Oilfield Conference Magazine (Mar - Apr 2012) - SAMPLE

SAMPLE www.oilfieldconference.com Issue 01 Mar - Apr 2012

THE LEADING OIL AND GAS CONFERENCE MAGAZINE

PERSONAL TECHNOLOGY SPECIAL

How to make new tech work for you

and the low-down on the locations

THE OUTLOOK FOR GLOBAL LNG

Has shale gas dealt it a death blow?

OFFSHORE’S BIG ONE FEATURE

IS THE NORTH SEA FINISHED? New reports take optimistic view TC. n, O a rm

Steve Balint-Ch ai

UPCOMING CONFERENCES What’s on, what’s new

Offshore Technology Conference 2012

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EDITOR’S LETTER

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EDITOR’s LETTER

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How bright is the future for North Sea E&P?

Welcome to the first issue of Oilfield Conference Magazine

New report on the Norwegian and UK oil and gas sector takes a very optimistic view

10 Offshore technology conference OTC, a figurative Mecca for oil and gas industry personnel for decades

OTc TO hOUsTOn’s BrIghT lIghTs In hAlf An hOUr 19 frOM No shortage of activities and attractions close to the conference venue and downtown Houston

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gUlf PeTrOleUM cOnference AnD exhIBITIOn

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Chairman of KPC, H.E. Dr Mohammad AlBusairi, Minister of Oil, will be attending the conference

21 POWER TO THE PEOPLE

The new Li-Imide batteries should be online this year. These fuel cells give extended battery life.

OIl AnD gAs sUMMIT 23 lIByA 2012, rOMe

much difference does sHale 25 how gas really maKe For global lng?

An overview of Global LNG

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when beijing and moscow both play hardball...

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Outlook for Global LNG

An opportunity to forge or renew relationships with key players in Libya

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Pricing is the sticking point

& gas apps that keep you 32 oilinformed

Top 10 apps for the mobile oil and gas professional

lng summit 2012, 33 global singapore

Bringing together various stakeholders in the LNG trade

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GAS CONFERENCE MAG

AZINE

PERSONAL TECHNOLOGY SPECIAL How to mak e new tech work for you

A look at London’s prestigious Covent Garden district

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how to protect your tech:

Learn about the sophisticated Bluetooth proximity alarm for laptops

PlAns TO BeAT The 51 rUssIA cOMPeTITIOn WITh sOUTh sTreAM PrOJecT sPeeD-UP

Gas pipeline projects targeting the South Europe route

Looking at the potential costs of decommissioning

e&P InfOrMATIOn 56 TheAnDcOnference DATA MAnAgeMenT AsIA

Focusing on issues related to data manageement processes

57 60 conference calendar

milan first hand report My personal experience in Milan

Upcoming conference and exhibtions in March and April

UPCOMING CONFERENCE S

IS THE NORTH SEA FINISHED?

What’s on, wha and the low-dowt’s new n on the locati ons

THE OUTLOOK GLOBAL LNG FOR Has shale gas dealt

New reports take optimistic view

it a death blow

?

OFFSHORE’S B IG ONE

FEATURE

OFFSHORE TEC HNOLOGY CON FERENC

n, OTC. Add, (S he ma air

ll)

lOnDOn Offers rAnge 43 centrAl Of AMenITIes fOr The e&P WhAT WIll IT cOsT TO PrOcUreMenT & sUPPly fOrUM 55 sTOP KeePIng The WOrlD’s OffshOre IrOn IDle?

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THE LEADING OIL AND

dnv unveils new deep and ultra-deep pipeline technology

New technology makes gas pipeline cheaper

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www.oilfieldco Issue 01 Marnference.com - apr 2012

Ch

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Investors overcome problems by drilling deep offshore

Steve Balint-

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nigeria’s oil production: still plagued by uncertainties

E 2012

Cover Story The massive OTC event is a combination of exhibitions, conferences, technical sessions and presentations of new technology.

OTC has always been seen as a learning conference.

Small cover photo is of Mr Steve Balint, Chairman of the OTC board of directors, that has been working hard behind the scenes to ensure OTC2012 is another great success for Houston.

EDITOR’S LETTER

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Eloise Logan

by

Editor in Chief

Welcome to the first issue of Oilfield Conference magazine, which we plan to establish as the leading oil and gas conference publication and the number one source for conference news and feature articles related to upcoming conferences.

Publisher

It’s an associated publication to our Oilfield Conference website www.oilfieldconference.com where you will find the world’s leading oil and gas conference and exhibition directory.

Eloise Logan

Mobile users, including iPad, Blackberry and Android owners, can get the digital version. Just Sign in to www.magcloud.com via the browser of your device, browse for our magazine and download your copy.

Besides news and features about topics of interest to the energy sector, and the best conference information around, we also showcase travel and technology information relevant to the traveling oil and gas professional. In addition to the what, where and when of individual conferences, we offer a detailed look at the location, with the lowdown on the area brought to you by experienced travel writers.

SHARE YOUR CONFERENCE STORIES We will be running a regular feature article based on readers’ personal experiences at conferences. If you have a story you’d like to share about a conference or conference location – amusing, interesting or cautionary – please reach out to us. Our contact details are on page 5.

FOLLOW US ON TWITTER, FACEBOOK Stay ahead of the competition with immediate access. Readers can get a lot of our information digitally. Follow us on twitter at oconference. Or if you are more of a Facebook fan, find us on Facebook.

