EDITOR’S LETTER Pipeline transport is safer, more efficient, and creates fewer GHG emissions than ships, trucks, or trains. It’s one of the key enablers for Egypt’s transformation into a regional energy hub. In July’s issue, EOG’s team casts light on the planet’s vital energy veins. Our Technology section highlights the latest advances in the pipeline world, revolutionary composite pipelines. We also had an interview with the leading pipeline manufacturer, Shawcor, which gave insight into new trends in the world pipeline industry. The economic feasibility of pipelines is elaborated in our Energy Economics section while its connectivity and advantages in comparison to other means of oil and gas transportation are explained in our Industry Insights section.
EGYPT’S LEADING OIL & GAS MONTHLY PUBLICATION
In the Overview section, EOG casts light on the efforts of the Egyptian government to develop the necessary infrastructure that can boost its position as an oil and gas trade center. Our Politics section explains the role of pipelines not only as a means for carrying oil and gas but also as a tool for geopolitical power and sending political messages. Our R&A Department also offers a review of Egypt’s petroleum transportation over FY 2010\2020 and 2020\2021.
General Manager AYMAN RADY Research & Analysis Manager MAHINAZ EL BAZ Managing Editor IHAB SHAARAWY Senior Editors RANA AL KADY NADER RAMADAN Senior Writer SARAH SAMIR Staff Writers FATMA AHMED ISRAA NOUR ELDEEN Senior Research Analyst REHAM GAMAL
IHAB SHAARAWY Managing Editor
Research Analysts YOUSTINA MOUNIR JOLLY MONSEF MARIAM AHMED Statistician NADA ABBAS Chief Reporter WAEL EL-SERAG Business Development Manager TAMARA EWISS
PROUDLY THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION
Creative Art Director OMAR GHAZAL Art Director MAGED KHATTAB Graphic Designers MERNA WILLAIM
CONTENTS
3D Visualizer TAMER GAMAL Photographer HADY NABIL
An interview with Khaled Mamour, Director, International Markets, Composite Systems, Shawcor
Financial Consultant. ABDALLAH ELGOHARY
14
12 16
COMPOSITE PIPES: THE NEXT STEP IN THE PIPELINE INDUSTRY’S EVOLUTION
18
EGYPT’S PIPELINES: A KEY ENABLER FOR ITS TRANSFORMATION INTO A REGIONAL ENERGY HUB
20
THE CORE OF OIL & GAS LANDSCAPE: PIPELINE USAGE & CONNECTIVITY
22
TRANSPORTING HYDROCARBON THE ECONOMIC WAY
24
SURVIVING GLOBAL CHALLENGES: THE FUTURE OUTLOOK FOR OIL & GAS POLICIES
Tower No.12 - Bavaria Compound, Ring Round in front of sama Tower - Egypt
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EGYPT'S ANNUAL REVIEW FOR PETROLEUM TRANSPORATION OVER FYS 2019/20 & 2020/21
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Integrated solutions for the fracturing of conventional and unconventional wells www.nesr.com JULY 2022 - ISSUE 187 | 3
EGYPT UPDATES
TOP 5 EL MOLLA, EU AGREE TO JOIN FORCES TO FOLLOW UP IN IMPLEMENTING THE TRIPARTITE MOU
Madbouly outlined the importance of finalizing the necessary agreements and memoranda of understanding (MoU) to begin implementing these projects.
On the sidelines of the East Mediterranean Gas Forum’s (EMGF) ministerial meeting, Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Tarek El Molla has agreed with the European Commissioner for Energy Kadri Simson to cooperate and follow up on the progress of implementing the tripartite memorandum of understanding (MoU) that Egypt has signed with Israel and EU to boost natural gas exports to Europe.
EGYPT, PALESTINE DISCUSS EMGF ACTIVITIES
In attendance of the EU Ambassador to Egypt Christian Berger, both sides praised the signing of the MoU. For his part, El Molla said that this MoU will push international companies to accelerate natural gas development and production operations in the East Mediterranean region.
EGYPT, UAE SEEK TO BOOST RENEWABLE ENERGY, NATURAL GAS COOPERATION Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly held a meeting with a group of senior Egyptian and Emirati officials to boost cooperation and joint investments with the UAE in energy, especially in renewable energy and the development of natural gas fields. In attendance of Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Tarek El Molla, the meeting reviewed a number of suggested projects including the construction of wind energy facilities in the Red Sea that will produce 10,000 megawatts to meet the growing demand for clean energy.
Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Tarek El Molla held a meeting with Muhammad Mustafa, Advisor to the Palestinian President for Economic Affairs and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Palestinian Fund, during which they discussed a number of issues related to joint cooperation in the fields of oil and natural gas and the East Mediterranean Gas Forum’s (EMGF) activities. The meeting came on the sidelines of their participation in the ministerial meeting of EMGF. El Molla pointed out Egypt’s firm position and support of Palestinian rights, including its inherent right to exploit its natural resources and sovereignty over those resources, foremost of which is the Gaza Marine field. In addition, he asserted that Egypt does not hesitate to support everything that can contribute to the development of Palestine’s economy.
EGYPT’S PETROLEUM EXPORTS INCREASED BY 128.6% IN MARCH YOY Egypt’s petroleum exports contributed to the decline in the value of the deficit in the country’s trade balance during the first quarter of 2022 to $7.4 billion, down by 33.7% on an annual basis from $11.16 billion in Q1 2021.
A BLAST
FROM THE PAST
Egypt’s trade balance deficit decreased 39.7% during the month of March 2022 to $2.26 billion, from $3.74 billion for the same month a year ago, the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS) announced. The Central Bureau of Statistics indicated that Egypt’s exports of petroleum products increased by 128.6% in March, crude oil by 74.1%, and fertilizers by 90.8%.
