global economy, and higher prices triggered by the OPEC+ supply cut plan, are holding back global oil demand. The International Energy Agency forecasts world oil demand to average 101.3 mbd in 2023.
Increasing energy production while reducing both risk and the carbon footprint can be a complicated concept. However, if we take step back and look at the concept of the family farm, with its complementary activities and multiple sources of income, we can see a new model to follow, and one which is easily understandable. That is the “Energy Farm.”
Like the traditional farms of the past, the new “energy farm” needs to focus on multiple sources of income, and creative ways to find new technologies that will result in new revenue streams.
Ariel was frustrated. “The engineers are recommending a refrac, but costs have gone up and we don’t have the funds for it at this time, and no one wants to assume more debt.”
Ariel was discussing the Woodford shale wells in the Anadarko Basin that had been excellent producers at first, but, like many shale wells,
As you drive onto the lease, with its producing wells and more, what do you see? Instead of “producing unit” let’s think of a farm – an energy farm.
dropped off precipitously. Now was the time to refrac, but it was not possible, given the situation.
Just as she had given up hope, Ariel received a call from a company that was interested in the shallow Pennsylvanian sand zones above the Woodford shale. The formation produced in the area, but no wells had been completed in on the acreage that was held by production. “We have a new analytics program that allows us to analyze the well logs, seismic, and other geological information to see if any
of the shallow zones could be drilled vertically and completed as conventional wells. We would like to have permission to access your data, analyze it, and then propose locations.”
Ariel thought it over. If they did the analysis, she would pay them a consulting fee to have access to the maps and results. If the shallow zones looked good, she could drill them herself. However, if she did not have the funding to do so, she could take a small piece of working interest, and farm out the rest. The operating company would cover all the costs of drilling, and Ariel’s company
would retain an overriding royalty interest and could even take working interest.
If there were in fact operators who would drill the conventional targets, it could solve her problems. In a bestcase scenario, there would be enough revenue generated by the farmed-out acreage’s new production that Ariel’s company would have enough funding for the refracs and even new wells. Further, the overall risk would be reduced, and the ultimate recoverable reserves for the lease could be dramatically increased.
Ariel knew that if it worked out well, the leasehold could be worth literally 10 times what it was before the decided to farm it out to have the shallow, conventional targets drilled.
There were other benefits as well. As Ariel pointed out to her team, “We have not even scratched the surface! We can now look at the potential for brine mining for lithium, brackish water zone purification for agricultural use, energy storage, carbon capture use and storage, bitcoin mining with stray gas, and more.”
Ariel was optimistic. It would take a team effort, but with this approach, the team could come from many different places, and she could coordinate a tight, dedicated cadre of true believers. The only bump in the road would be the hours spent with attorneys to make sure that all the legal details were worked out well.
A Starting Point: Identify the
So, how do we make Ariel’s situation a positive one that can be emulated in many different places and situations? In Ariel’s case, the opportunity started with a “problem” producing lease. It was time for it to be restimulated, but to do so was prohibitively expensive.
So, the solution was the “energy farm” – find multiple sources of income, and make sure that they complement each other.
A quick and efficient way to conceptualize the “energy farm” is to look at the leasehold. Perhaps the most profitable approach is to take a close look at shale plays, and to identify the leaseholds that might most benefit from an “energy farm” approach. For example, a shale play leasehold where the horizontal wells have declined, and no additional laterals are planned, could be revived in many ways. First, look at the potentially productive zones above and even below the producing shale zone.
Keep in mind that the shale zone is often a source rock as well as a reservoir. That means that oil and gas have been generated in the zone, and then have migrated through faults and fractures, as well as highly porous communicating zones. An additional factor to keep in mind is that whenever the producing shale zone was hydraulically fractured, in many cases adjoining leases and
adjacent zones were likewise stimulated. This makes a great case for looking at conventional targets within the same leasehold and evaluating them. Are these uphole zones potentially productive? If so, how and under what conditions?
The first step, then, would be to identify shallow conventional targets on the same leasehold currently held by production, then to drill them, complete them, and then produce them piggybacking on the infrastructure already on the producing tract of land.
Companies such as ExxonMobil have announced large-scale Capture Utilization and Storage (CCUS) projects to channel the carbon dioxide produced in industrial projects and to store or utilize it for other processes, rather than allowing it to be emitted into the atmosphere. The storage occurs underground in the pore spaces of reservoirs with good porosity and permeability. While ExxonMobil, TotalEnergies, and others are working
with CCUS on a massive scale, the Illinois Geological Survey and others have been developing smaller scale CCUS operations for several years. With tax credits as well as a demand for CO2 for enhanced recovery operations (pioneered by companies such as OXY and Whiting), CCUS can be a source of additional revenue on your lease.
Depending on the location of the lease and the nature of the reservoir, the geology (including characterizing the formations), the geomechanical regime, the faults, fractures, and other aspects of the structure, lithology, geochemistry, the lease could be suitable for use for energy storage. For example, a lease that has solar panels that sell excess power to the grid could heat water for injection and storage when there is no capacity for the electricity to enter the grid. One attractive aspect of geothermal energy right now is that there are currently several programs from the Department of Energy (DOE) that fund projects to develop new capacity and proof of concept for new approaches.
As freshwater aquifers such as the United States’ Great Plains aquifer, the Ogallala, are depleted, and surface impoundments evaporate or are starved due to water being diverted for agricultural or community uses, what once seemed too expensive (reverse osmosis purification) now seems to be a question of how much one is willing to pay for life itself. New technologies have been developed to purify produced water, either brackish (low salinity) or the higher salinity water co-produced with oil and other fluids. Some highvolume processes can be used for recharging surface
impoundments and can use produced / flared gas to fuel the process. Other uses can be industrial in nature; for example, water is needed for hydrogen production and ammonia.
Some produced waters are surprisingly high in lithium. They are so concentrated, in fact, that it is economical to adopt brine mining technologies to concentrate the brines and extract the lithium for sales to companies that will use them in batteries.
Where geological conditions are right, there can be natural gas that also contains commercial quantities of helium. These accumulations are generally found in places such as the Hugoton Embayment where there is contact with Precambrian basement, which contains the gas in fractures and intercrystalline porosity. Helium, which is very short supply in the world, has reached all-time highs. The only major caveat with a helium discovery is that there could be no nearby place to process the helium.
Instead of plugging and abandoning your well that no longer produces oil or gas, it might be possible to convert it into geothermal well, and then use it either as a source of direct heat for schools or office buildings or convert it to electricity and sell it into the grid. The University of North Dakota has led the charge in converting oil and gas wells to geothermal, and they have published their results online. In addition, the University of Oklahoma, through a DOE grant and partnering with Blue Cedar Energy and Baker Hughes, has converted six abandoned wells in Shawnee, Oklahoma. They are being used for heat. They are continuing their work with oil and gas wells in Tuttle, Oklahoma, and have plans to continue with wells that have sufficient mechanical integrity,
and reservoirs that have sufficient fluid flow, temperature, and proximity to infrastructure. New developments in heat exchangers and control systems have made this possible.
Orphan wells, which can be terrible emitters of methane and other hydrocarbons, are being cleaned up at a record pace, thanks to financial support from the Biden Administration. Funds are being dispersed to the states for use in identifying and cleaning up the wells. In addition, some states have a fund that is directed toward cleaning up the leases, as well as properly plugging and abandoning them.
In some parts of the country, the gas that is produced is low-volume and low-pressure and there are no pipelines that can accept them. In the case of stranded gas, it is sometimes economic to install an in-situ process to convert it to compressed natural gas. However, another option is to use the gas to fire
generators that would power server farms, which can be used for high margin uses. Another option is to use the electricity to charge large batteries that would be kept in a locked warehouse, and then switched out once a week as a flatbed truck comes to the lease to deposit dead batteries (large) and to pick up the newly charged large lithium batteries.
There are thousands of producing leases with untapped potential for multiple sources of income. But how do you find the best candidates? Are there any good screening tools? In this case it is important to have access to as much data as possible, which would include production histories, well logs, scout tickets, geological studies, core samples, cuttings, and more. For the digitized information, companies such as Petrabytes (http://www.petrabytes.com) as platforms that allow one to work with the data and then bring in their apps that help you determine the opportunities. Other companies, such as PetroDE (http://www. petrode.com) incorporate a georeferencing platform that allows one to do the analyses with the apps, and then display them in layers. The graphical display can be used in conjunction with planning sessions and general strategy development with a team of people from different backgrounds, who contribute their own unique skills, experience, and vantage points.
Worldwide the way that power is generated and delivered is changing. Centralized systems are evolving into more integrated networks. Distributed technologies, in which power is generated at or near its point of use, play an increasingly important role within these networks.
By Norma MartinezD istributed generation refers to various technologies that generate electricity at or near where it will be used. An example is solar panels and combined heat and power. They may serve a single structure, such as a home, office, or business, or they may be part of a microgrid.