FEEDBACK WELCOME

Editor-in-Chief Senior Energy Writers Meg Chesshyre Dr Neil Ford

Contributing Writers Alex Misiti Marek Biernacinski Dr. Mike Campbell Nancy Stafford Bala Murali K Anuradha Shukla David Clarke Tim Dees Wally Peterson Claire Bolgil

Graphic Designer Regis Sudo

Digital Subscriptions

Subscription rate 1 year (6 issues) - US$19 2 years (12 issues) - US$29

Advertising

Phil Matthews phil.mattthews@oilfieldconference.com

Contact Us

editor@oilfieldconference.com

Office Address

3rd Floor, Riverside House, Riverside Drive, Aberdeen, AB11 7LH Scotland, UK

+44 1224 224410

We hope you like what you see in our first issue, and we would love to hear your comments. If there is anything you think we could do differently, or something we haven’t thought of that you’d like to see, do contact us at the address on page 5.

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The magazine will be published every two months – in February, April, June, August, October and December – primarily in digital format, though we can supply printed paper copies on request. We’ve partnered with HP MagCloud to print and ship printed magazines to customers.

Adesope Babaniji

Publishing Best regards,

Eloise Logan,

Editor in Chief, Oilfield Conference magazine

Oilfield Conference Magazine is owned

by FSH Media Group and is published bi-monthly.

The opinions expressed by contributors to Oilfield Conference Magazine may not represent the official views of the magazine. While every effort is made to ensure accuracy, the publisher does not assume responsibility or liability for errors or omissions.

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WORLD OIL RESERVES

How bright is the future for North Sea E&P?

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wo new annual reports on the Norwegian and UK upstream oil and gas sector from consultant Wood Mackenzie (WoodMac) take a very optimistic view of the region’s prospects in 2012 and beyond.

The Edinburgh-based firm has a long track record in this field, having produced the two reports for over 30 years.

In Norway’s offshore sector, one giant discovery dominated the headlines in 2011 -- the Johan Sverdrup* find, previously known as Avaldsnes/Aldous.

The renaming by the Norwegian ministry of petroleum and energy in January 2012 is interesting because it commemorates a politician, something the energy industry worldwide has generally avoided, and links him to a particularly promising find.

Norway analyst for WoodMac’s Europe upstream research team Malcolm Dickson noted: “The reserves estimates for Johan Sverdrup range from 1.7 to 3.3 billion barrels of oil equivalent, which means the field could be the third largest Norwegian find of all time.”

WoodMac values Johan Sverdrup at US$12.3 billion.

Analysts see huge Norway E&P upside The consultancy company expects to see huge upside for the sector uncov-

ered by exploration and appraisal wells in Norway in 2012, particularly at the Johan Sverdrup and Skrugard discoveries.

And, supporting that view, the year got off to a great start with a discovery on Havis in the Norwegian Barents Sea, close to Skrugard, that is estimated to hold 250 million barrels of oil equivalent (MMboe).

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For years the end has been described as near for North Sea E&P, especially since the UK became a net importer of gas in 2004. But recent positive analyses suggest that the area may have been written off too soon, writes Meg Chesshyre.

WoodMac’s annual review of 2011 also covers corporate activity and the asset market, as Dickson explained: “The total value of commercial upstream assets transferred doubled to US$2.3 billion in 2011.

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SAMPLE CONFERENCE

Offshore Technology conference Reliant Park, Houston, April 30, 2012

April 30, 2012, will mark the start of a four-day rush of activity – the Offshore Technology Conference -- when tens of thousands of professionals in the oil and natural gas industry meet in Houston to exchange ideas, network and present what will be the next technological breakthrough in offshore resource development.

Marek Biernacinski reports

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In fact, it consistently attracts in excess of 50,000 attendees each year, a figure that puts it among the top 10 trade shows in terms of attendance, with last year’s numbers officially coming in at 78,645. If attendees were to be grouped together at the same time, that would only leave an average of 7.6 square feet of room per person.

That doesn’t give much breathing room, but then, with so much to see, most don’t have any time to breathe anyhow.

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ounded in 1969, the OTC has been a figurative Mecca for oil and gas industry leaders and personnel for decades. As one of the industry’s leading conventions, the conference holds a coveted spot as one of 200 largest trade shows held in the United States each year.

The venue for it all is Reliant Park in Houston, Texas, which holds the distinction as the world’s first domed stadium. Fully air-conditioned, the stadium has been the preferred meeting ground for OTC since its inception, and Houston doesn’t exactly have anything to complain about. The exhibition is estimated to have annually brought in 11

CONFERENCE

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OTC 2011 Event

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Image Credits to: Barchfeld Photography

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CONTINUED FROM PAGE 21

When the circuit between the anode and cathode is closed, with a positivelycharged device in-between, electrons flow from the anode through the device and back to the cathode, where the electrons are added to cations in the electrolyte.

In addition, copper hexacyanoferrate electrodes might one day extend a battery’s life to 40,000 charge-discharge cycles, so the battery might just outlast the device it powers.

In the presence of a flow of electrons in the other direction (a power source to recharge the battery), the process is reversed and electrons are stored with anions at the anode.

Don’t sell your Duracell stock just yet, though. Anything workable from either of these research paths is likely to take three years or more to bear fruit.

Batteries may use two or more types of electrolytes separated by a membrane that permits the electrons to flow, but keeps the different chemistries separate.

The electron flow process is not 100% efficient, and the electrolyte’s structure changes over time. Waste heat in the process creates crystals in the electrolyte, capturing those molecules and making them unavailable to the reaction. This can also cause the battery to expand slightly, occasionally rupturing its container.

High temperatures can accelerate this process, which is why you’re best advised to remove the battery from your notebook computer if you plan to use it for a prolonged period on wall power.

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A Li-ion battery that will charge ten times faster, and is capable of delivering ten times as many watt-hours per unit weight is under development at Northwestern University in the US. Lithium ions in a Li-ion battery pass from the cathode to the anode through an electrolyte sandwiched between thin sheets of graphene, a thin-layer carbon compound. The migration takes place only at the edges of the graphene sheets, and there is just so much edge material available.

