Panel Sessions
Session 1: Role of Innovation & Technologies in Finding & Producing More Cost-Effectively
Session Chairman Jayant Malhotra, Schlumberger
Improving Exploration Success & Finding New Reservoirs
These could be new finds in the form of new fields, frontier areas; or new layers in the existing finds; or making difficult and unconventional hydrocarbons economically viable. Panel will discuss how best to achieve this and effective monetization of new discoveries.
Producing More & Longer from existing Reservoir efficiently
This entails increasing production in brown fields: well by well, or cluster of wells, a pocket of field, by layers, or field wide; increase the Recovery Factor (RF). Panel will discuss how we get more out of what we have. Second aspect is re-development/rejuvenation of brown field by extending the production curve for a longer period. Third part is Planning and Implementing Field Development Plan (FDP) for newer discoveries in a systematic way encompassing all aspects for an efficient long term production.
Finding New Ways & Appropriate Technologies Required to Achieve the Above Two Points
The focus of discussion will be ‘what & how’ of application of workflows, usage of appropriate technologies for better reservoir characterization, reservoir production and its efficient management on continuous basis can be achieved. Then finding ways to continuously improve through innovation of process as well as newer & better technologies that keep finding more and producing more, cost effectively.
Session 2: Young Professionals – Future of E&P Industry (Global with Special Focus to India)
Session Chairman: T.K. Sengupta, ONGC
Oil & Gas will remain the world’s top energy source for decades to come and accounts for major global primary energy consumption, making it the biggest single energy source in the world. The US Department of Energy predicts that global consumption will increase to 118 million barrels a day by the year 2030–a surge driven by consumption in rapidly developing nations like China and India.
To meet the future demand of skilled manpower to run the industry, efforts are being made to excite and recruit young professionals for the industry. With 50% of the existing work force about to retire in the next ten years the petroleum industry now faces a massive challenge to attract enough young people to its industry. Not only does the industry have to deal with its environmental and societal reputation, but it also has to face the large reduction in young people choosing other branches for their career. But without more scientists and engineers it cannot sustain the levels of operation needed and will not be able to deliver enough energy for the future. It is crucial therefore to address the young generation directly and introduce them to the wide breadth of areas and activities that make up the petroleum sector.
The session invites speakers to address this very important issue of creating awareness to the today’s young professionals about the E&P Industry, recruit, train, motivate and to make them the future professionals for Oil & Gas Industry nationally & globally.
Session 3: Managing Risks–Political, Legal, Capital and Financial
Session Chairman: Juju Mathew, Larsen & Toubro
Energy security is the backbone of economic development of any country. So far, Oil & Gas has been the primary source of energy and has a pivotal role in global economic development. For decades, the supply has been just sufficient to meet the demand. Major oil companies are reaching ‘Peak oil’, and to keep up with the rising demand are reaching frontiers of science and technology such as Deepwater and hostile environments of the arctic.
Apart from the technology challenges posed by science, we have the socio political risks of operating in existing and new frontiers. The recent political upheaval across North Africa and Middle-East, holding the largest proven reserve, highlighted the fragility of the entire industry. On one hand, the changing political system in existing markets is bringing in new operational dimensions. On the other hand, the new markets with no established regulatory system is a different challenge altogether.
The dynamics of all these factors has a profound impact on the financial performance of the operating companies and service providers. The new and changing systems bring in huge legal and regulatory obligations, be it changes in tax regime or EXIM policies or operational requirements like local content. These need to be assessed and evaluated in depth. The industry has also to factor in the price volatility, driven by short term imbalances in supply – demand from natural calamities or regional political issues.
It is therefore important to address these emerging ‘Risks’ associated with the industry to ensure energy security for the world at large. This session is dedicated evaluate these risks, be it political, legal, operating or financial and assessing mitigating measures acceptable across the stake holders.
Session 4: Growing Environmental Concerns
Session Chairman: S.J. Chopra, UPES
During the last decade environmental concerns over the increasing consumption of fossil fuels have grown enormously. Global environmentalism has made a significant impact and fossil fuels are being increasingly discriminated against. The issues involved include land degradation, declining forest cover, severe air pollution and deteriorating water quality. The need to balance economic growth against environmental concerns has been getting attention and thought-process of all the stakeholders including business, industry and regulatory authorities. Moreover, extraction of shale gas is creating new environmental and public health problems including possible leakage between hydraulic fracturing and contamination of drinking water.
During the session, discussion and debates on growing environmental concerns from various factors such as, Cultural and Socio-Economic, Atmospheric, Aquatic, Terrestrial and Ecosystem, and mounting implications which include climate change, carbon and other greenhouse gas emissions will be on top of the agenda. The overall purpose of the session “Growing Environmental Concerns” is to provide an overview of environmental issues in the oil and gas exploration and production (upstream) industry, and the best approaches to achieving high environmental performances ensuring sustained high economic growth. The session will help to develop a roadmap to mitigate worries over the rising environmental and pollution concerns worldwide.
Session 5: Evolving Role for Service Companies in the E&P Industry
Session Chairman: Mahesh Mahajan, Baker Hughes
Currently the oil/gas industry is going through a very crucial phase where both the E&P and service companies are squeezed by the depleting margins. This is contributed by several factors like challenging operating environment, growing needs for investments in cutting edge technologies and market forces. As the conventional reserves are under fast depletion, the industry is shifting focus towards unconventional reserves which continuously requires development of new technology and skill at a higher pace than ever before.
Over the last decade, the E&P and the service companies are seen to have been undergoing a transformation of the roles in the direction of creating a viable long term structural change in order to effectively handle the emerging challenges. The conventional business model of operator contractor relationship has lost its charm long ago for all good reasons. Following this, it was realized that specific areas in the industry need in-depth research and development work in order to develop new technology that can escort the industry through the emerging challenges in operating environments. This led the industry in to an outsourcing era, where critical areas were outsourced to the service companies for standalone work. The outsourcing process resulted in increased participation of service companies in the decision making process in to areas which were outsourced to them. However this approach also did not last long due to misunderstandings, mistrusts, conflicts of interests and several such factors mainly arising out of isolated roles of the two sides.
The current trend in the dynamics of the roles of E&P and service companies’ is seen to be heading in a direction that lies on the collaborative and partnering platforms. The increased counts of joint participation in mega projects, joint work in development of technology, desire for risk/return sharing, integrated operations contracting patterns are only a few to name.
The session will focus on developing multiple perspectives on this key issue with regard to the impact on the overall productivity and efficiency of the industry and develop a direction where we see it heading in years to come.
Session 6: HR–The Big Crew Change–The "Experienced Professional" Perspective
Session Chairman: John Hoppe, Shell
We have all heard of the impending “big crew change” and much as has been said about what companies and the industry need to do about it. Much has also been said about the opportunities that will be created for today’s Young Professionals to step into the shoes of their elders, the soon to retire “Experienced Professionals”. But what of those EPs; what might the big crew change mean for them?
With life expectancy increasing, and the quality of later life improving in most countries; with increasingly inadequate retirement provisions to sustain the high standards of living we have become accustomed to through a longer retirement in an increasingly expensive world, how is this changing the attitudes of EPs towards work and retirement? How will governments need to respond to the changing demographics? How will companies need to adapt their employment policies to balance the costs and benefits of continuing to employ EPs longer, whilst making that employment attractive to them? What skills and behaviours will we need to cultivate to be successful in an increasingly interconnected, distributed world?
This panel session will explore this exciting new world of possibilities.