A microgrid is a smaller grid tied to a more extensive electricity delivery system. It can be a major industrial facility, a military base, a hospital, or a large college campus. When connected to the electric utility’s lower voltage distribution lines, distributed generation can help support the delivery of clean, reliable power to additional customers and reduce electricity losses along transmission and distribution lines.
In the residential sector, distributed generation systems include solar photovoltaic panels, small wind turbines, natural gas-fire fuel cells, and emergency backup generators, usually fueled by gasoline or
diesel fuel. On the other side, the commercial and industrial sectors include resources such as combined heat and power systems, solar photovoltaic panels, wind, hydropower, biomass combustion or cofiring, municipal solid waste incineration, fuel cells fired by natural gas or biomass; and reciprocating combustion engines, including backup generators, which are maybe fueled by oil.
The main benefit of distributed generation in a smart grid is that it helps utilities to reduce the need for massive investments in building new high-voltage transmission lines to carry renewable power from far-off plants to towns and cities.
The disadvantage of using distributed generation is that the conventional distribution systems need adequate protection to accommodate an exchange
THE WAY POWER IS GENERATED AND DELIVERED IS CHANGING. IT PRESENTS NEW OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES.
of power. Also, signaling for the dispatch of resources becomes highly complicated. And connection and revenue contracts are difficult to establish.
Also, large-scale deployment of distributed generation may affect grid-wide functions such as frequency control and allocation of reserves. As a result, smart grid functions, virtual power plants, and grid energy storage, such as the power to gas stations, are added to the grid.
The use of distributed generation units in the United States has increased for various reasons.
Renewable technologies, such as solar panels, have become cost-effective for many homeowners and businesses. Also, several states and local governments are advancing policies to encourage more significant deployment of renewable technologies due to their benefits, including energy security, resiliency, and emissions reductions.
In addition, distributed generation systems, particularly combined heat and power and emergency generators, are used to provide electricity during power outages, including those that occur after severe storms and during high energy demand days. Moreover, grid operators may rely on some businesses
to operate their onsite emergency generators to maintain reliable electricity service for all customers during hours of peak electricity use. Also, distributed generation systems are subject to a different mix of local, state, and federal policies, regulations, and markets
compared with centralized generation. As policies and incentives vary widely from one place to another, the financial attractiveness of a distributed generation project also varies.
Finally, as electric utilities integrate information and communications technologies to modernize electricity delivery systems, there may be opportunities to reliably and cost-effectively increase the use of distributed generation.
In Canada, implementing optimally distributed technologies is essential to ensure long-term,
DISTRIBUTED GENERATION TECHNOLOGIES AND SOLUTIONS IS ESSENTIAL TO ENSURE AFFORDABLE POWER.
affordable power for its citizens and drive growth and economic prosperity within Canada’s remote yet resource-rich regions.
Distributed power technologies are proven and established, and their increasing use versus centralized solutions is becoming even more attractive in response to global drivers such as climate change, the Age of Gas, and the Industrial Internet. Ongoing technological innovation provides another plus.
As a result, distributed power technologies are becoming more compact, more accessible, more efficient, and more affordable today than they were just a decade ago. Additional benefits include reduced risks for project financing, more rapid construction, and deployment, greater operational flexibility in working alone or in tandem with other systems, greater reliability, and the ability to customize distributed power solutions to meet specific local needs.
technologies are being applied at remote gas storage sites or to move gas through Canada’s extensive natural gas pipeline network. “Virtual pipelines,” a collection of technologies designed to move natural gas from the end of the pipeline to remote uses, are closing the gap in natural gas fueling. They are also becoming a more robust alternative to remote diesel power generation, potentially reducing power costs and emissions.
Canada’s thriving oil and gas sector is one area where distributed power solutions are already being developed and implemented. Combined heat and power (CHP) plants are well established in the oil sands and continue to enable production growth. Gas-fired distributed power technologies offset diesel use in oilfield power generation, converting field gas into power for applications such as drill rigs, artificial lifts, pump jacks, and worker camps.
The country's distributed power solutions are being developed and implemented for flare gas recovery, driven by increased regulation within oil-producing provinces such as Alberta and Saskatchewan. Lastly, gas compression
Distributed generation can benefit the environment by reducing the amount of electricity generated at centralized power plants, reducing the environmental impacts of centralized generation. As we have seen, existing cost-effective distributed generation technologies can generate electricity at homes and businesses using renewable energy resources such as solar and wind. Also, distributed generation can harness the energy that might otherwise be wasted, for example, through a combined heat and power system. On the other hand, by using local energy sources, distributed generation reduces or eliminates the “line loss” (wasted energy) that happens during transmission and distribution in the electricity delivery system.
However, distributed generation can also lead to adverse environmental impacts. Distributed generation systems require a “footprint,” which takes up space. Because they are closer to the end-user, some distributed generation systems might be unpleasant to the eye or cause land-use concerns. Additionally, distributed generation technologies that involve combustion, mainly burning fossil fuels, can produce many of the same impacts as larger fossil-fuel-fired power plants, such as air pollution. These impacts may be smaller than those from a large power plant
47.3 MILLION MEGAWATT-HOURS ARE ELECTRICITY GENERATION IN CANADA (JUNE 2022).
but may also be closer to populated areas. Also, some distributed generation technologies, such as waste incineration, biomass combustion, and combined heat and power, may require water for steam generation or cooling. Moreover, systems that use combustion may be less efficient than centralized power plants due to efficiencies of scale. Furthermore, distributed energy technologies may cause some negative environmental issues at the end of their useful life when they are replaced or removed.
The global distributed energy generation market will be valued at USD 580.8 billion by 2027 and is
expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.5% during the forecast period. Factors such as raising environmental awareness, increasing government policies, Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emission reduction targets, and energy demand, are expected to drive the market over the forecast period. Increasing R&D initiatives for new technologies will also likely augment the market growth. Schemes and incentives by the governments, such as feed-in-tariff in North America and the Asia Pacific, are likely to fuel the demand for DEG systems. Finally, global government schemes aim to promote the installation of such systems across industrial, residential, and commercial applications.
These innovative projects, led by universities, private companies, municipal resource management entities, and local governments, will develop waste conversion and carbon capture technologies to produce fuels from biomass and waste streams and enable algal systems to capture carbon and turn it into alternative clean energy sources.
“Turning waste and carbon pollution into clean energy at scale would be a double win—cleaning up waste streams that disproportionately burden low-income communities and turning it into essential energy,” said U.S. Secretary of
Energy Jennifer M. Granholm. “Biofuel energy has the unique ability to decarbonize highemitting sectors, create good-paying jobs, and significantly clear away barriers on the path to America’s clean energy future.”
Waste streams can cause many health impacts for surrounding communities, including gaseous carbon emissions from power plants, municipal solid waste, animal manure, wastewater residuals, and other organic materials. They are also more likely to be found in low-income communities, disproportionately affecting people of color and underserved neighborhoods. Waste streams are also an untapped, key
feedstock for biofuel production. Algae, a key feedstock for biofuels and products, can help significantly decarbonize the transportation and power generation sectors through carbon utilization technologies.
The selected project teams will support highimpact research and development to accelerate the growth of the bioeconomy by:
• Developing improved organisms and inorganic catalysts that support the next generation of low-carbon biofuels and bioproducts, turning costly waste streams into valuable bioenergy resources; and
• Increasing the capability of algal systems to capture carbon dioxide and use it to produce biofuels and bioproducts.
“TURNING WASTE AND CARBON POLLUTION INTO CLEAN ENERGY AT SCALE WOULD BE A DOUBLE WIN—CLEANING UP WASTE STREAMS THAT DISPROPORTIONATELY BURDEN LOW-INCOME COMMUNITIES AND TURNING IT INTO ESSENTIAL ENERGY,”
U.S. SECRETARY OF ENERGY JENNIFER M. GRANHOLM.
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced $40 million in funding to advance the development and deployment of clean hydrogen technologies. To further decarbonize the grid, DOE is also launching a $20 million university research consortium. It will help states and Tribal communities implement grid resilience programs and achieve decarbonization goals.
THE HYDROGEN SHOT AND UNIVERSITY RESEARCH CONSORTIUM GRID RESILIENCE FOA WILL ALSO PROVIDE THREE-YEAR FUNDING FOR A REGIONALLY DIVERSE UNIVERSITY CONSORTIUM FOCUSED ON DEVELOPING A DECARBONIZED AND MORE RESILIENT ELECTRICAL POWER SYSTEM IN COORDINATION WITH UNIVERSITIES IN MEXICO AND CANADA.
By lowering the costs of clean hydrogen and leveraging industry investments in clean technologies, DOE is making significant strides towards President Biden’s goal of a net-zero carbon economy by 2050 that prioritizes historically disadvantaged communities.
This funding opportunity will advance DOE’s Hydrogen Shot goal of reducing the cost of clean hydrogen to 1 dollar per 1 kilogram in 1 decade (“1 1 1”). At the same time, it will support DOE’s H2@Scale initiative, which aims to advance the affordable production, transport, storage, and utilization of clean hydrogen to enable decarbonization and revenue opportunities across multiple sectors.
