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Petroleum Review - September 2012

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R&D key to meeting future energy demand
Martin Maeso, Technical Director, Energy Institute

NORTH SEA – E&P
High prices stimulate recovery
High oil prices and the need to develop fields while infrastructure is still in place has produced a flurry of new developments in the main Norwegian and UK sectors of the North Sea. This follows a disastrous 2011 when few projects came onstream and overall North Sea oil production declined by nearly 11% and gas output fell by 10.6%. Improved tax treatment and greater industry confidence suggests 2012 could be a turning point, writes Chris Skrebowski.

NORTH SEA – E&P
Moving on majors
A year ago Norway’s predominant operator Statoil was making much about fast-track fields. Now new major capital projects are coming forward again. At least 30 are currently underway on the Norwegian continental shelf (NCS) – including Aasta Hansteen, Johan Sverdrup and Skrugard – with a total projected investment figure of around NKr422.9bn ($70.9bn). John Bradbury reports.

E&P – HEAVY OIL
Tackling a heavy issue
Paul Fairhurst, Senior Lecturer, Flow Assurance, outlines how Cranfield University’s Department of Offshore, Process and Energy Engineering is tackling a multiphase production problem that is hampering heavy oil production.

E&P – TECHNOLOGY
The race to embrace technological change
Can the oil companies of the future maintain their operational integrity and meet global energy demand whilst satisfying shareholder expectations? Ruud Weijermars and Crispian McCredie, Alboran Energy Strategy Consultants, assess the outlook.

R&D – INVESTMENT
Patent Box incentives
The UK could become a world centre for research and development (R&D) thanks to a highly favourable new tax system, reports Ian Williams, Chairman of independent chartered accountant Campbell Dallas.

LNG – TECHNOLOGY FLNG milestone
The safe storage and transportation of LNG at a cryogenic temperature of –163°C was one of the most formidable challenges that the marine industry has ever faced. The industry now has the additional challenge of safe storage of LNG on permanently moored facilities, where tanks may be required to operate in part-filled conditions, at exposed offshore locations. Shell’s decision to use double-row membrane LNG storage tanks for its massive Prelude FLNG project was a significant sign of confidence in this technology. After a massive research programme, the membrane tanks will be strengthened to deal with potential problems of cargo sloshing in part-filled tanks, writes Jeff Crook.

AVIATION – FUELS
Kerosene still king
The last decade has seen significant developments, initiatives and legislation towards integrating biofuels and other environmentally-friendly fuel alternatives into transport and the aviation sector. But while renewable fuels are projected to have a significant stake in fuelling aircraft going into the future, traditional kerosene jet fuel still maintains a tight grip on the industry, writes M J Deschamps.

AVIATION – EI TECHNICAL
Developments in jet fuel handling
There has been much Energy Institute (EI) activity on aviation fuel handling in the last 12 months. Martin Hunnybun, EI Technical Team Manager – Fuels & Fuel Handling, explains.

POWER –  GAS TURBINES
Striving to be hot, powerful and flexible
Like their aerospace cousins, gas turbines in power generation are leading innovations for thermal efficiency and emissions control, writes Maria Kielmas.

POWER –  ELECTRIC MOTORS
All electric LNG – efficient and flexible
Amin Almasi, Lead Rotating Equipment Engineer at WorleyParsons Services, compares the benefits of electric driven LNG trains (ELNG) versus conventional LNG units.

SHIPPING – HYDROCARBON MANAGEMENT
Marine crude oil transport – global voyage losses rise in 2011
This article by Paul Harrison – Consultant to the HMC-4(A) Marine Oil Transportation Database Committee – presents findings from analysis of the 2011 marine crude oil transport data, updating the 2010 analysis which was reported in Petroleum Review in September 2011.

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