MANAMA: There is a need for oil-producing countries in the Middle East and elsewhere to focus more on technology and use advanced techniques such as artificial lift to strengthen, revitalize and increase the production of oil fields.
This was stated by the Minister of Finance and the Minister in Charge of Oil and Gas Affairs, Shaikh Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Khalifa, during the opening of the 2nd Middle East Artificial Lift Conference and Exhibition.
The event was organised by the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE), in cooperation with the National Oil and Gas Authority (NOGA), with the support and sponsorship of Saudi Aramco and sponsorship of Alkhorayef Petroleum, Weatherford, Schlumberger, Baker Hughes, Bahrain Petroleum Company (Bapco) and GE Oil & Gas. A number of experts and specialists in the business and senior officials and managers of artificial lift companies participated in the conference.
The Minister said that oil exploration was changing at many levels and oil producing nations were tapping into difficult reserves, including existing wells, while the upstream petroleum industry was modernizing systems, launching unconventional initiatives and developing engineering solutions to extract additional barrels from complex reservoirs. He said that a global energy system that adapts to our changing world demands investments in leading technology, including in artificial lifts. Companies have taken note of the fact that artificial pumping is used in more than 90% of the million oil-producing wells around the world, in reservoirs with low pressure as well as in naturally flowing wells.
Operators and service companies were working to increase the reliability of artificial lift systems in challenging applications such as in heavy oil, high temperature and pressure, or corrosive environments, to help reduce intervention cost, and delayed production.
The Minister said that most oil wells in the Bahrain Field used artificial lift systems and contributed to the national oil production volumes. He pointed out that the Kingdom used advanced business strategies and have entered into successful joint ventures, citing the partnership between Nogaholding Company with US oil giant Occidental Petroleum and the UAE’s Mubadala, through which it employs the latest advanced technology to improve oil production in Bahrain Field, which is one of the oldest oil fields in the region.
The Minister added that Bahrain recently celebrated the 82nd anniversary of the discovery of oil to be the first GCC country to do so in its territory. He talked about NOGA’s strategic role in modernizing and applying highest international standards and practices in Bahrain’s oil and gas companies and adopting diverse programs, activities and oil events that are consistent with the principles and guidelines of the Bahrain Economic Vision 2030.
He pointed out that the government was keen to host such specialized oil and gas sector events in the country due to their prominent and key role in providing an opportunity to knowledge exchange and experience sharing between national companies operating in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) in the field of oil, gas and oil services and global suppliers of equipment and modern, cutting-edge technology with emphasis on efficiency and economy, promoting non-traditional initiatives to extract more oil from untapped reservoirs and fields.
Panel discussions, plenary sessions and presentations focused on the variety of topics including all areas of artificial lift. The artificial lift exhibition showcased new technology and services, including alternatives, exploration and streamlining and case studies on heavy oil, power and construction.
The Minister said that NOGA was keen to attract international oil conferences and exhibitions to the Kingdom and make Bahrain the global hub for such events in the region. He praised the Conference Organizing Committee Chairman, Jamal A. Alkhonaifer from Saudi Aramco, all committee members and sponsors for their efforts and contribution in organizing the event successfully.
Alkhonaifer also spoke at the opening session and expressed his gratitude and appreciation to H.E. Shaikh Ahmed for his support for the current edition of the artificial lift conference and exhibition series.
H.E. Shaikh Ahmed also inaugurated the Artificial Lift Exhibition, which had as exhibitors many of the world’s leading oil companies, including those based in the GCC, including Bapco, Saudi Aramco, Weatherford, Alkhorayef Petroleum, Schlumberger, Baker Hughes, GE Oil & Gas, Caltec, Kudu, JHK, Delta, Unico, Gyrodata, Aupew, GRC, Taurus Engineering, Europump, Artemis, Emerson, Alp, John Crane, PTC, RMS pumptools, NETZSCH, ESPCT, ITT praxis, biw Oil Field Production Company, QCI Quick Connector System Inc., Sawafi, and other international companies.
As part of the event, two workshops were held on Tuesday, one by Rajan Chokshi, Director of training, business development and production systems at Weatherford company, and another by Sisir Kumar De, technical director at the Weatherford.