Topic areas include projects that will develop technologies for solar fuels created by harvesting sunlight, improve hydrogenemissions detection and monitoring, demonstrate higherdensity and lower-pressure hydrogen storage technologies, and lower the costs and enhance the durability of hydrogen fuel cells for medium- and heavy-duty transportation applications.
DOE envisions multiple financial assistance awards in the form of cooperative agreements, with the period of performance being approximately two to four years. DOE encourages applicant teams that include stakeholders within academia, industry, and national laboratories across multiple technical disciplines. Teams are also encouraged to have representation from diverse entities such as minority-serving institutions or through linkages with Opportunity Zones.
The Hydrogen Shot and University Research Consortium Grid Resilience FOA will also provide three-year funding for a regionally diverse university consortium focused on developing a decarbonized and more resilient electrical power system in coordination with universities in Mexico and Canada. This North American consortium will be critical to addressing crossborder grid dependencies and electrical interconnections throughout the region.
The application process for both the clean hydrogen FOA and University Consortium funding will include two phases: a concept paper and a complete application. Concept papers are due on September 23, 2022, and complete applications are due on December 1, 2022.
By Energy Capital
THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT (EM) NEVADA PROGRAM RECENTLY COMPLETED A UNIQUE SURVEY INVOLVING ELECTRICAL ENERGY FROM A CONTROLLED SOURCE AND AUDIO FREQUENCY SIGNALS TO EXPLORE THE GEOLOGY THAT CONTROLS GROUNDWATER FLOW PATTERNS.
Explorations such as this — at the fourth of four groundwater characterization areas of a portion of the Pahute Mesa — are crucial to the program's mission to continually monitor groundwater on and around the Nevada National Security Site (NNSS).
The innovative, collaborative process will inform key EM decisions necessary to achieve regulatory closure at the Pahute Mesa groundwater area, ultimately promoting the protection of human health and the environment.
Previous wells drilled in and around the Pahute Mesa groundwater area have been deep wells, with depths greater than 5,000 feet below the ground surface. Drilling to these depths is costly, so gathering as much data as possible is key to cost efficiency.
The Controlled-source Audio-frequency Magnetotellurics (CSAMT) survey can map depths of around 3,000 feet. After reviewing the survey results along with existing sampling data and observations from other proximal wells, the program will be better positioned to determine whether and where to drill additional monitoring wells. It will be a valuable long-term in making informed decisions for a path forward for corrective actions in the Pahute Mesa groundwater area.
THE CSAMT GEOPHYSICS METHOD USES ELECTRICAL ENERGY FROM A CONTROLLED SOURCE, VARYING THE FREQUENCY SIGNALS INTO THE GROUND FROM ONE LOCATION AND MEASURING THE RECEIVED ELECTRIC AND MAGNETIC FIELDS IN THE STUDIED AREA.
The CSAMT geophysics method uses electrical energy from a controlled source, varying the frequency signals into the ground from one location and measuring the received electric and magnetic fields in the studied area. A transmitter is placed at a distance from the receiver, which can cover large areas. The CSAMT scan can
be likened to an electrical version of a sonogram, which uses high-frequency sound waves.
This technology has been in use since 1978 and has been employed on the NNSS in the past. For the latest application at Pahute Mesa, crew members collected data every 100 meters along three receiver lines a certain distance from two fixed transmitter locations. From the data collected, the team measured the electronic currency's resistance and, in turn, provided a snapshot of the geology below the ground's surface.
Pahute Mesa is the third of four groundwater corrective action areas on the NNSS to go through the regulatory closure process. By the end of 2028, EM anticipates a safe, secure, and successful transition of the Pahute Mesa groundwater corrective action area into long-term monitoring. This action will complete EM Nevada's groundwater mission at the NNSS. It is anticipated that long-term stewardship responsibilities for closed groundwater corrective action areas will be transferred to the National Nuclear Security Administration, which manages the NNSS.
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Vantage Market Research's recent analysis of the Global Industrial Control Transformer Market finds that the wideranging applicability of the Industrial Control Transformer Market in the supply of electricity is expediting market development. Additionally, the reduced machinery failure owing to frequent voltage peaks, the growing adoption of the Industrial Control Transformer Market in numerous industries, and the increased power generation capacity across the world are projected to enhance the growth of the Global Industrial Control Transformer Market during the forecast period.
By Vantage Market ResearchThe Global Industrial Control Transformer Market revenue is expected to reach USD 1123.6 Million in 2028. The Global Market revenue was valued at USD 848.1 Million in 2021 and is expected to grow to exhibit a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 4.8% during the forecast period; states Vantage Market Research in a report titled:
"Industrial Control Transformer Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report by Phase (Single Phase, Three Phase), by Power Rating (25-500 VA, 5001,000 VA, 1,000-1,500 VA, Above 1,500 VA), by Primary Voltage (Up to 120 V, 121-240 V, Above
240 V), by Frequency (50 Hz, 60 Hz), by End User (Power Generation, Oil & Gas, Chemical, Metal & Mining), by Region (North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, Middle East & Africa)
- Global Industry Assessment (2016 - 2021) & Forecast (2022 - 2028)".
Key Industry Findings & Insights from the report:
• The global Industrial Control Transformer Market was valued at USD 848.1 Million in 2021 and is
set to surpass USD 1123.6 Million by 2028, exhibiting a CAGR of 8.8% during the forecast period 2022-2028.
• In terms of revenue, the application segment held the largest revenue share in 2021 and is estimated to maintain its dominance for the forecast period.
• Regarding revenue, the product segment held the second-largest market share in 2021 and is estimated to snowball during the forecast period.
• The growth can be attributed to rapid urbanization, technological advancement, and an increase in investment by developing countries.
• The Asia Pacific captured the lion's share in 2021 and is projected to retain its position over the forecast period. This can be attributed to a significant number of Industrial Control Transformer industry companies and the high adoption rate owing to government measures that stimulate this industry in this region. The growth is primarily due to the increasing collaborations.
With the increasing energy consumption, the energy demand has been progressively growing. As a result, the total annual energy investment is anticipated to reach USD 5 trillion by 2030. This may add an extra 0.4 percent per year to the annual global GDP growth, based on the joint analysis with the International Monetary Fund. Moreover, with expected investments
in clean energy & energy infrastructure to triple by the year 2030, this rise will bring significant economic benefits as the world emerges from the COVID-19 emergency.
Also, the jump in private and government spending has created millions of jobs in clean energy, manufacturing, engineering, and construction industries. Based on recent trends, all this will make a global GDP 4 percent high in the year 2030 than it would be. This will fuel the market for energy management systems at the international level towards clean energy and energy efficiency, surging the demand for these technologies. As a result, the growing energy consumption will likely drive the demand for Industrial Control Transformer Market.
Segment Analysis:
• Phase
Single Phase
Three Phase
• Power Rating
25-500 VA 500-1,000 VA 1,000-1,500 VA Above 1,500 VA
• Primary Voltage
Up to 120 V 121-240 V Above 240 V
• Frequency 50 Hz 60 Hz
• End User Power Generation Oil & Gas Chemical Metal & Mining Other Users
• Region North America Europe
Middle East & Africa
Read Full Research Report, click here
The Asia Pacific Dominated the Global Industrial Control Transformer Market
The Asia Pacific will likely dominate the Global Industrial Control Transformer Market during the forecast period. The Asia Pacific has become a global hub for manufacturing activities. The requirement for power is rising as the countries in the region have hiked domestic production to meet the customer's demand in industries. Moreover, the area is witnessing rapid growth driven by the growth of central regions like China, Japan, India, South Korea, Australia, and Indonesia, where there are heavy industrialization rates. Also, with the increasing power generation, the chemical industry across India and China is fuelling regional market expansion.
The rise in need to increase and progress the prevailing transmission & distribution infrastructure to support the increasing electricity demand is expected to boost the market growth in the coming years. Furthermore, the rising expansion in heavy industries, renewable energy, and the contribution of aging equipment will also stimulate the regional market to grow.
List of Prominent Players in the Industrial Control Transformer Market:
• ABB (Switzerland)
• Schneider Electric (France)
• Siemens (Germany)
• Eaton (Ireland)
• General Electric (US)
• Hubbell (US)
• Rockwell Automation Inc. (US)
• Broadman Transformers (UK)
• Dogan Electric Company (US)
• MCI Transformer Corporation (US)
• SNC Manufacturing Co. Inc. (US)
• Foster Transformer Company (US)
• TEMCO Industrial (US)
• Controlled Magnetics Inc. (US)
• Micron (US)
• Grant Transformers (Australia)
• Trojans (Spain)
• RECO Transformers Pvt. Ltd. (India)
• Trutech Products (India)
For more information Vantage Market Research
Vantage Market Research's recent analysis of the Global Bio Lubricants Market finds that the increased demand owing to environmental benefits expedites market intensification. In addition, vital technological advancements and rising research and development activities are projected to augment the growth of the Global Bio Lubricants Market during the forecast period.
