Shell and partners to accelerate development of Smart Fields technology
Posted: 23 July 2004
Shell International Exploration and Production B.V. has signed a series of research and development partnerships with leading technology companies to accelerate the development and deployment of next generation digital oil and gas field technology, in Shell referred to as the Smart Fields(tm) programme.
The Smart Fields programme integrates real-time measurement, monitoring and control technologies for oil and gas field operations and development planning. Turning the Smart Fields concept into reality will depend on developing and deploying novel technologies from a variety of sources.
John Darley, Technology Director of Shell Exploration and Production, said today, "Smart Fields will focus on technology integration to optimise hydrocarbon production and recovery. These partnerships represent a significant milestone for our Smart Fields programme. Our aim is to import and adapt innovative technologies to complement our internal developments and established solutions. To realise full value, we will need to be successful in combining technical contributions into an integrated capability, while still ensuring a level playing field for involvement of other technology suppliers."
Pieter Kapteijn, Manager of Shell's Smart Fields Programme, added, "The EP industry is starting to appreciate that 'digital oil field' concepts can add significant value. The drive to develop integrated measurement, modelling and control technologies is gathering momentum. Shell established Smart Fields in 2002 to acquire and implement these technologies within key EP processes such as field development planning, reservoir management and production optimisation".
The companies with which Shell has signed partnerships are Schlumberger Information Solutions (SIS), Invensys, IBM, Intelligent Agent Corporation (IAC), Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) and Microsoft. Shell is expecting to start piloting an initial set of solutions in the near future. The partners are expected to release parts of the solutions as commercial products as early as 2005.
This approach is in line with Shell's broader strategy of collaborating with external partners to build an effective technology programme. By
combining enabling technologies from Shell and partner organisations, Shell aims to accelerate the development of a range of commercially viable toolkits, platforms, and resulting Smart Fields solutions that will reduce the costs and time to deployment of Smart Fields across our operating units.
Schlumberger Information Solutions provides the expertise to develop collaborative, IT-enabled solutions that improve field development processes. Invensys' contributions are adaptive collaboration and integration technologies for production management and optimisation processes. Intelligent Agent Corporation (IAC) and IBM's Research organisation are contributing complementary technologies to automate and enhance production system monitoring and diagnostics and to provide intelligent event prediction. SAIC's role will bring systems integration and program management support as well as technology expertise from other sectors, and Microsoft brings its expertise and product developments in the area of web based connectivity and Services Oriented Architecture (SOA).
Shell's research, development and deployment of technology for the Exploration and Production business of the Royal Dutch/Shell Group of Companies globally is managed by Shell's EP Technology organisation. The Group has had central laboratories to ensure that knowledge is gathered and shared among Group companies since the beginning of the last century. Some 2,000 people work in the Shell EP Technology organisation, continuing the tradition of providing leading edge technology to Group companies around the world.
For more information see www.shell.com
Posted by Richard Price,
Editor Pipeline Magazine
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