The new process produces more edges for ions by punching holes in the graphene.

Substituting silicon for carbon between the graphene sheets provides the greater watthour capacity. It takes six atoms of carbon to accommodate one atom of lithium in a carbon environment. The ratio changes to four to one when silicon is used.

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Leyden Energy has produced a new formulation of lithium battery they call Lithium-Imide (Li-Imide). Li-Imide batteries use a patented salt (an acid and a base blended together form a salt) that doesn’t produce so much heat. It uses a conducting graphite compound instead of aluminum for its cathode.

These batteries will have a charge-discharge capacity of over 1000 cycles and will keep close to their original capacity for most of their service life.

You’ll see the new Li-Imide batteries coming online in 2012, probably first in cell phones and then in other electronics. Cell phones are a very rich market, and devices like the iPhone have to be dismantled to replace the battery, so an extended-life power source is especially valuable.

Some situations call for a power solution that doesn’t require a regular visit to a wall outlet. Users in those scenarios might look to fuel cells for long-term power. Fuel cells function on the same principle as batteries, but usually depend on hydrogen ions for their chemistry.

One fuel cell type that is currently available for powering devices like mobile phones and notebook computers uses the polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) method and either methanol or ethanol (methyl or ethyl alcohol) as fuel.

The fuel cell runs as long as there is supply of alcohol, and a pint or so might run a device for weeks. Also, it’s relatively easy to manufacture alcohol in primitive conditions, so the power source could be extended indefinitely with locally-available materials.

Fuel cells now available are larger than conventional batteries of similar capacity, but can supply power from an external module plugged into the device’s power jack.

These are available from vendors such as Horizon Fuel Cell Technologies.

00 TIM DEES Tim Dees is a retired police officer and the former editor of two major law enforcement websites who writes and consults on technology applications in criminal justice.

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CONFERENCE

Libya Oil and Gas Summit 2012, Rome

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his makes the timing of a conference to be held in Rome next month particularly appropriate. The Libya Oil and Gas Summit 2012 will take place on March 21 and 22, 2012, in Rome, Italy, and will be organized jointly by International Research Networks (IRN) and Oliver Kinross.

The Summit represents the first such chance for existing and potential stakeholders to forge or renew friendships with key players in the new Libya’s oil industry and offers the chance to maximise business potential, exploit new opportunities and develop their profiles as

Libya begins this new chapter.

Organizer Oliver Kinross is a business research operation with an international focus that aims to deliver top quality training and business intelligence and to facilitate networking opportunities for the business community with particular emphasis on commodities and capital markets.

IRN organizes high-level training courses, conferences, business events and publications delivering cutting edge information and innovative solutions.

The aim of the conference is to provide a platform where delegates can meet key stakeholders in Libya and its petrochemical industry, such as representatives of the National Transitional Council, the National Oil Corporation and related companies, governmental organizations, experts and thought leaders from Libya and around the globe.

Libya has the largest proven oil reserves in Africa (46.4 billion barrels) and is ranked as the 17th largest producer of oil and the 31st largest producer of natural gas in

2009, according to figures from the Parisbased EIA. However, as a consequence of Libya’s political isolation, oil production peaked in the 1960s at 3 million barrels per day and has been in decline since.

The summit should provide an excellent opportunity for networking with a variety of industry professionals with an interest in Libya, against the backdrop of the eternal city and in the luxury of a five-star facility. The conference program also includes gala dinners, receptions and networking events.

It will address critical issues affecting Libya and her business partners, including assessments of: -- The new political, legal and economic structure of the nation -- The security situation -- How best to use Libya’s natural resources and wealth for the good of her people -- Future petrochemical and gas exploration and production opportunities.

The World’s Leading Oil and Gas Conference and Exhibition Directory Use the fast Advanced Search tool. Filter by month, city, country and event name.

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2011 was a momentous year in the history of Libya, culminating with the overthrow and death of Libyan dictator Colonel Muammar Gaddafi, who had been in power since 1969. The combination of regime change and the prospect of fresh hydrocarbon discoveries make the country very interesting for oil and gas professionals, writes Mike Campbell

www.oilfieldconference.com 23

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LNG OVERVIEW

How much

does shale gas really make FOR GLOBAL LNG? There is no doubt that the increasing availability and commerciality of unconventional gas supplies has changed the picture for the world liquefied natural gas trade. But though the dynamics have altered significantly, industry observers agree that LNG’s future remains bright, powered by demand in Asia, says Eloise Logan

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emand from the Asian markets should be buoyant enough in the short and medium term to protect the global LNG sector from the competition created by newly abundant supplies of unconventional gas, largely from shale gas development.

source Economics, at Rice University, Houston.

That is the view of US academic and energy industry analyst Dr Kenneth B Medlock III, Fellow in Energy and Re-

“The market was well-supplied prior to the Fukushima disaster in Japan. That event triggered a reduction in nuclear power generation which has, in turn, led

Though he agrees the LNG market has been affected, nonetheless he expects no real threat to the future of the sector. Change could come in how LNG is traded and how it is priced, he said.

The Arctic Princess, measuring 288 meters long and 49 m broad, with a capacity of 147,000 cubic meters of LNG, is on a 20-year charter to the partners in Norwegian LNG export plant Hammerfest LNG, formerly known as Snohvit LNG.

to an increase in natural gas demand, particularly in Japan.

“We have seen diversion of LNG to the Pacific to meet this demand, and it does not appear this demand will abate any time in the near future,” Dr Medlock said. He sees demand from Asian countries as the main driver for the LNG sector.

He views the development of US shale gas as “perhaps the biggest change in the market in the last decade.”