The Global Bio Lubricants Market revenue is expected to reach USD 2.3 Billion in 2028. The Global Market revenue was valued at USD 1.9 Billion in 2021 and is expected to grow to exhibit a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 3.9% during the forecast period; states Vantage Market Research in a report titled: "Bio Lubricants Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report by Base Oil (Vegetable Oil, Animal Fat, Other Oils), by Application (Hydraulic Oil, Metalworking Fluids, Chainsaw Oil, Mold Release Agents, Two-Cycle Engine Oils, Gear Oils, Greases, Other Applications), by End-Use Industry (Industrial (Marine, Mining & Metallurgy, Energy & Power, and Food & Pharmaceutical), Commercial Transport, Consumer Automobile), by Region (North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, Middle East & Africa) - Global Industry Assessment (20162021) & Forecast (2022 - 2028)".
• The global Bio Lubricants Market was valued at USD 1.9 Billion in 2021 and is set to surpass USD 2.3 Billion by 2028, exhibiting a CAGR of 3.9% during the forecast period 2022-2028.
• In terms of revenue, the application segment held the largest revenue share in 2021 and is estimated to maintain its dominance for the forecast period.
• Regarding revenue, the product segment held the second-largest market share in 2021 and
is estimated to snowball during the forecast period.
• The growth can be attributed to rapid urbanization, technological advancement, and an increase in investment by developing countries.
• The Asia Pacific captured the lion's share in 2021 and is projected to retain its position over the forecast period. This can be attributed to a significant number of Bio Lubricants industry companies and the high adoption rate owing to government measures that stimulate this industry in this region. The growth is primarily due to the increasing collaborations.
A bio-based lubrication product is a greener option than usual lubricating oils that pollute the environment by generating toxic fumes. Due to its distinctive environmental benignity, this area receives much traction from environmental activists. Furthermore, the market operant will probably observe a significant augment during the forecast period owing to the increase in consumer awareness relating to the environment and depleting crude oil reserves in the developing regions. Moreover, it is associated with the belief that the Bio Lubricants Market is sustainable and part of the biodegradable base stocks utilized in their formulations.
The requirement for biodegradable bio-based lubricants has increased with the expanding public awareness regarding the environmental effects of
mineral oilbased lubricants. As a result, the growing demand for environmentfriendly lubricants is expected to drive the Bio Lubricants Market expansion.
Bio Lubricants Market is becoming popular as they are a viable alternative to petroleum-based oils. Such lubricants provide several environmental and longterm benefits compared to petroleumbased options. Also, they are less costly, with a high biodegradability rating. Moreover, their high usage as an alternative to mineral and
petroleum-based oil has considerably expedited the Bio Lubricants Market growth globally.
In addition, the Bio Lubricants Market is less expensive because of the low maintenance, storage, and disposal requirements, which will likely strengthen the market in the future. Besides, the higher oil prices are reasonable to fuel the market growth rate. Increasing the need to improve fuel efficiency in vehicles will also propel market development.
Europe Dominated the Global Bio Lubricants Market
Europe dominated the Global Bio Lubricants Market and is expected to continue the same trend during the forecast period. This is primarily due to adopting bio-degradable products and different emission standards. Moreover, the evolution of several government initiatives to strengthen environmental regulation will propel regional market growth in the future.
Furthermore, the regional market development can also be attributable to the fact that the U.S. Air Force supports plant-derived biodegradable products as a strategic and fundamental approach to national security. Besides, the Europe market is also estimated to profit from a significant quantity of soybean and rapeseed feedstock based on the increased biodiesel production in this region. This, in turn, is likely to drive bio-based lubricant consumption.
• ExxonMobil (U.S.)
• Royal Dutch Shell (Netherlands)
• Total S.A. (France)
• Cargill (U.S.)
• B.P. (U.K.)
• Emery Oleochemicals (Malaysia)
• FUCHS Group (Germany)
• Panolin (Switzerland)
• Kluber Lubrication (Germany)
• Binol Lubricants (Sweden)
December 2021: RSC Bio Solutions, a leading green technology company, and Standard Sekiyu Osaka Hatsubaisho Co. Ltd. (SSOH), a company that operates in the Government industry, announced a new distribution partnership to meet the increasing demand in Japan for Environmentally Acceptable Lubricant (EAL) offerings for marine and industrial applications.
For more information: Vantage Market Research www.vantagemarketresearch.com
By Norma Martinez
Propane, in its renewable form, is the newest renewable energy solution that can dramatically reduce carbon emissions in transportation, material handling and power generation.
Mr. Tucker Perkins is the president and CEO of the Propane Education & Research Council. He has extensive experience in the propane industry and talks about the benefits of what he calls the “3D Energy Grid” –– pipes underground, lines overhead, and versatile power generation in the middle –– and how the current energy transition is changing the conditions and decisions companies are facing.
MR. TUCKER PERKINS CEO PROPANE EDUCATION & RESEARCH COUNCIL.
Clean energy advocates have focused on the total elimination of fossil fuels in favor of an all-electric future. This one-and-only-solution, according to Perkins, is hurting the fight against climate change. It ignores the urgency of making changes today and decarbonizing where we can, by rapidly replacing dirty energy sources with cleaner alternatives. The value that clean energy alternatives can provide today is being dismissed by those who insist on a purely electric future that, at present, is at least two decades away and may not ever be fully realized.
“Electrify Everything” Myth
WE ARE NOT READY FOR REALISTIC LARGE-VOLUME ENERGY STORAGE.
At the same time, and especially in Europe and America, we are seeing regular reports regarding the electric grid’s fragility. Putting more load through applications like batteryelectric vehicles on a less reliable grid is unsustainable and will likely lead to more long-duration blackouts. The Texas Winter storm in 2021 showed us that power is life, and the absence of power can be deadly.
Another major concern is that the cost of electricity has increased dramatically. The share of income that low-income households spend on electricity has risen by 1/3 in the last decade, so the current movement is hurting the most vulnerable and keeping us from reducing carbon emissions today. We should not, and do not have to, wait for two or more decades at a cost of $25 trillion for the promise of electrification to come true.
Mr. Tucker Perkins thinks that electrification helps, although he believes it cannot be the only clean climate solution. While some places in the world can produce electricity from the sun or with wind, those are not what he calls “firm” energy sources since they cannot supply adequate base load. Additionally, current utilityscale battery technology isn’t able to meet demand when the sun doesn’t shine, or the wind doesn’t blow.
Today, the most effective and affordable renewable energy is liquid fuels, according to Mr. Perkins. Renewable diesel fuel, sustainable aviation fuel and
MR. TUCKER PERKINS CEO PROPANE EDUCATION & RESEARCH COUNCIL.
impacts. The carbon intensity of the U.S. electric grid is 154, proving that it is not green. The CI score for diesel fuel is cleaner than the grid at 100. On the other end of the spectrum, the carbon intensity of conventional propane is 80 and renewable propane is 21.
ultra-low carbon renewable propane are being produced and are in the market. He believes that a zero-carbon version of renewable propane may be widely available by 2030.
That’s important because carbon intensity (CI) is the core issue when it comes to reducing climate changing
Energy-dense liquid renewable fuels with low or zero carbon intensity will arguably be some of the cleanest energy we can access in the foreseeable future, and for the last decade, propane producers have been working on the thermal efficiency for propane. Various blends of conventional propane with renewable propane and renewable dimethyl ether are proving to be winners by delivering reduced carbon emissions without the need to change equipment or engines. This makes them “drop in” fuels that can be used in a variety of existing applications.
The electric grid is largely powered by coal and natural gas. They are used because they provide energy on demand. In Perkins’ 3D Energy Grid concept, electricity in the wires overhead, gases like hydrogen and natural gas in the pipes underground and power generation made possible by propane that is versatile and flexible to meet demand is in the middle. Mr. Perkins remarks that we need a grid that gives us what we need, in the required quantity, on a just-in-time basis. That is critical to energy security.
By Norma Martinez
Continuing the power system optimization in the Caribbean, Wärtsilä provides energy storage systems to the Cayman Islands.
During an interview, Jon Rodriguez, Energy Business Director, remarked that the energy sector is transforming. It is a different case by geography. Furthermore, certain countries in Europe and North America are going a little faster than some other countries and other areas of the world. But the transformation is towards a net zero future, which means no carbon emittance to the electric system.
"This is a long journey in a tremendous amount of carbon emissions to be offset or eliminated, and the first step is pretty universal. It means adding renewables to the system, such as wind, solar or other sources, and as those renewable energy sources are added to the grid, all sorts
WE ARE VERY EXCITED TO BE PARTNERING WITH THE CARIBBEAN UTILITIES COMPANY IN THE CAYMAN ISLANDS TO DELIVER OUR ENERGY STORAGE SOLUTIONS TO THEIR SYSTEM.
JON RODRIGUEZ ENERGY BUSINESS DIRECTOR, WÄRTSILÄ
of new dynamics are created. That is where Wärtsilä comes in, and we are a world leader in enabling future and further renewable power penetration on the electric grids worldwide," Jon Rodriguez added.
