Workshop bringing upstream and downstream sectors together

Joint SPE and AIChE workshop focusing on an integrated approach to heavy oil production.

In our January 2007 feature article, Expert Viewpoint : Reconciling upstream and downstream activities in the heavy oil industry, we explored the need for a more integrated approach to upstream and downstream heavy oil operations.

A great example of this was a recent 2-day workshop co-sponsored by the SPE and American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) in Galveston, Texas titled  “Unlocking the Challenge of Heavy Oil”. The workshop brought together engineers and field professionals from upstream and downstream in a collaborative dialog on the challenges of producing and processing heavy oil.

The workshop was designed to cover all of the basics from reservoir to field to refinery. The upstream sessions focused on heavy oil fluid characterization and how best to plan field production equipment plus discussed the unique challenges and technologies in the transportation and upgrading of heavy crude. In turn the downstream sessions focused on refining heavy oil.

In looking at the AIChE survey results of the workshop, it was clear most of the participants valued the opportunity to network with their downstream or upstream counterparts in discussing heavy oil production, transportation, and refining challenges.

As an industry, we will need to continue to embrace and promote the integration and collaboration of our upstream and downstream sectors to further unlock the large potential of heavy oil going forward.

Jorge