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difference

The Arctic Princess (pictured here) was the largest LNG carrier ever built when she was constructed by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries in Japan in 2006. However, that crown has now passed to ships of the Q-Max class, the largest vessels that can dock at the LNG terminals in Qatar.

“If the technology and lessons learned in the North American shale experience can be successfully deployed elsewhere, then shale will be truly transformative in many ways, including with regard to the 25

www.projectsogp.com - Offshore Europe 2011 Special Edition - Page 27

Under the patronage of the President of the United Arab Emirates H.

2012

ADIPEC

www.adipec.com

5-8 November

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H. Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan

Powering the World.

Fuelling the Future.

Supported by:

OFFSHORE & MARINE Adds 30% growth to the region’s largest oil and gas event t Abu Dhabi holds 9% of the world’s proven oil reserves (98.2bn barrels) and almost 5% of the world’s natural gas (5.8 trillion cu metres)

t It is spending money on research & development to further innovation in the region t Abu Dhabi is the regional hub for the energy industry t Abu Dhabi’s GDP is to quadruple by 2025 t Ongoing energy projects in the region have crossed the US$ 800 billion mark t Abu Dhabi expects double digit GDP growth year on year in the next 5 years

Is ADIPEC the missing link in your business strategy?

For details on sponsorship / to book space, contact: +971 2 4444909 or adipec@dmgevents.com

www.adipec.com/yin Organised by

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FEATURE

Nigeria’s oil production:

still plagued by uncertainties

Oil is often blamed for many of Nigeria’s problems; yet it has merely inflamed existing strains that must be tackled in their own right, argues Neil Ford

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here is little doubt that the Nigerian oil sector has recovered somewhat since the 2009 militant amnesty in the Niger Delta. Production of crude oil has increased from 1.8 million barrels a day (MMb/d) in 2008 to 2.2 MMb/d last year and a string of deepwater projects are due to come on stream over the next five years.

frequent theft of oil, often with the collusion of officials and even those in power.

But illegal oil bunkering continues to siphon off about 10% of total output and armed gangs remain at large in the Niger Delta, while Nigeria as a whole faces an uncertain future as a nation state.

Many armed groups within and outwith the MEND membership stepped up the kidnapping of oil industry workers for ransom, oil theft on a massive scale and sabotage of pipelines and processing centers. Many bomb attacks were launched in retribution for attempts by oil companies to crack down on illegal oil bunkering gangs.

The Niger Delta, the heart of the Nigerian oil industry, has long been a source of conflict in West Africa. While international investors and the Nigerian federal government have benefited from vast oil export revenues, the people of the region have seen little to improve their lives.

A combination of poverty, pollution and the enrichment of successive Nigerian leaders have triggered protest movements, direct action against the oil companies and sporadic militant bomb attacks on oil and gas industry infrastructure. Such an environment has also encouraged a wide range of criminal activities, including the

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Militant activity stepped up a gear at the end of 2005 with the creation of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), a loose umbrella grouping of various militants, some of which campaigned for a fairer socioeconomic deal for the region.

Nigeria’s output fell from 2.5 MMb/d to 1.8 MMb/d within three years, causing outrage in Abuja when Angola briefly overtook Nigeria as the biggest oil producer on the African continent.

First as vice president and then as president, Goodluck Jonathan led the negotiations with MEND that resulted in the amnesty offer. Thousands of militants handed in their weapons in return for immunity from prosecution and promises of retraining or education.

The situation in the Niger Delta is now a great deal calmer than it was and the frequency of bomb attacks has fallen. However, the rise in oil production is the result of a decline in the number of retributive attacks against the oil industry rather than because of any fall in oil theft.

The volume of oil stolen remains at about 200,000 b/d and some oil firms privately say that illegal bunkering is a bigger problem now than ever before. Corruption is still a huge difficulty and many militants still have the military capability to launch new attacks.

A security consultant operating in the region, who did not wish to be named, commented: “The IOCs [international oil companies] are still in a difficult situation because of the level of insider activity and because they take the blame CONTINUE ON PAGE 38

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By combining science, engineering, and technology expertise with business acumen, we address the technical and business interdependencies that determine success.

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Energy | Environment | National Security | Health | Critical Infrastructure

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NYSE: SAI

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SOUTH STREAM PROJECT

Russia plans to beat the competition with South Stream project speed-up

targeting the Southern Europe route to the markets of Western Europe. Most analysts agree that the first to commit to bring gas from the Central Asian region will have a huge competitive advantage... and that could be Russia’s South Stream project, writes Eloise Logan

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lexey Miller, Chairman of the Management Committee of Russia’s gas monopoly exporter Gazprom, looked confident as he announced the company’s latest move. Following authorization

by Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, Miller said, the decision had been taken to significantly speed up the

launch of Gazprom’s latest major construction project.

the Black Sea to Bulgaria and westward on to Greece, Italy and Austria.

The Gazprom board had backed a detailed action plan that would make it possible to start construction of the company’s South Stream gas pipeline in December 2012 instead of 2013 as previously planned. The line is designed to transport Russian gas across

This was a bold measure, and one which seems to have left its competitors – the other would-be pipeline gas suppliers via a southern route -- in disarray.

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No fewer than four natural gas supply pipeline projects are currently on the drawing board

It comes not very long after Gazprom began commercial gas deliveries to Eu51

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s from April 2010, the U.S. Department of Interior began strictly enforcing an existing directive known as the Idle Iron policy that aims to expedite the removal of unused offshore infrastructure.

It notified all lease-holding oil and gas companies in the Gulf of Mexico that any non-producing well -- one that has not produced in the last five 5 years -dormant platform, or non-functioning pipeline must be decommissioned no later than one year after the expiration date of the relevant lease.

