Groups look at late-life fields

Groups from the UK and Norway are to join forces for an oil and gas technology “hackathon” later this month.

Hackathons are when groups of individuals from across different backgrounds work together to solve problems using technology.

The upcoming sessions with the Industry Technology Facilitator (ITF) and Norwegian Energy Partners are aimed at tackling operator latelife and decommissioning challenges.

They will be supported by the North Sea regulator, the Oil and Gas Authority (OGA), and Norwegian Ministry of Petroleum and Energy. The aim is to try to harness new ideas and technologies to address key production enhancement and cost-reduction challenges, while also finding ways to improve safety, minimise impact on the environment and create additional value for companies and governments.

The hackathons will take place in both Aberdeen and Stavanger – on November 22 and 30 respectively – and feature presentations from AkerBP, ConocoPhillips, Point Resources, Repsol Sinopec Resources UK, Shell and Statoil.

OGA supply chain manager Bill Cattanach said: “The successful implementation of innovative solutions can extend the life of fields and reduce their decommissioning costs.

“It is accepted many enabling solutions lie within the supply chain and combining forces across the North Sea makes this an even more powerful approach.”

ITF technology manager Ben Foreman added: “Optimising late-life field assets and field abandonment represents a major challenge.”

“Many enabling solutions lie within the supply chain”