Wä rtsilä is a global leader in innovative technologies and lifecycle solutions for the marine and energy markets. It emphasizes innovation in sustainable technology and services to help its customers continuously improve their environmental and economic performance.
Born almost 200 years ago, based in Helsinki, Finland, with a team of 19,000 professionals, in 110 countries, the company shapes the decarbonization transformation of industries across the globe.
Mainly, Wärtsilä Energy helps its customers in decarbonization by developing market-leading technologies. These cover future-fuel-enabled balancing power plants, hybrid solutions, energy storage, and optimization technology, including the GEMS Digital Energy Platform.
Wärtsilä Marine Power's broad portfolio of engines, propulsion systems, hybrid technology, and integrated powertrain systems delivers the efficiency, reliability, safety, and environmental performance needed to support our customers to be successful.
The company's Marine Systems supports customers with high-quality products and lifecycle services related to the gas value chain, exhaust treatment, shaft line, underwater repair, and electrical integrations.
Also, its Voyage's solutions combine bridge infrastructure, cloud data services, decision
support systems, and smart port solutions to enable shore-to-shore visibility.
In addition, Wärtsilä Portfolio Business consists of business units, which are run independently to accelerate performance improvement and unlock value through divestments or other strategic alternatives.
As the tendency of the markets, the company also got into battery energy storage systems markets to align with the transition movement. Today it is one of the world's
largest energy storage system providers. Recently, Wärtsilä announced it is providing two 10 MW / 10 MWh energy storage systems to the Caribbean Utilities Company in the Cayman Islands. These are the first two energy storage facilities in the country. They will help the utility double the amount of renewable energy, improve grid reliability, and reduce reliance on imported fossil fuels.
This project is an inspiring and fundamental step in the decarbonization journey in the Cayman Islands. The use of renewable sources is acceptable up to a certain amount; once you start getting a more significant number of renewables on the grid, you begin losing stability.
As we know, intermittent by Nature is typically very irregular. People cannot control the clouds or the wind behavior. So, in those cases is where this battery storage system works. It is a shock absorber. It will allow those renewables to continue to be fully optimized. The solution will permit all the power they generate to be used and then spread out in an even way on the power grid, which matches the demand of the Island's electrical needs more closely.
In addition, as the shock absorber is now steady in a place, the grid can remain stable. So, the company can add more renewables. And the more renewables you add, the fewer kilowatts you need to generate your liquid fuel.
In the past, the Islands used fossil fuels for a long time to generate all the electricity. By adding these renewables, it becomes a direct contributor to reducing
fossil fuel consumption. Besides, the battery storage system is fundamental to allow them to continue adding those renewables, maintaining a resilient grid, and lowering fossil fuel burning assets.
Wärtsilä is essential in meeting the world's increased demand for energy sustainably. This is the cornerstone of its commitment to sustainability.
The company's sustainability approach is based on economic, environmental, and social performance. It strives to improve its procedures and performance across a broad front. Its overriding focus is on ensuring profitability, providing environmentally sound products and services, and ensuring responsible business conduct.
Between its following projects, Wärtsilä will focus on education for the industry. The company wants to help it and the people to strengthen their grids, to be more resilient, and to allow more of these renewables to be added to the system. It will work on how these solutions, battery storage and engine power plant, can help all achieve net zero ambitions.
For the far future, Wärtsilä plans to be part of the next chapter. Work with engines, for instance, that can burn carbon-free fuels; battery storage systems that are even more capable; and software solutions that help to mitigate and strengthen the resiliency of the electrical system.
Its expertise and experience allow the company to apply passive seismic techniques across various problems relevant to the oil field and beyond.
It is a passive technique using three-axis accelerometers to detect small seismic events.
It is like putting a stethoscope on the surface of the earth and listening to the sounds the rocks make as they are being fractured. Those sounds are then further used to create an actual image of how and where the rocks are fracturing.
Mainly it is a seismic technique that uses fracturing or water-injection-induced microseismic phenomena similar to natural earthquakes but with low intensities during reservoir fracturing or water injection operations to monitor fracture activities and flow mobilities in oil-producing or gasproducing pays. Allowing the producers to make informed decisions regarding reservoir management optimization and the exploration and development of tight reservoirs.
Whether the production of unconventional petroleum can be increased, whether its recovery ratio can be improved, and whether its reserves can be effectively produced are all highly dependent on the performance of the fracturing operation. MicroSeismic monitoring is an effective means of monitoring the fracturing performance in real-time. This system provides the real-time heights, lengths, orientations, geometries, and spatial arrangements of fissures produced during stimulation so that they can be used to optimize the fracturing design, the well pattern, or other development measures to improve the recovery ratio.
In 2003, MicroSeismic, Inc. (MSI) began with a mission to bring passive seismic technology to the oilfield. Its vision of monitoring applications included CO2 sequestration, sinkhole detection, enhanced
geothermal systems, production and disposal wells, reservoir stimulation, and wellbore stability in tectonically active areas. The shale gale that blew in during the mid-2000s overwhelmed the company with a demand for its services, and soon 99% of its business was frac monitoring.
Today priorities have changed. While frac monitoring is still a business driver for MicroSeismic, Inc., the opportunity to revisit its original vision has arrived. Notably, the experience of the past 20 years will allow it to perform projects in these other areas efficiently and effectively.
MicroSeismic, Inc. was named an Energy Industry Disruptor on the inaugural CNBC Disruptor 50 List in 2013. Ten years later, it is still celebrating as it approaches its 20th anniversary and expands its business model.
Peter Duncan is the Founder and CEO of MicroSeismic, Inc. He is a geophysicist. He explained during an interview how this system works, "we put a stethoscope on the chest of the reservoir, and we listened to the squishy sounds that come as the engineer interacts with it; we use that data, we interpret it to help the engineer do better at developing his field."
So, this project grew. But some years after, the oil business, precisely in 2018, 2019, and 2020 had a contraction, and covid pandemic appeared. "In that period, we managed
to stay alive and diversify our offering into other areas where passive seismic has application. Today I am happy to report that we are back, growing again", the MSI Founder remarked.
Frac-driven Interactions (FDI's) – Unconventional field development has progressed to the point where the interaction between the closely spaced producers has been well documented. These interactions can result in effects ranging from temporary or even permanent loss of production in pre-existing
wells, poor SRV development in new wells with a concurrent poor production performance, all the way to wellbore damage and even loss of adjacent wells. MSI can design a data acquisition strategy to monitor a frac'ing program properly. Its FracRx® analysis technology will guide decisions relating to spacing and treatment parameters. The system can monitor in real-time to give early warning of FDI's that could lead to suboptimal well performance, wellbore damage, or loss.
Carbon capture and storage - Critical to the concept of CO2 storage in underground reservoirs is that the reservoir seal remains intact. If pressures inside the reservoir become sufficiently high, there is the potential for the caprock to fracture and the gas to escape. MSI can design an array to monitor the fracturing of the caprock and provide a precise location for the leak should one occur. Armed with this knowledge, the operator can proceed to fix the issue and prevent further damage to the environment.
Sinkhole detection – Damage to communities, homes, businesses, factories, and infrastructure from sinkholes resulted in hundreds of millions of dollars in repair and lost revenue charges yearly.
As it grows, the spalling of material into a sinkhole results in acoustic emissions. These emissions are generally minimal and not easily detected. MSI has proven in a project that it can design an appropriate array that will allow for the early detection of developing sinkholes beneath a facility in a timely fashion. This will permit intervention to mitigate the hazard before it becomes critical. This service is KarstAlert®.
Induced seismicity – Reservoir stimulation and wastewater disposal both reduce the tectonic stresses that usually keep the ubiquitous faults and fractures in the subsurface from moving. This is a well-understood principle. As the stresses are reduced, small seismic events will almost always precede any more significant events that might be
OUR GOAL IS TO ASSIST OUR CLIENTS IN SUSTAINING THEIR PROJECTS' PROFITABILITY, SAFETY, AND ENVIRONMENTAL SOUNDNESS BY MEASURING, MONITORING, AND VALIDATING CCUS.
PETER DUNCAN FOUNDER AND CEO MICROSEISMIC, INC.
”
felt at the surface. Early detection of such precursors allows for mitigation by simply turning down or ceasing injection until the stresses relax. MSI can design a data acquisition array customized to the specific injection project. The array will establish a baseline for naturally occurring seismicity before startup injection activities. Once injection begins, real-time monitoring will present a variety of alarms at prescribed levels of detected seismicity, allowing for timely intervention to reduce the earthquake hazard and protect the operator's license to practice.
Geothermal – Large-scale energy supply derived from geothermal resources is an exciting area of development to support ESG initiatives. To achieve scale, geothermal energy providers are looking to oilfield expertise in frac'ing operations to create more fracture surface area and more efficient heat exchange with the fluids pumped into the heating chamber. MicroSeismic monitoring is a technology for imaging the fracture volume and will be an essential part of the Enhanced Geothermal Systems development process. MSI is a leading provider of this monitoring system.
