New Oil, Gas Technology Center Opens in Aberdeen

A new $225 million (GBP 180 million) Oil & Gas Technology Center (OGTC) has opened in Aberdeen, which aims to become the ‘go to’ place for oil and gas technology in the UK, and internationally, according to an OGTC spokesperson.

The center, which was described as a core part of the $312 million (GBP 250 million) Aberdeen City Region Deal, was opened by Lord Dunlop, UK government minister for Scotland and Paul Wheelhouse MSP, Scottish government minister for business, innovation and energy.

Working with a wide range of partners, the center will accelerate the development and deployment of technologies that improve efficiency and increase productivity, creating a global technology hub that benefits the industry and the region, OGTC said in an organization statement.

Hundreds of opportunities have already been screened by the center and many projects are already underway. These include a field trial in 2017, which could create a step change in how wells are plugged and abandoned with the potential to save hundreds of millions of dollars.

In addition to its official opening, OGTC announced Friday that it has signed a memorandum of understanding with the University of Aberdeen and Robert Gordon University for a multi-million dollar joint venture to develop a Centre of Excellence for Field Life Extension and Decommissioning in Aberdeen.

This partnership will aim to drive the technology innovation needed to maximize economic recovery, make sure that facilities are decommissioned efficiently and help the UK become a global leader in this growth market, according to an OGTC representative.

“It’s great to see the Oil & Gas Technology Center open officially today. It will have a vital role in driving innovation and diversification in our oil and gas industry,” Lord Dunlop said.

“The opening of the Center is a really significant first step in delivering the GBP 250 million Aberdeen City Region Deal, spearheaded by the UK Government. The deal will make a huge difference to the economy of the North-East, helping to boost jobs and increase prosperity for generations to come,” he added.

Scotland’s oil industry has a bright future

Scottish Government Minister for Business, Innovation and Energy, Paul Wheelhouse, said the new center demonstrates that Scotland’s oil and gas industry has a bright future and confirms Aberdeen’s position as the world’s leading location for oil and gas technology development.

“With up to 20 billion barrels of oil equivalent remaining, it's clear that a renewed focus on innovation and technology will be crucial to maximizing economic recovery,” Wheelhouse said.

“The GBP 5 million Decommissioning Challenge Fund announced by the First Minister this week along with our recently published draft Energy Strategy reaffirms the Scottish Government's strong commitment to a sustainable future for the oil and gas industry in Scotland,” he added.

Sir Ian Wood, chairman of the Oil & Gas Technology Center, said that substantially increasing the development and deployment of technology is vital if we are to recover as many of the 20 billion barrels of oil equivalent that could remain on the UK Continental Shelf.

“The Oil & Gas Technology Centre has moved quickly from concept, through business case development, to its launch today, as a standalone organization,” Wood said.

“With clear long-term global aspirations, our success will provide the magnet to encourage a significant proportion of our high-tech supply chain sector to remain in the region beyond the North Sea era,” he added.