The SPE Applied Technology Workshop (ATW) themed “Asset Revitalisation through Technology Innovations for Economically Valuable Solutions” began yesterday after it was officiated by the Minister of Energy at the Prime Minister’s Office, Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Dewa Major General (Rtd) Dato Seri Pahlawan Awg Hj Mohammad Hj Daud at the Indera Kayangan Ballroom, Empire Hotel.
The three-day meeting saw the participation of more than 45 individuals representing 13 oil companies, service providers and government bodies from eight countries including Brunei Darussalam, China, Indonesia, Italy, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia and USA.

Also in attendance were Director of SPE Asia-Pacific Board Hj Mohd Ja’afar Hj Awg Bakar, Chairman of SPE Brunei Section Mr Yap Sin Fah, Managing Director of Brunei Shell Petroleum Co Sdn Bhd Dr Grahamme Henderson, Managing Director of Brunei Shell Marketing Awg Hj Mohd Said Ahmad and Managing Director of Total Borneo Mr Yves Grosjean.

The minister, in his opening remarks, expressed his satisfaction to see the sultanate’s oil industry pushing the frontiers of technology and innovation, as seen globally.

Workshops such as this will provide the avenue in sharing new and innovative ideas to make the petroleum industry more competitive and progressive. This, added the minister, will indirectly assist in the industry’s ability to increase efficiency that will enable more oil and gas to be recovered from areas once thought as ‘not easy’ to produce both technically and economically. It will also help to facilitate the development of challenging deep water areas.

“We all know that the oil and gas industries are facing challenges especially on oil price volatility and the fact that higher oil price has resulted in higher cost of goods and services.”

He further highlighted that efficiency improvement comes in small measures until a new technological breakthrough happens and if “Business as Usual” without technology innovation is done, these challenges and obstacles will invariably unable to be met.

“Besides technology innovation, it is also imperative in developing human capacity in the oil and gas sector particularly in areas considered to be ‘hot-skills’.

“At the same time it is important to note that fossil fuels are finite resources and alternate energy sources will only contribute a small percentage of the total global energy demand.”

The minister further pointed out that the International Energy Agency (IEA) stated that the world energy outlook demand will grow by 50 per cent by 2030.

This, he adds, demands all the energy-related professionals in general and E&P professionals to be better equipped both technically and commercially to meet the growing energy demands.

Organised by the Society of Petroleum Engineers and hosted by the SPE Brunei Section, once in every two years, the workshop amongst all, serves as a platform to provide excellent networking opportunities for sharing the latest technologies, its deployment, best practices and fit for purpose techniques focussed on revitalising assets throughout the interactive sessions.

Following the opening remarks, two keynote addresses were presented by Asset Director of Brunei Shell Petroleum Co Sdn Bhd, Hjh Rosmawatty Hj Abd Momin and Vice President Technology at Baker Hughes who respectively addressed the “Revitalisation through Integration, Innovation and Standardisation” and “Technology Developments to Sustain Mature Field”.

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