Nowadays, the industry has a whole new crop of young professionals who are brilliant, well-educated engineers, geophysicists, and geologists. Over the following months, the company plans to educate them about our technology, at an upcoming forum in 2023. Also, the CEO commented they would share live presentations at various industry specific conferences about its new business lines.
Moreover, they will meet a whole new crop of clients, the geotechnical engineers and environmentalists on the industrial and civil side, who are interested in sinkholes and have no knowledge about MSI's technologies. Furthermore, the company will also contact geophysicists and geologists, engineers involved with carbon storage, to show them its services and solutions, as these are all new markets for MSI. Finally, MicroSeismic, Inc. will listen to the industry problems and will suggest to all of them how to do their business better.
YOUR RESOURCE.
Foothills Exploration, Inc., an oil and gas exploration company focused on delivering the energy needs of today and tomorrow, announced completion operations have commenced on the Houser-Sears #6 well.
By Victoria MeyerThe North American petrochemical industry rode a wave of growth throughout the last decade, driven in large part by access to cheap feedstock via shale gas. Over $120 Billion was spent on hundreds of projects, from small expansions to massive petrochemical megaprojects .
The Houser-Sears #6 well was successfully drilled and logged, indicating the potential for new reserves within the leasehold. Geologic sample analysis and completion logs identified at least six potential zones with oil-bearing formations for commercial completion. The company has decided to initially complete two of the six zones and bring them online for production.
The completion program, which recently started, was designed to include at least two stages, the
first of which targeted the St. Louis Lime. This interval was successfully perforated and stimulated this week. The St. Louis Lime swabbed 64 barrels in 8 hours, and the oil cut ranged 23-33%. This interval's projected potential rate is approximately 30-40 barrels per day. The second stage of the completion program will target 7 feet of net pay at (2,849’-2,856') in the McCloskey Dolomite formation, which will take place next week.
The log data indicates an excellent zone in the Lower St. Louis Lime in this well (3,17075'). The 15% porosity, permeability, and 43% salt water indicate that this interval should produce relatively water free. It
somewhat correlates to the Ochs #1 (1,980' to SE). The Ochs #1 has 3.5 feet of 12% porosity, and it had an initial production of 36 BOPD (after acid) and produced 2,585 barrels of oil in the first 120 days (21 BOPD average). The HouserSears #6 zone is 25% better on analysis; therefore, the Company intends to test this zone first after running a cement bond log during the completion phase.
This zone has been the project's primary target, and log data indicates 27% porosity, which is excellent for this zone, and 42% salt water calculated from an analog well. Should the St. Louis Lime zone only produce nominal amounts, the Company plans to open this zone and co-mingle with the St. Louis Lime.
Once initial production subsidies from the St. Louis Lime and the McClosky
Dolomite, the Company will return to test and complete the other zones in systematic order.
Upper Salem Lime: This zone is present in this well and correlates to the "Parrish" Salem Oolitic zone that is productive from over 20 wells to the southeast and east. This break does not exist in offset wells to the south (Ochs #1 & #2) or either old (4 locations away) pre-1970 Salem tests to the northwest and southwest. This zone will be evaluated in the future.
Upper McClosky / Rosiclare Lime: This zone was thin (only 3 feet) with low-end porosity (8.5%), but it did carry oil shows and is possibly on the "edge" of the previous wells to the west and northwest. It does correlate to the Sears-Houser #4 to the south, which was making a modest 1.5 BOPD after 65 years until the casing went terrible and the
THE GOAL FOR THE COMPANY IS TO REPLICATE THIS BUSINESS MODEL IN DIFFERENT BASINS IN THE MID-CONTINENT AND ROCKIES, WHERE THERE IS STILL SIGNIFICANT VALUE LEFT BEHIND,
SAID KEVIN J. SYLLA, THE COMPANY'S EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN.
parties repaired with a liner last year. The Company plans to open this zone in the future when the time is right to come uphole for more production.
Lower Aux Vase Dolomite: This zone was a complete surprise. It carried fair oil shows during drilling, but the log analysis was exceptional, indicating 17-21% porosity and 44% salt water. This zone has not been produced anywhere within 1 mile of this well. Identifying the old 1960 vintage logs on this lease is also challenging. This represents another future test zone.
Upper Aux Vases Sand: The offset #4 well to the south was thin, but offset #6 had good oil shows. The PE curve denotes the 2722-33 interval was 30% Lime / 70% sand and low permeability with 10% porosity, although it had good oil shows. The cement bond log should assist in determining if there exists a bond between this zone and the Lower Aux Vases interval. The initial results of this zone did not meet the Company's expectations but will be investigated further in the future.
"Our strategy in Illinois partnering with a local operator with a wealth of knowledge and experience has been invaluable and a tremendous success from our perspective," said Alex M. Hemb, CEO of Anaconda Energy, LLC. "The Houser-Sears #6 well has terrific potential for a well with a total depth of 3,420 feet. We have four other formations to test and produce from outside the initial two completion zones," continued Hemb. "We are excited about the prospects of the Houser-Sears lease and the potential
to drill offset wells in the future," ended Hemb. "The goal for the Company is to replicate this business model in different basins in the Mid-continent and Rockies, where there is still significant value left behind," said Kevin J. Sylla, the Company's Executive Chairman. "We have a niche market where we have identified underdeveloped, stranded, and often overlooked assets that have tremendous upside value," continued Sylla. "The Company is discussing with other operators to develop or acquire assets that meet our stringent criteria," concluded Sylla.
THE COMPLETION PROGRAM, WHICH RECENTLY STARTED, WAS DESIGNED TO INCLUDE AT LEAST TWO STAGES, THE FIRST OF WHICH TARGETED THE ST. LOUIS LIME.
Loss elimination is a process to identify and eliminate waste associated with asset and line performance that reduces recurring losses into the oil sector.
Today, advanced nuclear technology is shattering paradigms in a similar way, and Texas energy stands to benefit from another revolution.
In 2004 I co-chaired the Energy Supply Committee for the Texas Energy Planning Council and spent a year holding hearings around the state on how to maximize energy production. One of our findings was that hydrocarbons would be the mainstay of energy for the foreseeable future. The renewables – wind and solar – could not carry that load alone; the only technology that existed to replace hydrocarbons was nuclear.
The petroleum industry is organized into four broad sectors: exploration and production of crude oil and natural gas; transport; refining; and marketing and distribution.
Crude oil is fractionated into liquefied petroleum gas, naphtha, kerosene, diesel oil, and residual fuel oil. Catalytic cracking and reforming, thermal cracking, and other secondary processes are used to achieve the desired product specifications. Certain refineries also produce feedstocks for the manufacture of lubricating oils and bitumens. Some refineries also manufacture coke.
The refining process is the method by which crude oil is altered into usable, consumable products such as gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, fuel oil and other petroleum products. When crude oil is refined, it is heated until it becomes a gas. The gas is transferred into a distillation container where it cools.
The main refining processes are decomposition (dividing) by thermal and catalytic cracking; unification (combining) through alkylation
and polymerization; and alteration (rearranging) with isomerization and catalytic reforming.
For refining oil there are three basic steps, separation, conversion and treatment. During the separation process, the liquids and vapors separate into petroleum components called factions based on their weight and boiling point in distillation units.
Tracking the production losses and abnormally high maintenance cost assets, then find ways to reduce those losses or high costs is a priority for the oil industry.
These losses are prioritized to focus efforts on the largest or most critical opportunities. The refining companies need to develop a plan to eliminate or reduce the losses through root cause analysis, to obtain the approval of the plan and work for its implementation.
The absolute refining loss is then calculated from the difference in weight between the neutral oil recovered and the weight of the crude; or conversely, the percentage of neutral oil in the original sample is determined.
Boilers, process heaters, and other process equipment used for refining are responsible for the emission of particulates, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulfur oxides (SOx), and carbon dioxide. Moreover, catalyst changeovers and cokers release particulates. Also, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as benzene, toluene, and xylene are released from storage, product loading and handling facilities, and oil-water separation systems and as fugitive emissions from flanges, valves, seals, and drains.
Petroleum refineries are complex plants. Specific
THE OIL SECTOR IS THE PRINCIPALLY REFINING CONTRIBUTOR TO MAJOR LOSSES.
elements reduction can often be determined to minimize losses and high costs. There are some areas where loss elimination is possible:
• Minimize losses from storage tanks and product transfer areas by methods such as vapor recovery systems and double seals.
• Direct the use of high-sulfur fuels to units equipped with SOx emissions controls.
• Recover sulfur from tail gases in high-efficiency sulfur recovery units.
• Keep a proper process at design and maintenance.
• Keep fuel usage to a minimum.
• Regenerate and reuse spent catalysts and solvents.
• Use long-life catalysts and regenerate to extend the catalysts' life cycle.
• Recycle cooling water and, where, cost-effective, treated wastewater.
• Minimize losses of oil to the effluent system.
• Recover and reuse phenols, caustics, and solvents from their spent solutions.
• Return oily sludges to coking units or crude distillation units.