This move aims to create a cleaner US Gulf by minimizing the amount of damage done by tropical storms and reducing the liabilities, such as oil spills, asso-

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ciated with idle infrastructure.

Hurricane season in the Gulf wreaks havoc on offshore structures and the Idle Iron policy will reduce decommissioning costs by forcing corporations to pre-plan the abandonment of these structures as opposed to having to clean them up in the wake of a damaging storm. Storm damage can make decommissioning increasingly expensive and unsafe.

The policy has been criticized by a number of groups claiming that its ultimate goal of clearing the Gulf of Mexico of unused structures will be detrimental to the region’s ecosystem. At the same time, it is predicted to generate a significant amount of revenue for the decommissioning industry in the coming years.

In other parts of the offshore world,

such as the UK and Norwegian North Sea, the environmental lobby is firmly behind moves to speed up decommissioning of obsolete offshore structures.

Financial Predictions Early predictions estimate that there could be as much as $3.5 billion dollars worth of decommissioning opportunities in the Gulf of Mexico in the next three to five years alone. This work would include the removal of at least 650 dormant structures and the plugging of another 3,500 wells on the Outer Continental Shelf.

The UK North Sea is another area that has proven to be a hotspot for decommissioning opportunities. A recent study, quoted in Decom North Sea News, estimated that potential decommission-

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FEATURE

What will it cost to stop keeping the world’s offshore iron idle?

Among the consequences of the tragic explosion and oil leakage in the US Gulf last year has been a tightening of regulations, not just for operational hardware but also for offshore structures standing idle. Alex Misiti takes a look at the potential costs, financial and environmental, of decommissioning them the case, the fee to plug a well generally starts around $250,000.

In any event, the global energy industry has indicated that the fiscal opportunities that offshore oil areas like the Gulf of Mexico and the UK and Norwegian North Sea provide will be significant for years to come.

In many other cases, wells are under miles of water and they require companies to build temporary platforms next to the existing structure in order for sealing operations to safely and effectively commence. These projects take much longer and can cost as much as $2 million.

Though there are already a number of companies specializing in the demolition and dismantling of these enormous production platforms and related infrastructure, many experts have indicated that the large and growing number of non-functional structures globally will cause the decommissioning industry to substantially increase.

“On our end, you are going to see a whole bunch of P&A (plug and abandon) companies sprout up,” said David Wright, the president of Wright’s Well Control Services.

The process of decommissioning rigs and plugging wells varies with the location and depth of the offshore platform.

In order to permanently plug a well and ensure that it does not leak, a series of cement-like substances must be pumped deep into the existing borehole.

For shallow water wells, P&A companies generally are able to seal the well using the existing platform or a barge as the base of their activities. When this is

The cost of actually dismantling an offshore structure will vary depending on size but costs can range from $2 million in shallow water regions to substantially more in deepwater areas, according to data from production services and technology company Proserv.

“Idle Iron” Under Scrutiny Structures in the Gulf of Mexico are recognized by many to make up the largest artificial reef in the world. It is estimated that over the course of the next five years the process of decommissioning the estimated 650 structures in the US Gulf would result in the destruction of approximately 7 billion marine invertebrates, many of which are considered protected species, according to DecomWorld.

Environmental groups are pressing government agencies to allow many of these dormant oil platforms to be converted into artificial reefs and offshore fisheries. The Idle Iron mandate does contain a section that addresses reefs that have de-

veloped on platforms and in an effort to protect marine life many US states have adopted a “Rigs to Reefs” program.

Within the oil and gas sector, too, companies have expressed concern about enforced decommissioning. Their point is that non-producing wells do not always remain non-producing, and the cost of removing a permanent plug is substantially more than the cost of removing a temporary plug.

Sometimes E&P companies will temporary plug wells because their analysis indicates that the well may recharge and produce again in the future, or they hope that in time production economics may change and any residual hydrocarbons will later become worth producing.

Future Implications Though the Idle Iron mandate has come under intense scrutiny in recent months, decommissioning activities in the US Gulf continue to develop.

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ing revenue in that region could exceed $40 billion by the year 2040.

There is currently no federal regulation that states that an offshore platform has to be converted into an artificial reef. It remains the responsibility of the energy companies holding leases in offshore oil fields to consider the costs and benefits associated with “reefing” a non-producing platform or pipeline or decommissioning it and selling it as scrap.

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Conference Calendar

Oil and Gas LNG

Energy

Downstream Midstream

Business, Projects & Management

MARCH 2012 1

3RD ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL UKRAINE ENERGY FORUM 2012

February 27 – March 1, 2012. Intercontinental Hotel, Kyiv, Ukraine. Industry experts are estimating that Ukraine may hold the largest reserves of unconventional gas in Europe, if not worldwide.

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2nd Annual Offshore Indonesia Oil & Gas Conference 2012

February 27 – March 1, 2012. Grand Hyatt Jakarta, Jakarkta, Indonesia. Hear from regulatory bodies on the latest updates in regulation and the Oil & Gas market outlook in Indonesia; Engage in interactive panel discussions that focus on key topics like Cabotage Law, Production Sharing Contracts and E&P developments in Indonesia.

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March 1 – 2, 2012. Geneva, Switzerland. The Oil Operations & Logistics 2012 Summit is dedicated to bringing together senior logistics, procurement, and supply chain professionals from across the oil industry. You’’ll discover best practices to improve your corporate strategy.

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Oil Operations & Logistics 2012 Summit

March 1 – 2, 2012. Geneva, Switzerland. The Oil Operations & Logistics 2012 Summit is dedicated to bringing together senior logistics, procurement, and supply chain professionals from across the oil industry. You’’ll discover best practices to improve your corporate strategy.

