illustration: Oil & Gas Technology Centre

The Oil & Gas Technology Centre plans to launch 10 “Calls for Ideas” in 2018, as it ramps up its efforts and invests millions to tackle key industry challenges.

The Centre’s Call for Ideas programme seeks to identify, fund and support innovative ideas and concepts from inside and outside the oil and gas industry. The Calls focus on a range of themes that have been identified by the Centre, its members and wider industry stakeholders. Each Call currently offers c.£1 million of funding to a portfolio of successful projects.

The calendar of Calls launching in 2018 can be found at www.theogtc.com/ideas, along with information on live and closed Calls.

Anyone can take part in a Call, by completing a simple registration process and submitting an idea through our private and confidential process.

The first Call to launch in 2018 focuses on significantly reducing the cost of well delivery, which could help unlock 5 billion barrels of oil and gas already discovered on the UK Continental Shelf.

Well construction methods have changed little since drilling started in the North Sea. New technology and practices could reduce development costs, increase recovery and minimise well intervention. This will allow mature, marginal or near-field reserves to be developed, helping to extend the life of existing infrastructure.

There’s still time to take part in the Digital Transformation and Decommissioning Calls, which launched in December 2017. These Calls focus on big data and machine learning ideas that can help unlock the full potential of the North Sea, as well as modular, integrated power generation and utilities concepts that can help drive down the cost of decommissioning.

Stephen Sheal, External Relationship Director for the Oil & Gas Technology Centre, says, “We’ve had a great response to our Calls for Ideas so far. We’re delighted to be receiving innovative ideas and concepts that we believe can help transform our industry. We hope that 2018 sees an increased uptake in our Calls from other industries, such as nuclear, automotive and manufacturing, as we know that are significant opportunities out there for technology transfer. The Calls are only one way that we reach out to the technology community, and we encourage people to get in touch with us at any time if they have an idea.”

Tags: Oil & Gas Technology Centre (OGTC)