DNV GL forecasts faster, more agile oil and gas production techniques as industry adapts to the energy transition

“Most easy-to-produce, ‘elephant’ oil and gas fields have been found and are already in production. Smaller reservoirs will likely be harder to explore and develop commercially. Digitally-enabled technologies such as directional drilling and steerable drill bits, 4D seismic backed by advanced data analytics and steam flooding, will be crucial to ensure that exploration and production is economic and efficient,” said Liv Hovem, CEO, DNV GL – Oil & Gas.

DNV GL’s Outlook recommends that existing technologies for decarbonisation, such as carbon capture and storage (CCS) will also need to be implemented at scale for the oil and gas sector to stay relevant in a rapidly decarbonizing energy mix. It forecasts CCS will capture only 1.5% of emissions related to energy and industrial processes in 2050.

Global warming will likely reach 2.6 degrees Celsius (°C) above pre-industrial levels in 2050, according to the Outlook. This is well above the 2°C target set out by the COP 21 Paris Agreement on climate change. By 2050, the Outlook predicts 972 gigatonnes of carbon will be emitted, overshooting the 810 gigatonne budget associated with the target.

“Our forecast reaffirms that the oil and gas industry has a vital role to play in the energy transition. It is our sector’s responsibility to maintain a sharp focus on decarbonisation, sustainable production, cost management, and the need to embrace innovative technologies to secure long-term supply of sustainable and affordable energy,” added Hovem.

Read the article online at: https://www.oilfieldtechnology.com/special-reports/24102018/dnv-gl-forecasts-faster-more-agile-oil-and-gas-production-techniques-as-industry-adapts-to-the-energy-transition/