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The E&P Procurement & Supply Forum 2012

Formation Damage Prevention & Treatment 2012

March 5 -8, 2012. Movenpick Hotel Deira, Dubai, UAE. The purpose of this workshop/course is to gain adequate knowledge in formation damage.

This workshop will take us through the types and mechanics of formation damage, their preventions and treatments.

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The 7th LNG Supplies for Asian Markets (LNGA) 2012

March 5 – 7, 2012. Goodwood Park Hotel, Singapore. LNG production is entering a period of lower growth as the expansion of Qatar’s liquefaction capacity comes to an end and before new projects under construction in Australia come on-stream.

A tightening of the LNG supply/demand balance is inevitable and will have an impact on both LNG trade flows and pricing.

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3rd Annual MEA Gas Distribution Summit 2012

March 5 – 7, 2012. Abu Dhabi, UAE. The 3rd Annual MEA Natural Gas Distribution Summit, is a sequel to one of the most prestigious events in the natural gas distribution portfolio. Join these knowledge pools as they decipher the elements necessary to build and operate an effective natural gas distribution network.

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The 2nd Oil Products Forum Asia 2012

March 5 -8, 2012. Langkawi, Malaysia. The twoday conference brought together industry senior executives and market specialists to discuss market outlook and future trends in petroleum products with specific focus on key supply, demand, storage, and pricing issues covering Diesel, Gasoline, Fuel Oil, Ethanol, LPG, Condensate and Naphtha.

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IADC/SPE Drilling Conference and Exhibition 2012

Mar. 6 – 8, 2012. Town and Country Resort & Convention Center, San Diego, California, USA. The IADC/SPE Drilling Conference and Exhibition continues to be recognized as the premier drilling event of the E&P industry, attracting a broad spectrum of professionals from around the world.

Power Generation & Steel Production Exhibition & Conference, 2012

Mar 6 – 8, 2012. International Conference Center, Abuja, Nigeria. The Annual Power Generation & Steel Production Exhibition and Conference Event with the theme ‘‘Solving the Power and Steel Industry Challenges in Africa’’ is geared towards bringing together all power and steel experts across the globe to the heart of Africa.

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European Gas Market Forum: Supply, Origination, Trading, Pricing, and Contract Optimization 2012

March 6 -8, 2012. Radisson Blu, Berlin, Germany.

The programme analyses commercial and technical perspectives on developing effective strategies for trading and matching your organisation’s short and long term objectives to prevailing market conditions and practices.

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IBC’s 35th Annual Offshore Pipeline Technology Conference 2012

March 6 – 7, 2012. Krasnapolsky Hotel, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Hear from some of the industry’s leading authorities addressing the key challenges and opportunities in the offshore pipeline sector.

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The FPSO Vessel Conference 2012

March 7 – 8, 2012. London, UK. Analysing FPSO contracts, technologies and new market developments.

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HSE in OIL and GAS, Russia and CIS 2012

March 13 -15, 2012. Marriott Grand Hotel, Moscow, Russia. The HSE IN OIL & GAS CONFERENCE is the annual meeting place for senior executives from the oil & gas industry in Russia & the CIS to exchange opinions and ideas, and to find solutions to the major challenges of ensuring safety in the oil & gas sector.

SAMPLE 12th Annual Arctic Oil & Gas Symposium 2012

March 13 – 14, 2012. Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The Arctic Oil & Gas Symposium is a gathering place for industry players, community leaders, government and regulators involved in northern projects. It is your opportunity to get the latest policy and project updates.

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Colombia Oil & Gas Summit and Exhibition 2012

March 13 – 15, 2012. Cartagena, Colombia. The Colombia Oil & Gas Summit and Exhibition is a must attend platform for all existing and potential stakeholders wanting to discover new opportunities, maximize potential and advance market developments.

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Unconventional Gas Forum 2012

March 13 -14, 2012. Hotel Rey Juan Carlos I, Barcelona, Spain. The emergence of unconventional gas has dominated the energy sector over the last couple of years. Whilst controversy, debate and discussion continue, those who have fully embraced this opportunity are now turning their focus to delivering projects.

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Asia Pacific Maritime (APM) 2012

March 14 – 16, 2012. Sands Expo & Convention Centre. Marina Bay Sands, Singapore. Regarded by the industry as the region’s premier maritime event, Asia Pacific Maritime (APM) presents a 3-day effective platform for industry players to interact, network and explore collaborative opportunities while getting updated with the latest emerging trends in the maritime trade.

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2nd Annual Global Refining Technology Forum 2012

March 19 – 21, 2012. Doha, Qatar. According to Petroleum Online, there are 659 worldwide refineries, located in 115 countries that collectively have a daily capacity of about 88 million barrels per day (b/d). Some countries including the United States, however, have exceeded this utilization level in recent years.

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India – US Bilateral Conference On Shale Gas 2012

March 19 – 20, 2012. ITC Maurya, New Delhi, India.

“India US Bilateral Conference on Shale Gas” is designed with the objective to bring US Oil & Gas industry experience on Shale Gas to discuss and learn the prospect and challenges of Shale Gas in India.

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SPE/IADC Managed Pressure Drilling & Underbalanced Operations Conference 2012

Mar. 20 – 21, 2012. Marriott Hotel, Milan, Italy.

UBO and MPD technologies are changing rapidly with new achievements and breakthrough applications occurring at a steady pace. This conference remains the preeminent forum for all stakeholders to promote better understanding of the diverse techniques that comprise Managed Pressure Drilling and Underbalanced Operations and to raise awareness of safe, efficient procedures and sharing of best practices.

7th Maritime Communications & Technology

March 14 – 15, 2012. Singapore. ACI’s 7th Maritime Communications & Technology Summit will focus on the latest developments in Broadband connectivity for your fleet. With special attention put on the new technological developments, the summit will examine how their use can help you maximise operational efficiency.

