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Solar powered oil production can strengthen energy security
Kuwait - GlassPoint Solar, the global leader in solar enhanced oil recovery (EOR), is showcasing its innovative solar steam technology at the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) Kuwait Oil & Gas Show and Conference 2015 (KOGS) taking place from the 11th to the 14th of October. Engineers, executives and students will learn how GlassPoint's solution can empower oil producers with an economic alternative to using natural gas in heavy oil production.
At the exhibition, GlassPoint unveiled a virtual reality 3D tour of Miraah, its landmark project with Petroleum Development Oman in southern Oman. Announced in July, the mega project will harness the sun's energy to produce an average of 6,000 tonnes of steam per day, replacing valuable gas. The virtual reality demonstration allows visitors to immerse themselves within one of the world's largest solar plants, experiencing first-hand how solar technology can be deployed in Kuwait to achieve the country's energy goals.
"Kuwait is challenged by significant natural gas shortages, which is increasingly needed for electrical power generation. Planned thermal EOR projects in Kuwait will require large amounts of imported natural gas or other fuel to generate steam, putting the state's heavy oil production in competition with other gas users," said Hussain Shehab, GlassPoint's Kuwait Country Chairman. "Solar can provide the vast majority of a field's steam needs at the lowest cost, reducing future dependence on imported gas. In light of today's low oil prices, solar is a strategic solution to optimize production costs and strengthen energy independence."
Commenting on the company's growth in Kuwait, Shehab added, "Since GlassPoint opened its office in Kuwait last year, we have been seeking the right people and resources to support the country develop its heavy oil sustainably. We are thrilled to announce the appointment of May Alzanki as GlassPoint's Sales and Business Development Director. May brings more than 15 years of experience within the international oil and gas industry and the financial sector in Kuwait, including senior roles at Kuwait Energy, Kuwait Financial Centre ("Markaz") and Kuwait Oil Company ("KOC")."
GlassPoint CEO Rod MacGregor commented, "The high cost of producing heavy oil coupled with year-round sunshine makes Kuwait one of the largest markets for solar powered oil production worldwide. However, high winds, dust and sandstorms create a tough operating environment for solar. GlassPoint's enclosed trough technology has been proven to not only survive, but thrive in these harsh desert conditions. Our pilot in south Oman has exceeded performance targets for nearly three years, which led to the award of a project over one hundred times larger. The opportunity for solar EOR in Kuwait is just as massive, exceeding dozens of gigawatts of thermal demand."
As part of KOGS, MacGregor will participate on the panel session "Managing Innovation" moderated by Kuwait Oil Company and Chevron. GlassPoint is also presenting two co-authored technical papers "Solar Enhanced Oil Recovery Application to Kuwait's Heavy Oil Fields" presented by VP Daniel Palmer and "Economics of Steam Generation for Thermal EOR" by Director of Sales Marwan Chaar.
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Notes to the Editor:
Heavy oil production is an integral part of achieving Kuwait's 2020 and 2030 strategies. Planned thermal EOR projects in Kuwait stand to be some of the largest steam flooding projects in the world. Heavy oil, which is viscous and difficult to extract, represents more than 70% of today's remaining reserves worldwide. The leading method of producing heavy oil is steam flooding, a type of thermal EOR that injects steam into a reservoir to heat the oil making it easier to pump to the surface. Steam is typically produced by burning large volumes of natural gas. In Kuwait, just one planned thermal development will consume a quarter of the country's domestic gas production.
About GlassPoint Solar
GlassPoint is the leading provider of solar steam generators to the oil and gas industry for applications such as Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR). Oil operators worldwide deploy EOR to boost well productivity by up to 300%. By replacing gas-fired steam generation with solar, GlassPoint can reduce EOR gas consumption by up to 80%. The gas saved can be redirected to higher value uses such as LNG export, industrial development and power generation. GlassPoint's projects operate in global markets ranging from the Middle East to California.
GlassPoint is an American company whose major shareholders include Royal Dutch Shell and the State General Reserve Fund (SGRF), the largest sovereign wealth fund in the Sultanate of Oman. The company expanded to the Gulf region in 2011, when it partnered with Petroleum Development Oman, the largest oil and gas producer in Oman, to build the first solar EOR project in the Middle East. Following a successful pilot, the two companies are now working together to build one of the world's largest solar plants. Once complete it will exceed more than one gigawatt in peak thermal energy.
GlassPoint's Kuwait branch opened in early 2014 and is led by Hussain Shehab, a 30-year KOC veteran that served as Deputy Managing Director overseeing the West Kuwait fields. He also served 10 years in the oil industry of the private sector.
Unlike solar panels that generate electricity, GlassPoint designed a concentrating solar power (CSP) technology specifically to meet the needs of the oil and gas industry. Its enclosed trough technology uses large, curved mirrors to focus sunlight onto a boiler tube containing water. The concentrated energy boils the water to produce the steam at the exact same temperature and pressure as steam produced by burning fuel. The system is enclosed within an agricultural glasshouse to protect the solar collectors from wind, sand and dust storms. An automated washing system cleans the glasshouse each night to maintain performance in the desert environment, reducing water use and manual cleaning costs. By enclosing the system indoors, GlassPoint is able to increase performance and reduce costs. For more information, visit GlassPoint.com
For media inquiries and image requests, please contact:
Kais Al Naamani
TRACCS Public Relations - Kuwait
Telephone: +965 9723 7993
Email: Kais.Alnaamani@traccs.net
© Press Release 2015