• Optimize frequency of tank and equipment cleaning to avoid accumulating residue at the bottom of the tanks.
• Institute dry sweeping instead of washdown to reduce wastewater volumes.
• Recover and recycle oily wastes.
• Establish and maintain an emergency preparedness and response plan and carry out frequent training.
• Install spill prevention and control measures.
• Practice corrosion monitoring, prevention, and control in underground piping and tank bottoms.
• Establish repair programs.
Petroleum refineries use relatively large volumes of water, especially for cooling systems. Surface water runoff and sanitary wastewaters are also generated. The quantity of wastewaters generated and their characteristics depend on the process configuration.
Approximately 3.5-5 m3 of wastewater per ton of crude are generated when cooling water is recycled. Refineries generate polluted wastewaters, containing biochemical oxygen demand and chemical oxygen demand levels of approximately 150-250 mg/l and 300-600 mg/l, respectively; phenol levels of 20-200 mg/l; oil levels of 100-300 mg/l in desalter water and up to 5,000 mg/l in tank bottoms; benzene levels of 1-100 mg/l; benzo(a)pyrene levels of less than 1 to 100 mg/l; heavy metals levels of 0.1-100 mg/l for chrome and 0.2-10 mg/l for lead; and other pollutants.
Refineries also generate solid wastes and sludges. Ranging from 3 to 5 kg per ton of crude Processed; 80% of which may be considered hazardous because of the presence of toxic organics and heavy metals.
New refineries should be designed to maximize energy conservation and reduce hydrocarbon losses. A good practice target for simple refineries is that the total quantity of oil consumed as fuel and lost in production operations should not exceed 3.5% of the throughput. For refineries with secondary conversion units the target should be 5-6% and, in some cases, up to 10% of the throughput.
Frequent sampling may be required. Once a record of consistent performance has been established, sampling may occur on specific periods of time.
Monitoring data should be analyzed and reviewed at regular intervals and compared with the operating standards so that any necessary corrective actions can be taken.
Records of monitoring results should be kept in a special format. The results of each evaluation should be reported to the authorities in order to make decision in time.
On the other side, refining industry operations and processes can have highly detrimental environmental and social impacts. Not only due to the refinery processes themselves but also as a result of the wider end-usage of the industry's products.
As a result, governments are imposing a range of regulations on the petroleum refining industry. These regulations cover petroleum product specifications, refinery plant emissions, health and safety, release of toxic and hazardous substances.
In the developed world petroleum refining has become one of the most highly regulated industry and, due to the cost and complexity of complying with regulations, this has resulted in plant closures and the adoption of new energy renewable sources is becoming vital.
PLANTS OLDER THAN 30 YEARS ARE FAR MORE LIKELY TO EXPERIENCE LOSSES, SUGGESTING THE INDUSTRY NEEDS TO LOOK MORE CLOSELY AT THE RISKS OF OLDER REFINERIES.
Nowadays, robots are cheaper, smarter, flexible, and easier to train. Underwater they do a lot. They are programmed to go to remote, dangerous, and often previously unexplored ocean parts to measure their key characteristic. They can estimate salinity and temperature to the speed and direction of currents. They map the seafloor and environments in outstanding detail.
Robotics is the industry of the engineering, construction, and operation of robots. It is related to many commercial sectors and consumer uses. Robotics involves several levels of control and processing depending on the
application, level of sophistication, and reliability requirements. It includes onboard hardware and software, and increasingly, cloud processing and the pooling of knowledge from multiple robots.
Robots need to be able to sense their surroundings. They may need sensors sensitive to touch, heat, light, vibration, sound, and even certain chemicals. Many of these sensors will only be available from specialist manufacturers with their research and development priorities and strategic goals.
Moreover, mechanical components are an essential element of a robot. They must be precise, reliable, robust, and consume as little power
Robots are infiltrating industries and getting new uses, including marine activities. They are being redefined as artificial intelligence (AI) agents.
as possible. Motors and other mechanical components also need to act as sensors in many cases, providing feedback to the robot's processing system to allow it to move more accurately.
Companies such as Maxon, Keyence, Nabtesco, Omron, Harmonic Drive, Nachi-Fujikoshi, and Nippon Ceramic are suppliers to the robotics industry.
Underwater robots, such as remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) and autonomous underwater
vehicles (AUVs), are essential tools for ocean exploration. Robots can explore areas of the ocean that are too dangerous or too difficult for humans to go.
The most advanced and the most expensive underwater robots are propeller-driven AUVs. They are powered by batteries or fuel cells and can operate in water as deep as 6,000 meters. Costs can range from $50,000 to $5 million, depending on the size and depth rating of the AUV.
MARINE ROBOTS MAKE MISSIONS EASIER THAN EVER BEFORE.
Sea robots are used to explore the ocean using a wide variety of instruments at a range of depths. ROVs are often utilized when diving by humans is either impractical or dangerous, such as working in deep water or investigating submerged hazards.
ROVs and AUVs carry equipment like video cameras, lights, and robotic arms to grab things. They go where humans can not go; they help to study the ocean safely.
Submersible robotics explore the underwater environment. They are used for energy exploration and production and the inspection of major infrastructures, such as bridges, dams, pipelines, oil rigs, military applications, and communication structures.
To develop these tasks, some sensors that can be used underwater by the robots are underwater acoustic ranging and imaging sensors, mainly including single-beam sonar, side-scan sonar, and multibeam sonar.
Today, enterprises have access to a wide range of technologies that routinely carry them down to 4,500 meters (14,764 feet) and enable them to study or work in the deepest parts of the ocean.
Robots help to reduce the exposure of oil and gas
employees to dangerous working environments. They also enable improved productivity and minimize operating costs.
This worldwide overview makes it easier for robots to infiltrate industries. They are designed to inform and keep companies up to date with recent data and information on robotics in oil and gas, including job trends, industry insights, and company deals that impact the sector.
Oil and gas companies understand the potential of robotics across the value chain, so they are working on improving their robotics capabilities. Moreover, companies collaborate with technology vendors to develop robots for specific applications.
It is a long-term process to improve and commercialize the technology through regular field trials. In general, companies are also investing in robotics startups to facilitate the sector's development.
Robots have applications across the oil and gas industry in various tasks ranging from surveys, material handling, and construction
OFFSHORE OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY OPERATIONS AND TECHNOLOGIES COMPANIES ARE HIRING FOR ROBOTICS JOBS AT A RATE HIGHER THAN THE AVERAGE FOR ALL COMPANIES WITHIN GLOBALDATA'S JOB ANALYTICS DATABASE.Equinor
to inspection, repair, and maintenance. Robots can be customized for multiple jobs to ease the work and improve efficiency.
During the planning phases of an oil and gas project, robots can be deployed to conduct underwater surveys, or they can be employed to conduct seismic surveys during exploration. On the other side, drones can be adopted depending on the project location and work requirements.
Teleoperation of drilling and production platforms, remote-operated vehicles (ROVs), autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), underwater welding, welding robots for double-hulled ships, and underwater manipulators are such key robotic technologies that have facilitated the smooth transition of offshore rigs from shallow waters to ultra-deep waters in modern time.
Considering the product's sensitivity and the environment's difficulty, most of these technologies fall under the semi-autonomous category. The human operator is in the loop for providing cognitive assistance to the overall operation for safe execution.
There are several marine robot producers. Sonardyne engineers, manufactures, services, and supports solutions that transform what is possible in offshore energy, maritime defense, and ocean science. It has built one of the most capable, dynamic, and responsible businesses in marine technology. As a vertically integrated company with everything under one roof and its trusted supply chain and strategic partners, the company can tackle any subsea project. Sonar imaging, optical communications, Doppler, and inertial navigation are part of its portfolio. Its asset managers can remotely monitor the integrity of offshore structures; naval commanders can track, command, and guide their robot fleets, and oceanographers can employ uncrewed vessels to gather data from unattended seafloor sensors.
Saildrone is the world leader in providing ocean data solutions with autonomous surface vehicles, offering unrivaled payload, range, and reliability. They are equipped with advanced sensors and machine learning technology. Saildrone drones have sailed 800,000+ nautical miles and spent 18,000+ days at sea, from the Arctic to the Southern Ocean, collecting data
that provides unprecedented intelligence for climate, mapping, and maritime security applications. Its operations are with low or no carbon footprint or environmental impact delivered at a fraction of the cost of traditional approaches. It is supported by the world's leading ML-powered marine identification system.
Open Ocean Robotics is a marine robotics and data company collecting real-time ocean data using proprietary solar-powered autonomous boats. Its technology is equipped with lightweight, portable battery storage systems that allow up to six months of continuous research; without producing any
greenhouse gas emissions, noise pollution, or risk of oil spills. The USVs (Uncrewed or Unmanned Surface Vehicles) are equipped with sensors, cameras, and communication devices to capture information from anywhere on the ocean and have instant access. The devices drop information that can protect at-risk whale species, allow ships to voyage more fuel-efficient routes, crack down on illegal fishing, and enable them to understand the impacts of climate change better.