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March 19 – 21, 2012. Beijing, China. Cippe is the 22nd high-quality exhibition which gets the authentication from UFI in China Mainland.

4th Offshore Support Vessels Summit 2012

March 14 – 15, 2012. Singapore. This leading event analyses new markets and latest cutting-edge technologies in the offshore shipping industry. The conference will also examine the challenges presented by operations in deeper waters.

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SPE/EAGE European Unconventional Resources Conference and Exhibition 2012

March 20 – 22, 2012. Vienna, Austria. Both SPE and EAGE have identified the increasingly important role unconventionally trapped oil and gas production is playing in the world energy mix.

Covering exploration, development and production technical topics, the theme reflects the tremendous growth in activity in Europe over the last few years and aims to address some of the specific challenges, range of environments and future opportunities within the European E&P sector.

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Advanced Contract Risk Management for Oil and Gas Asia 2012

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3rd Rio Gas Forum 2012 (Global Gas Series)

March 20 – 21, 2012. Grand Millennium, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Advanced Contract Risk Management for Oil & Gas Asia will address the challenges faced by upstream oil and gas stakeholders.

Legal contracts represent one of the largest areas of risk for exploration and procurement focused organisations.

March 20 – 23, 2012. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. New for 2012, following on the success from the last events, the new programme will explore opportunities across the value chain, incorporate topics related to oil exploration and production in the agenda, with particular attention to presalt activities.

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Excellence In Oil and Gas Conference and Exhibition 2012

March 20 – 21, 2012. Sydney, Australia. The Excellence In Oil and Gas Conference and Exhibition is East Coast Australia’s largest event focused on investment and financing for the oil and gas sector. Attracting well over 400 delegates and nearly 40 exhibitors each year, the 2012 event has had some new life breathed into it.

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Libya Oil & Gas 2012

March 21 – 22, 2012. Rome, Italy. The Libyan Oil & Gas Summit 2012 brings together all the key stakeholders in the new Libya from the National Transitional Council, the National Oil Corporation and their related companies, International Oil Companies, Service Providers, Governmental organisations, thought leaders and experts from Libya and across the globe.

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11th edition of the Turkish International Oil & Gas Conference (TUROGE 2012)

March 21 – 22, 2012. Ankara, Turkey. The conference is an ideal platform to learn about both geopolitical and technical insights into the local energy industry, while listening to presentations from representatives from the Turkish government.

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The 12th China International Petroleum & Petrochemical Technology and Equipment Exhibition 2012

Emerging U.S. Shale Plays 2012

March 21 – 22. 2012. Houston, Texas, USA. Emerging Shale Plays USA 2012 will for the very first time, bring together executives from the first movers in North America’s leading undeveloped shale plays to analyze reservoir characteristics, initial production rates and regulatory conditions to determine the long-term economic viability of developing these newly identified unconventional assets.

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SAMPLE MARCH 2012 22

4th Annual Decommissioning & Abandonment Summit 2012

March 22-23, 2012. InterContinental Hotel, Gulf of Mexico, Houston, Texas, USA. The Gulf of Mexico’s leading decommissioning focused conference is back for its fourth year. This is the only forum that will give you the direction and tools you need to build a comprehensive decommissioning strategy to ensure success in this booming market.

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Sour Oil & Gas Advanced Technology (SOGAT) 2012

March 25 – 29, 2012. Abu Dhabi, UAE. The overall scope of SOGAT 2012 will examine all the ongoing international sour field projects as well as the beneficial uses of the sulphur by-products, particularly through the latest research findings in Qatar.

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Middle East Downstream Week 2012

March 25 – 28, 2012. Abu Dhabi, UAE. At MEDW 2012 you will discover what global market pioneers are achieving through diversification strategies, integration plans and key business improvements in times of sectorial and financial turmoil.

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March 26 – 28, 2012. Intercontinental Hotel, Nairobi, Kenya. The 3rd Eastern African Oil, Gas & Energy Conference 2012, scheduled for Nairobi, is part of our worldwide suite of senior management events in/on Africa that we have conducted annually for over 16 years.

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Unconventional Gas & Oil Summit (UGOS) 2012

March 26 – 29, 2012. Sheraton Warsaw Hotel, Warsaw, Poland. The Only Global Unconventional Gas & Oil Conference To Engage Business And Stakeholders In The Next Frontier Of Unconventional Developments Economic Outlook For Unconventionals In The Energy Mix.

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3rd Eastern African Oil, Gas & Energy Conference 2012

Global LNG Summit

March 27 – 30, 2012. Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel, Singapore. The Global LNG Summit focuses on investments and developments transforming the LNG sector globally. It brings together the full LNG value chain, from upstream liquefaction producers through to LNG shipping, regasification and gas distribution.

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SPE Intelligent Energy International 2012

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3rd Ghana Summit 2012

March 27 – 29, 2012. Jaarbeurs, Utrecht, The Netherlands. SPE Intelligent Energy International provides the E&P Oil & Gas industry with a platform to discuss digitally enabled and associated technology as well as debate the issues of people, process and change management in a collaborative conference and exhibition environment.

March 27 – 29, 2012. Accra, Ghana. Delivering the Leading Oil & Gas Event in Ghana for a 3rd Year - With unparalleled learning and networking opportunities, the Ghana Summit 2012 will once again be the largest and most senior oil and gas event in Ghana.

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Global Gas Field Development Summit 2012

March 27 – 28, 2012. Intercontinental Hotel, Doha, Qatar. From gas flaring to gas shortages, from unconventional shale gas revolutions to the banning in some countries of hydraulic fracturing, From surplus gas in Qatar to shortage in local markets. No other sector in the oil and gas industry seems to have so dynamic a nature.

