Despite renewed interest in alternative energy forms, the primary energy source in the coming decades will remain hydrocarbon-based, especially for transportation. Within the oil and gas sector, greater emphasis will be placed on: (1) "new" conventional resources represented by deepwater, the Arctic, and super-deep or continuous reservoirs; (2) non-conventional oil resources represented by heavy oil, bitumen, oil sands, and oil shales; and (3) non-conventional gas resources represented by coal bed methane (CBM) and tight gas reservoirs. Expanding the global supply of such resources will require significant advances in key technologies and the requisite science base to foster them. Of particular importance here is the identified need for: (1) a range of new information technology-based, "intelligent" systems for real-time reservoir management; (2) improved deepwater technologies; (3) technologies for safe and environmentally sound operations in Arctic regions; (4) technologies for the economical production of non-conventional resources, particularly heavy oil, bitumen, oil shales, and non-conventional gas; and (5) technologies to minimize the footprint of all oil and gas operations. Although the energy sector is large and will only continue to grow, it is almost exclusively industry-driven. Accordingly, entry strategies must be identified and developed that foster and include industry-based partnerships. It is important, therefore, to develop a "colonizing" or initial entry strategy and identify specific potential focus areas. Areas of potential consideration requiring further evaluation include: (1) the use of intelligent, mobile, autonomous vehicles to reduce the environmental footprint of oil and gas operations, especially in Arctic regions; (2) bulk transport in heavy oil "mining" operations; and (3) intelligent, autonomous drilling platforms for oil shale production.
- Contacts:
- Derek Wadsworth, (208) 526-8514, Send E-mail