RPSEA releases Oil & Gas Technology Roadmap

HOUSTON -- RPSEA has released its Technology Roadmap, a plan that outlines the challenges and research needs of the U.S. onshore and offshore oil and gas industry for the coming decade. It takes advantage of RPSEA’s extensive network leading subject matter experts in looking at challenges best addressed through investments in R&D, providing value in terms of energy security, jobs and the economy while improving safety and environmental performance for the next decade.

The plan, entitled, “Keeping it going for the long haul – the easy stuff is gone”, provides a roadmap as to the R&D opportunities that will allow the U.S. to continue to be the leading producer of oil and gas and natural gas into the future. It includes:

• Technologies that will improve safety and environmental performance;
• Onshore emerging and developing shale plays;
• Offshore satellite fields; and
• Improved recovery for onshore and offshore reservoirs.

“No one knows what the energy industry will look like in the next ten years, but we do know in order to maintain our leadership position, the United States must compete on a global basis, take full advantage of rapidly evolving technology and address the variety of challenges we will face,” said Tom Williams, RPSEA president.

The Technology Roadmap is evolutionary, building upon the foundation of RPSEA’s successful program the past 10 years working with the industry, academia, and the Department of Energy National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL). The rapid transfer and application of new ideas and results will be facilitated by the continuing involvement of producers and service companies in the planning and execution of the research program. The emphasis on safety and environmental sensitivity reflected in this plan will require more direct involvement and communication with the regulatory agencies and the environmental community.

“The safe and environmentally sensitive delivery of secure domestic hydrocarbon resources to the citizens of the United States is not the only outcome of the research conducted under this program” said Williams. “While the U. S. is currently a leader in terms of the development of oil and gas (in particular, the onshore unconventional shale resources), other nations are beginning to see these resources as an important component of a plan to move toward a lower-carbon, sustainable energy mix. While development of these resources in the U.S. directly yields thousands of high-paying domestic jobs, research efforts funded by RPSEA’s program are helping to keep U.S. companies and universities in the forefront of energy technology worldwide.”

This PLAN was developed through member and key stakeholder involvement, RPSEA conducted surveys, focused program advisory meetings, and meetings with industry leaders. RPSEA also asked leaders to identify the grand technical challenges, then identifying target enabling technology needs, and the R&D required to develop technologies. The PLAN also incorporates information from publications, presentations and reports from technical organizations, government, science and industry associations.