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Enhanced Oil Recovery – More Oil! Less Toil! 2012

March 27 – 28, 2012. Park Rotanan, Abu Dhabi, UAE. EOR will play a key role in the future long term supply of oil to meet world demand.

Conventional resources are maturing and the industry is experiencing limited volumes of discoveries of new conventional resources to replace production.

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Oil & Gas India Conference and Exhibition (OGIC) 2012

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11th Georgian International Oil, Gas, Infrastructure and Energy Conference (GIOGIE) 2012

March 28 – 30, 2012. Mumbai, India. OGIC is renowned for its comprehensive technical agendas and enticing exhibitions, hosting some of the most reputed companies in the oil and gas industry in India, such as ONGC, Cairn India and Reliance.’

March 28 – 29, 2012. Tbilisi, Georgia. The event traditionally receives support at the highest levels, including the Ministry of Energy of Georgia, Ministry of Environmental Protection & Natural Resources of Georgia, Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure of Georgia and the British Georgian Chamber of Commerce (BGCC).

SAMPLE

advertise on

april 2012

Conference

2

Magazine

Apr. 2 – 4, 2012. Abu Dhabi, UAE. It will take place 2–4 April 2012 in Abu Dhabi, UAE and will cover all the aspects of HSSE from regulations and behavioural safety to technological breakthroughs and latest technical inventions.

2

Corrosion Management Asia 2012

April 2 -3, 2012. Grand Millennium, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Oil and gas owners and petrochemical operators need to continually manage their facilities risk and optimise the value of their assets throughout its entire life cycle. Recent spillages including that of the Gulf of Mexico disaster sent shock waves reverberating throughout the industry and made the operators revisit their asset management strategies.

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advertise@oilfieldconference.com

April 9 – 10, 2012. Kuwait Regency, Kuwait. The GPCE 2012 is an opportunity to interact with prominent members of the petroleum industry in Kuwait and the GCC countries, as well as with some of the key decision and policy-makers in this vital sector.

Take the Poll

Give your perspective on the topics featured. Take the opinion poll.

10

These links will take you away from the magazine and to our website.

How much difference does Shale Gas Really Make for Global LNG? What will it cost to stop keeping the World’s Offshore Iron Idle?

16

US Gulf post-Macondo safety regulation changes: a valid response or a knee-jerk reaction?

FOLLOW US ON TWITTER

FIND US ON FACEBOOK

Stay up to date with the latest Oilfield Conference info by following us on twitter at #oconference. You can also find us on Facebook/pages/ Oilfield-Conference.

Corrosion Management Summit In Oil and Gas 2012

April 10 – 12, 2012. Abu Dhabi, UAE. Fleming Gulf’s “Corrosion Management Summit in Oil and Gas 2012” will address the key issues and prevention strategies in corrosion in the Oil and Gas industry as well the technology implemented to deal with the assets to corrosion control.

How Bright is the Future for North Sea E&P?

Art Source: Iconshock

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Gulf Petroleum Conference & Exhibition 2012

SPE Latin American and Caribbean Petroleum Engineering Conference (LACPEC) 2012

Apr. 16 – 18, 2012. Mexico City, Mexico. The SPE Latin American and Caribbean Petroleum Engineering Conference (LACPEC) focuses on the entire Latin American and Caribbean region with technical and plenary sessions, training courses, and an exhibition of the latest products and services.

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OGWA 2012 Exhibition and Conference

Apr. 16 – 18, 2012. Oman International Exhibition Center, Muscat, Oman. OGWA 2012 Exhibition and Conference is a gathering of local and international oil and gas companies from the GCC, technology and service providers, equipment suppliers, and other companies directly serving the industry’s requirements.

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18th Latin Oil Week 2012

April 16 – 18, 2012. Sheraton Rio Hotel, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. This is a key event for the Latin American Continent, focused on the exploration industry, gas-LNG and GTL – with Speakers from Latin America and worldwide on competition, National Oil Companies, strategy and portfolio, new ventures, new hydrocarbon potential, regional risks and management issues, integration in energy markets, domestic and cross-border oil and gas ventures, Independents, basins and acreage, new Bid Rounds, competitor strategies, and the future of Latin American and Caribbean hydrocarbons.

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Russian Arctic Oil and Gas 2012

April 17 – 19, 2012. Renaissance Moscow Monarch Centre Hotel, Russia. Highlights include: Pre-Conference Summit Day: “Technological Advances & Solutions for Oil & Gas Projects in the Russian Arctic”, 17th April 2012.

Case studies’ session – “Learning from the experience of others”: Case Studies from international Arctic oil & gas project operators.

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Oil & Gas Libya 2012

April 23 – 26, 2012. Tripoli International Fairground, Tripoli, Libya. The Organisers are in consultation with the Libya National Transitional Council, now internationally recognised as the legitimate conduit to the country’s future governance. The Council has established immediate priorities which include rebuilding the country’s oil, gas and petrochemicals sector which has suffered a lack of investment in recent years and considerable damage during the conflict.

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E & P Information and Knowledge Management Asia 2012

April 25 – 26, 2012. Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel, Singapore. Global oil and gas companies, when engaging in E&P activity generate huge amounts of E&P data which creates a unique issue. Seismic scans, well logging, and drilling data all need to be analyzed, processed and stored.

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Oilfield

6th SPE Middle East Health, Safety, Security and Environment Conference and Exhibition (MEHSSE) 2012

Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) 2012Knowledge Management Asia 2012

Apr. 30 – May 3, 2012. Houston, Texas, USA. Founded in 1969, the Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) is the world’s foremost event for the development of offshore resources in the fields of drilling, exploration, production, and environmental protection.

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