Focus on Statoil’s Mariner Project at Joint Industry Event

In a low oil price environment it is more important than ever for collaboration between disciplines to deliver value, as well as inspiring the next generation of geoscientists and engineers.

Members of Statoil (STO)’s Aberdeen team are set to discuss exactly how important this is at a presentation jointly organised by The Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) Aberdeen Section and the Petroleum Exploration Society of Great Britain (PESGB) in Aberdeen this month.

Four of the operator’s young professionals will give an overview of how collaboration and the use of new technology in geophysics, reservoir engineering and drilling is adding value to the challenging Mariner project in the UKCS. Simone Silcock, a geophysicist at Statoil will be joined by Nicholas McArdle, geophysicist, Adaeze Iheobi, reservoir engineer and Jason Iyeke, drilling engineer. 

Ahead of the presentation, Ms Silcock said: “The successful development of Mariner relies extensively on collaboration between a range of disciplines, new technology and sharing of best practice. This presentation will discuss how these aspects have aided the progress of the Mariner project, particularly in light of a lower oil price.”

The Mariner field, which was discovered in 1981, is described as the largest capital commitment to the UKCS in more than a decade. Statoil, which became the operator of the field in 2007, was granted consent to begin the £4.5billion development in February 2013 and production is expected to begin in 2018.

Ms Silcock continued: “A key part of the ongoing Mariner work-flow has been the broadband seismic data which has played an important role in drainage optimisation, improving recovery and reducing both cost and risk. The presentation will explain the data and its benefits in more detail.”

Ian Phillips, SPE Aberdeen chairman added: “The past 12 months have been challenging so now – more than ever – it is vital to continue to inspire the next generation, and I am delighted to see these young professionals from a range of disciplines leading this presentation.”