Engage in continuous research, innovation, and collaboration to provide the market with customerdriven robotic inspection solutions; Deep Trekker is the leading technology platform making complex underwater
missions easy. The company produces portable, rugged ROVs and submersible robots. Deep Trekker Remotely Operated Vehicles provide the simplest and most robust solution to underwater inspections and monitoring. The DT640 is the first three-wheeled robotic vehicle of its kind. It is compact and highly portable, designed to launch immediately in any location. It is a versatile option for many applications with various tools, ranging from vac heads to ultrasonic thickness gauges to imaging sonars. The DTPod inspection camera is designed for permanent underwater installations or drop camera applications. It provides a 360-degree field of view for remote environments underwater. CCTV PIPE CRAWLERS are reliable and robust systems. It allows to pilot through wet or dry pipes using the handheld controller and is entirely battery operated.
Companies are moving towards autonomous robots that are supported by artificial intelligence technology. AI-backed robotics technology, along with other sensors on the robot, provides various functionality in the oil and gas industry.
AI (artificial intelligence) is expected to develop further with computer vision and contextaware computing capabilities, enhancing the efficiency of robotics in the industry.
The use of GPS technology and other location technologies have improved the performance of robots, finding the way for increased mobility and autonomy.
According to GlobalData forecasts, the robotics industry was worth $45.3bn in 2020. By 2030, it will have grown at a CAGR of 29% to $568bn. Annual growth rates will likely peak at 37% in late 2024.
Sales of industrial robots hit $14.6bn in 2020, equivalent to 32% of the total robotics market. By 2030, this segment will be worth $352bn, having grown at a CAGR of 38% between 2020 and 2030.
At $30.7bn in 2020, the service robot market was more significant than the industrial robot sector. However, the industrial robot market will grow faster over the next decade. GlobalData analysts have forecast that robotics usage in oil and gas companies is projected to grow at a CAGR of 29% between 2020 and 2030.
Finally, the digital transition is becoming part of the marine sector. Sea robotics are making complex water missions easier than ever before. However, it remains a significant obstacle. Using robots in the deep is that radio waves, which scientists use so quickly to communicate with vehicles in the sky and into the far reaches of space, don't penetrate through the water. That makes "talking" to underwater cars and keeping track of them hard.
More than half of the electricity in Canada, 60%, is generated from hydro sources. The remainder is produced from various sources, including natural gas, nuclear, wind, coal, biomass, solar, and petroleum.
Offshore oil and gas extraction means the development of oil fields and natural gas deposits under the ocean. In the wind sector, offshore farms generate energy with windmills installed in coastal waters.
The industry is moving to new technology quickly due to the growing global demand for hydrocarbon energy sources and the project budgets. The movement requires organizations able to gain insight into complicated issues in a timeframe.
The offshore oil and gas industry provides a large portion of the nation's supply in the United States. Enormous oil
and gas reservoirs are found under the sea offshore. Louisiana, Texas, California, and Alaska are leaders in the sector. The top crude oil-producing state is Texas which represented 42.7% of the national production in 2021. The country's oil refineries obtain crude oil also produced in other countries. However, the actual environmental concerns have prevented or restricted offshore drilling in some areas, and the issue has been debated at the local and national levels.
On the other side, Canada's oil and gas industry had existed since 1959, when Mobil began the exploration of Sable Island. The first commercial offshore oil production started in 1992 from the Cohasset and Panuke fields, located offshore Nova Scotia. Today, Canada's offshore oil and gas industry employees directly and un directly 27,000 people. Moreover, it supports around 600 service and supply companies. And a public opinion survey found that 83 percent of respondents either entirely or mainly support the industry.
As the whole World, offshore marine services have undergone something of a transformation in recent times. We are going through a technological revolution.
As technology advances, it transforms industries like offshore marine services. Oil and gas producers are using late IT and digitalization to capture, share and act upon data.
We see new and exciting technologies that transform lives. As a result, these technologies are getting into offshore marine services.
The nature of offshore marine work requires technology with unique features. It is an area that requires a lot of exploration; and is a vital sector supporting the economy.
Technology in offshore marine services needs to provide efficiency and productivity. Primarily, this links to artificial intelligence, automation, and robotics.
Artificial intelligence allows automation. The production can be completed without any human input. This is particularly important when exploring the ocean
floor and conducting marine research. In the past, any findings had to be logged manually, which could take a lot of time. Also, equipment had to be manned and directed by a human, which is a dangerous operation.
The result of using artificial intelligence is that the processes and systems can be set to explore a specific route, log all the data it finds, and automatically present the results to a computer. The entire process takes only seconds; companies save much time and costs.
IN 2020, OFFSHORE OIL AND NATURAL GAS PRODUCTION IN THE FEDERAL GULF OF MEXICO ACCOUNTED FOR ABOUT 15% OF U.S. CRUDE OIL PRODUCTION AND ABOUT 2% OF U.S. DRY NATURAL GAS PRODUCTION.
Modern technology gives the accuracy that companies need to view things in the offshore oil and gas industry. Most marine services are provided for clients that are looking for things underwater. So, these companies need the most accuracy when finding out where to drill or what to avoid. Technology in the sector prevents incidents such as oil spills and catastrophes.
A complete seismic imaging system is
one of the leading technologies to provide more accuracy in offshore services. Seismic waves are sent underwater to collect information and provide accurate images of a specific area. Companies look for potential wells and construct a more precise seafloor map. Some of the most advanced seismic technology also study water vibrations to provide information. However, this process, which generally uses air guns to send seismic waves through the sea, has been criticized for potentially disrupting marine wildlife such as whales and dolphins.
As a result, many companies are now using the "marine vibrator." It puts the same vibrations into the water as conventional air guns but over a longer time. It prevents disruptions to the natural patterns of marine life compared to the shorter bursts produced by air guns, which release more energy into the ocean.
Seismic technology has become more advanced, with companies working to make the process safer and more efficient. Another technology for seismic imaging is the use of a submarine-like machine. This system uses low-frequency waves to see deeper below salt layers and identify untapped oil and gas resources.
On the other side, methane is onefifth of manmade global emissions. Oil and gas companies are working to reduce emissions in their operations. Integrating methane management
into digital infrastructures is how technology in offshore services detects emissions and leaks. A ground-based solar-powered wireless sensor network and a drone-based system make an overair monitoring. Using machine learning and algorithms, operators of engines have methane concentration data in realtime so they can make quick decisions.
Increasing productivity, efficiency, and accuracy make offshore marine services more affordable. Using technology always lowers the operating costs of any company.
Marine services are more efficient and productive; tasks will be completed faster. Reducing time means it does not cost as much to use a service. Also, the accuracy improvements support this reduction. If the results are more accurate, there is less probability of repeating the operation or process.
As we mentioned before, the use of technology reduces human involvement. Offshore marine services are becoming robot-dominated procedures. People control the robots and analyze the data, but lots of people do not need any more to carry out many tasks. Besides, with fewer humans required, operating costs are minimized. So, the services have more affordable rates.
Companies are creating electrical products, systems, solutions, and services that cover the entire lifecycle.
They focus on having safe, efficient, and reliable solutions for their clients.
In offshore oil and gas, marine solutions and products include propulsion, power distribution, and drive technology to automation systems for every type of vessel. Those services should help users to keep maximum safety and reliability of vessels facing the challenge on the open seas.
Mainly, ship owners and operators face a wide range of daily challenges. They need to protect their vessels and keep them operating safely and reliably. High-level operability is always their goal; only a working vessel generates revenues. Innovations and technological advances are taking the marine industry further and inaugurating a new energy efficiency era. Technologies and processes onboard newly built vessels are increasingly complex. Also, technology producers must consider that vessel designs are constantly evolving. It is also essential to help owners and operators address ever-growing market and economic challenges; they must be efficient and effective.
The marine solutions approach is to find and develop innovations to keep the business operating and competing successfully and sustainably.
Society and environment
Companies that develop technology for offshore services must focus on the growth of all societies, and help them by providing clean, reliable energy solutions and giving a workplace with safety priorities.
The World is traveling through a decarbonization journey. Providers should work to be climate neutral among their operations. Partnership with clients will decarbonize
their portfolio. They will support solutions that combat climate change by taking a solid stance on crucial ESG issues.
New future-focused technologies bridge the gap for emerging energy systems. Marine service providers should act as partners and drivers of the energy transition. They focus their technology innovations on highly efficient transmission and storage of electricity, power generation with even lower or zero emissions, and reducing CO2 emissions in all the processes. Companies are digitalizing energy to decarbonize energy systems. They also offer a digital portfolio that boosts business for their clients while protecting them with the bestpossible security through custom solutions to combat cyber-threats. Moreover, they must drive transformation for clients through custom services and energy roadmaps for societal transformation. An exit from CO 2 -intensive technologies and adaption to new technologies includes the production of green hydrogen for a cleaner World. Finally, technology is changing the offshore oil and gas industry for the better. If the evolution continues on this path, marine services will become even more accurate, efficient, and cost-effective.
