ITF, a membership organisation of international oil and gas operator and service companies, united more than 70 senior professionals to establish a vision for collaborative oil and gas technology research and development in the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council).

The not-for-profit technology facilitator brokered discussion between the parties to tackle the most pressing technology barriers to accessing hydrocarbon reserves. The event was sponsored by Kuwait Oil Company and chaired by James McCallum CEO and founder of Senergy, an energy services company which has an operation in Abu Dhabi.

Presentations were given by ITF member companies including Kuwait Oil Company, Petroleum Development Oman, and Shell on the opportunities and some of the common challenges being experienced in the region.

Ryan McPherson, ITF's regional director in the Middle East and Asia Pacific said: 'The event was a huge success in gaining buy-in from oil and gas companies and providing ITF with a clear directive to move forward with a regional group to deliver the vision for collaboration within the GCC.

'There has been a clear cultural change with oil and gas companies willing to work together on the similar issues they face. The group will convene again to build on this momentum and define the key technology challenges. We also aim to launch an initial demonstrator project before the end of the year to tackle a regional technology challenge and prove how the ITF process can work.'

Tags: ITF