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UNIVERSITY STRIKES PARTNERSHIP DEAL WITH MAJOR OIL AND GAS SUPPORT COMPANY

“The technology being deployed and further developed by e2TECH has all the potential to revolutionise the way in which wells are designed and built.  It is entirely appropriate that young and able minds at work in Aberdeen can be part of this revolution.” Iain Percival, Vice President, Shell E&P Technology and Research
 

Date: 12 June 2000
Our ref: 604
 

A team from the University of Aberdeen’s Engineering Department is set to sign an innovative partnership deal with e2TECH, a joint venture between Shell and Baker Hughes

Dr Bill Deans of the University’s Engineering Department said:  “We are bringing our unique, multidisciplinary expertise to assist a new company develop leading edge downhole technology.

“This has been an excellent relationship both for the Department and the University since we have been involved, more or less, since the inception of the company and we will play a major role in supporting e2TECH in the development of its product.  We will, therefore, be closely allied with the company as its technical support and our name will be widely associated with this novel technology.”

e2TECH was established in February 1999 to develop and market expandable tubular products.  Managing Director of the company Phil Burge, said:  “There is a very strong impetus to reduce well construction costs and extend the life and productivity of existing wells.

“We intend to achieve these objectives by enhancing wellbore economics with the use of revolutionary well construction and remediation completion techniques using tubular expansion.”

Mr Burge went on to explain that e2TECH is a fundamentally different type of oil and gas service company.  “We intend to remain a small company, concentrating on what we do best – rapid product development and implementation.

“Rather than see the company employ more and more staff, we intend to follow the partnership route, bringing in specific expertise when we need it.  Our relationship with the University of Aberdeen is an ideal example of how we see this working.”

The University and e2TECH began working together just prior to Offshore Europe 99.  University Consultancy Manager, Liz Bowie explained:  "We were approached to carry out some consultancy work at very short notice and the company was delighted with the speed and quality of our response.

“Further discussions on how e2TECH could best interact with the University to benefit from its expertise and resources led to sponsorship of a PhD and occasional consultancy work.

“This is an excellent example of how our Oil and Gas Centre enables easy access to the wider University’s skills and expertise”

The Programme and its associated PhD studentship will run for three years

This innovative partnership approach has been warmly welcomed by Iain Percival, Vice President, Shell E&P Technology and Research:  “I am delighted to be part of this development as a result of my position as Chairman of the Board of e2TECH.  I have profited immensely from the education and development I gained as an undergraduate at Aberdeen University.  It is immensely satisfying to be able to give something in return.

“The technology being deployed and further developed by e2TECH has all the potential to revolutionise the way in which wells are designed and built.  It is entirely appropriate that young and able minds at work in Aberdeen can be part of this revolution.”
 

ENDS

Further information from:

Dr Bill Deans, University of Aberdeen, Tel:  01224 272795
Mr Phil Burge, E2TECH, Tel:  01224 223055
Christine Cook, University of Aberdeen, Tel:  01224 272013

NOTES TO EDITORS/

1  The Department of Engineering – University of Aberdeen

The rate of change of technology is so rapid that integrated departments which stress the uniform nature of engineering are now recognised as the most appropriate base for teaching engineering.

A broad understanding of their subject assists engineers in their professional careers, especially in their capacity as managers.  Students at the University of Aberdeen’s Department of Engineering gain insight into the whole range of engineering disciplines in additional to developing a recognised specialism.    This makes Aberdeen unique among the Scottish Universities.

The Department is supported by excellent workshops and laboratories dedicated to particular areas of work such as satellite communications, computer aided design, electrical machines, robotics, material testing, laser welding, plastics processing, hydraulics and fluids, concrete, large structures and geotechnics.

2.  A summary of e2TECH’s expandable technology:

? a solid steel tubular string with internally/externally flush connections is lowered into the well to a depth where a cased hole clad (or an open hole straddle ( is needed
? the solid steel string is then expanded in diameter by 15 to 20%
? the expanded steel string is now in close contact with the open hole, or the previous casing string
? an annular seal is provided by the extrusion of moulded rubber bands on the outside diameter of the expanded pipes – no cement is required to make a seal
? the resultant pipe outside diameter is equal to the drift internal diameter of the previous casing (or open hole) minus 2x the wall thickness of the expanded pipe. – a few more millimaters may be taken off, if thicker seals are required

3. The Oil and Gas Centre at the University of Aberdeen

Contact details:  Mrs Liz Bowie
   Tel:  01224 272484
   Fax: 01224 487658
   E-mail: e.bowie@abdn.ac.uk
 

University Press Office on telephone +44 (0)1224-273778 or email a.ramsay@admin.abdn.ac.uk.