OFFSHORE TECHNOLOGY

The second day of the 2016 Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) Asia saw the start of a series of topical luncheons on issues defining the current landscape in the global oil and gas industry. One of the luncheons, titled "Building Resilience Through Effective Collaboration," featured a presentation on the need for a more collaborative environment in the industry. Batkheet al Katheeri, chief operating officer at Mubadala Petroleum, discussed the roles that owners, operators, governments, national oil companies, contractors, and other entities play in developing that environment.  
Al Katheeri said the oil and gas industry is currently experiencing one of the more challenging periods in its history and, with crude oil prices unlikely to return to their peak levels anytime in the near future, effective, lasting changes are needed to help reduce costs and create more efficient projects.
Al Katheeri said collaboration is a progressive solution to the ills created by a tough economic environment. Collaboration was also vital to the interests of Southeast Asia as the region develops its oil and gas operations into a larger part of a stronger global industry.
“It is especially important for the industry in Southeast Asia, with its many marginal fields,” he said. “As we have seen in our industry in the past, and also in other industries, this requires being responsive, flexible, and innovative in addressing costs, challenges, and seeking out opportunities to adjust and thereby protect the value of our resources.”
Al Katheeri said Mubadala has been at the forefront of forming partnerships in the region. He spoke of the company’s involvement in CORAL 2.0, a low-cost drilling initiative led by Petronas that aims to streamline the cost structure of the value chain across the domestic petroleum industry. Mubadala is one of 25 companies that have agreed to share best practices under the agreement. Other companies include Total, ExxonMobil, ConocoPhillips, and Shell.
On a micro level, Mubadala has also made a push to share services and supplies for offshore operations, and share facilities such as warehouses and office spaces, with other companies. Al Katheeri said such initiatives require an active approach. Companies must seek out other partners, propose new or alternative options that help improve efficiency, and work closely with its partners to help implement its proposals.
The relationship between industry and government is also key to fostering a successful collaborative atmosphere. Al Katheeri said he has been pleased by the support local governments have provided to the industry in the low-price environment.
“We have seen some governments and regulators stepping up their ability to support operators and contractors to continue exploration and production activities in a more efficient way,” he said. “This is an important aspect.”
The other topical luncheon held Wednesday featured Syed Hashim Syed Abdullah, vice president of offshore business at MISC. Abdullah gave a presentation on MISC Offshore Business’ fit-for-purpose reusable and mobile floating solution, the Marginal Marine Production Unit (MaMPU). MaMPU is a floating production unit with marine standards for offshore oil and gas production. It is designed for versatility to allow production in multiple marginal fields while taking into account a client’s marginal-field development and economic viability.
The MaMPU is a standard oil tanker that, with minimal upgrades, was converted into an oil-production facility fit for deployment and usage in marginal fields. It uses a radio system to provide a link with a corresponding wellhead platform, allowing for the sharing of voice communication and data transmission services between the two facilities.

Stephen Whitfield is a Staff Writer for Oil and Gas Facilities.