UK Energy Minister Joins ITF’s Project Milestone Celebrations at Offshore Europe

ITF, the global technology facilitator, has surpassed more than 200 joint industry projects (JIPs) in its 14 year history. Oil and gas industry leaders and the Rt Hon Michael Fallon MP, UK government Minister of State for Business and Enterprise and Minister of State for Energy joined the organisation on its ‘Technology Street’ stand (Stand 3B175) at Offshore Europe to congratulate the company and discuss developments with the UK oil and gas strategy.

ITF is championing eight technology developers on its display space. ITF CEO Dr Patrick O’Brien not only shared details of ITF’s most recent achievements, but also presented progress on the UK government’s Oil & Gas sector strategy, which was announced in March this year. ITF, alongside Oil & Gas UK, is working on the part of the strategy relating to technology development.

The single strategy, the first of its kind for the industry, aims to develop and deliver priority technology needs for the industry and identify vital innovations that will enable the UK to maintain its global reputation for innovation, whilst supporting local technology companies and the economy.

Dr Patrick O’Brien said progress has been going well. “Collaboration and investment in technology development and deployment is key to enhancing the UK oil and gas industry.”

Dr O’Brien’s presentation, which he delivered jointly with Andy Leonard of Oil & Gas UK, highlighted the likely objectives of a technology strategy and stressed that ITF would provide an important and vital strategic framework in which ITF, together with its member companies, could meaningfully contribute to the implementation of the strategy in 2014 and beyond.

He added: “ITF’s commitment to the success of the UK remains strong through on-going work with our members and the wider industry. Securing more than 200 JIPs is a huge achievement for the organisation. Like the introduction of the Oil & Gas sector strategy, the beauty of JIPs is their collaborative nature where everyone works together for one common goal, with the overall objective being a more productive, successful and safer industry.”

Formed in 1999, ITF has launched more than 168 JIPs in the UK and a further 33 JIPs in other parts of the world. ITF has so far invested around £57 million into JIPs and the organisation is currently funding £15 million worth of projects, with nearly £12 million currently funding UK developments. The projects run from the concept phase through to field trials or first implementation and cover four main disciplines; subsea, subsurface, drilling & wells and production & facilities.

ITF operates on a not-for-profit model, acting as an honest broker. This allows industry players to articulate their technology needs while providing a trusting environment for collaboration with technology developers who are assured of complete confidentiality and ownership of any intellectual property they bring to or develop during their projects.

A collaboration with Quality Intervention AS took ITF to its 200th JIP by developing its Casing Integrity System (CIS) annulus intervention technology. CIS is a new and innovative system that enables a small diameter tubing to be run via an annulus wing valve into well annuli for a precise placement of sealing chemicals or heavy fluids to repair leaks and barriers to restore the integrity of the well. The project, which will cost a total of £610,000, aims to offer a high-value, low-risk alternative to repair barriers in order to secure production sustainability and to prevent contamination of the environment from leaking casing annuli. The opportunity to join this project is still open.

Through its international network of offices and members, ITF provides the ability to access and develop technology on a global scale. Current themes include unconventional reservoir characterisation, subsea annulus management systems, downhole pressure and temperature monitoring and seismic while drilling with borehole sources. Each challenge is progressed through ITF’s proven collaborative process, with calls for proposals being issued globally to invite developers and innovators to put forward their technical solutions, which, if successful, can receive up to 100% funding.

ITF’s first JIP was in 2000 with Maris International Ltd and their “Continuous Circulation Coupler”. This project was a ‘step change’ in the way wells are drilled. At a total cost of £1.8milion, funded by six operators, the project took five years to complete from Feasibility Study to Prototype Manufacture, followed by Field Development, championed by Statoil. As the licensee, National Oilwell Varco (NOV) is now integrating this new technology with MPD to promote worldwide.

ITF, the technology facilitator for the global oil and gas industry, is a not-for-profit organisation owned by 32 international oil and gas operator and service companies. It is the only global collaborative R&D funding programme operating across continents. Since its formation in 1999, the organisation has facilitated the launch of more than 200 joint industry projects (JIPs) from early stage projects through to field trials and commercialisation. It aims to secure a further £50 million for technologies by 2015.

Press Release, September 10, 2013