Shell issues first Technology Report
January 18, 2007
Royal Dutch Shell plc today issues its first Technology Report, an overview of 27 advanced technologies - some delivering benefits today and others that will shape the future of the energy industry. The Shell Technology Report shows how the company is developing and applying technology to meet the tremendous challenge of securing the world’s growing energy needs in an environmentally responsible way.
Technology is central to meeting the Middle East’s energy challenge, both in producing efficiently and effectively the region’s energy resources and in meeting the Middle East’s growing energy needs. Shell has technology centres in Doha and Muscat and contributes to the development of technical professionals through its operations and support for tertiary education institutions across the region.
Shell has been at the forefront of innovation for over 100 years. The launch of the Murex, the world’s first seagoing tanker, revolutionised oil product transport in 1892 and helped establish Shell as a major force in the industry. A succession of advances has followed – right up to the present day.
The Shell Technology Report provides clear descriptions of some of the company’s most innovative and promising technologies such as Smart Fields® technology - integrating the latest digital technology to boost production – which will play a key role in Shell’s future plans.
The report shows how Shell is working to provide clean, secure energy, highlighting its expertise in liquefied natural gas (LNG), clean coal technology, Gas to Liquids (GTL) Fuel and deep water drilling. It also explores new horizons including offshore wind, cleaner diesel and other biofuels, and our projects to capture and store carbon dioxide.
Jan van der Eijk, Group Chief Technology Officer said: “We are committed to turning innovative ideas into commercial applications for providing the energy and petrochemicals that societies need to grow and prosper. Shell’s adventurous spirit has often led to great technological achievements. That spirit is very much alive in the Shell Technology Report.”
Raoul Restucci, Executive Vice President of Shell Exploration and Production in the Middle East, Caspian and South Asia, said: “The innovative application of technology is central to Shell’s operations in the Middle East. It allows us with our partners to take on challenges like exploring in the Rub Al Khali in Saudi Arabia and the deepwater Mediterranean offshore Egypt, enhancing oil recovery in Oman, and constructing the world-scale Pearl Gas-to-Liquids project in Qatar. We do not just bring technology to the region, we also develop it here.”
The Shell Technology Report is available for download from www.shell.com/technology
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John Malcolm, the Managing Director of Petroleum Development Oman (PDO), took advantage of the opening session of the Oil & Gas West Asia (OGWA) conference to describe the strategy that PDO has embarked on. The OGWA conference, which has the theme "Exploring New Opportunities in Energy-rich Arabia", was officially opened by HE Dr Mohammed bin Hamed al Rumhy, Minister of Oil & Gas, and Chairman of the Board of PDO, in the presence of a number of high-ranking Government officials and other distinguished guests. Mr Malcolm followed HE the Minister with a presentation entitled 'Ensuring Sustainability'.
"In the short term, by which I mean over the next five years, we look to produce oil and gas in as cost-efficient a way as possible from our existing fields according to existing development plans. That's why it is imperative that we drill and complete wells and construct and commission facilities on time and on budget. But we must be careful not to devote too much of our capital and human resources on the short term, because we also need to prepare ourselves now to maximise the value of our hydrocarbons later. We have to devote some resources over the next 10 years to properly plan conventional field developments as well as enhanced oil recovery projects, so that we can replace the reserves that will be produced in the short term." Finally, we can't neglect the long term, by which I mean the timeframe, say, beyond 2015. We have to devote some resources now to search for hydrocarbons; we are confident that there are still some oil and gas fields out there that remain to be discovered. And we must also devote some resources to 'mature' - that is, bring into production - the hydrocarbons that could add significantly to our production in the long-term future."