EL MOLLA GIVES TOUR OF DAMIETTA LNG PLANT TO INTERNATIONAL ENERGY LEADERS Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Tarek El Molla accompanied a number of international and local officials to tour the Damietta LNG complex and production facilities at the onshore treatment plant Zohr field gases in Port Said. Osama Mubarez as Secretary-General of the East Mediterranean Gas Forum (EMGF), Kadri Simson, Commissioner for Energy and Climate of the European Union (EU), Karine Elharrar, Israeli Minister of Energy, and Christian Berger. Ambassador of the EU in Cairo, also took part in the tour. It began with an inspection of the liquefaction plant in Damietta, where the minister and his companions listened to a presentation about the plant, which is located northwest of Damietta port on the Mediterranean and is characterized by its proximity to the Suez Canal, which makes it attractive to gas activities, and its current production capacity is about 5.2 million tons annually of liquefied natural gas (LNG).
NUMBER
OF THE MONTH
In July 2018, the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources announced the connection of natural gas for the first time to 6 new cities and regions, where natural gas was delivered to the social housing project in the tenth of Ramadan City and households in the cities of Belqas and Sherbeen in Dakahlia and the city of Bella and Al-Jarayda village in Kafr El-Sheikh.
128.6% Increase in Petroleum Products Exports in Mar 2022
The project came within the framework of the national project to connect natural gas to various regions in the governorates of Egypt to replace butane gas. The number of housing units that benefited from this project at the time was 684,000 housing units. Throughout the last 8 years natural gas production rose by 27%, recording 66.3 billion cubic feet (bcf), will the ministry, while the number of households connected to natural gas soared to 13.5 million.
In March 2022, the trade balance deficit value decreased significantly by 39.7% as it reached $2.26 billion, compared to $3.47 billion for the same month in the previous year. Egypt petroleum exports contributed clearly to this significant decline in the trade balance deficit value, as Egypt
The government has allocated EGP 3.5bn for the delivery of natural gas to about 1.2m housing units in 2022-2023.
exports of crude oil increased by 74.1%, in addition to the rise in exports of petroleum products, according to the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS).
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JULY 2022 - ISSUE 187 | 5
EGYPT UPDATES
COOPERATION
DECARBONIZATION
BULGARIA EYES ENERGY COOPERATION WITH EGYPT Bulgaria’s Prime Minister Kiril Petkov expressed his country’s keenness to develop energy cooperation with Egypt in light of the friendly relations that unite the two countries.
EMGF ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSES NEEDS FOR ENERGY SUPPLIES, DECARBONIZATION
This came during his meeting with Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Tarek El Molla on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos. The meeting discussed the possibilities and opportunities for cooperation between the two countries in the fields of energy in light of Egypt’s regional role as a regional natural gas trading hub,
as well as the repercussions of the current global crisis on energy markets.
EGYPT EXAMINES COOPERATION OPPORTUNITIES WITH MUBADALA PETROLEUM Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Tarek El Molla met the CEO of UAE’s Mubadala Petroleum, Mansour Al-Hamed to discuss cooperation opportunities and investments in Egypt.
During the meeting, the speakers affirmed the importance of coordination between all parties and financing associations to provide the necessary needs to establish the needed infrastructure for natural gas, carbon removal, and hydrogen production.
El Molla expressed the Egyptian petroleum sector’s readiness to deepen its partnership with Mubadala which looks forward to pumping new investments in a number of petroleum fields especially natural gas as an important clean fuel. The two parties agreed to form a joint work team and workshops during July aiming to offer and
present all available opportunities for long- as well as short-term investments in addition to setting a roadmap for the joint projects.
EGYPT, ALGERIA DISCUSS WAYS TO STRENGTHEN COOPERATION IN ENERGY, MINING
They also highlighted the necessity to achieve balance during the energy transition phase to guarantee energy supplies. During his speech, Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Tarek El Molla stated that the investments in natural gas infrastructures need guarantees and assurances of the ability to implement these projects which require huge investments.
EGYPT PM WITNESSES TWO DECARBONIZATION AGREEMENTS BETWEEN EGYPTIAN COMPANIES, GE
Egyptian Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Tarek El Molla met with the Algerian Minister of Energy and Mines Mohamed Arkab via video conference to discuss investment opportunities and ways to enhance cooperation, especially in the field of energy and mines. The meeting focused specifically on the hydrocarbon industry, especially investments and partnerships in the fields of exploration and discovery, development and exploitation, petrochemistry, as well as marketing and distribution of liquid petroleum gas – fuels and hydrogen.
On the sidelines of the East Mediterranean Gas Forum’s (EMGF) ministerial meeting, a roundtable has been held to discuss how to secure energy resources, especially natural gas, and boost carbon removal efforts.
The Algerian minister called on Egyptian companies to take advantage of the available opportunities for investment and partnership in these fields and to benefit from the advantages offered by the new hydrocarbons law.
EGYPT, EQUATORIAL GUINEA DISCUSS PETROLEUM COOPERATION Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Tarek El Molla met with Gabriel Obiang Lima, Minister of Minerals and Hydrocarbons of Equatorial Guinea, to discuss ways to support cooperation between the two countries within the framework of Egypt’s desire to increase and strengthen cooperation with African countries. During the talks, El Molla pointed out the importance of supporting and strengthening Egyptian cooperation with African countries,
stating that the petroleum sector is ready to transfer the expertise gained by Egyptian companies in various fields of oil and gas. This is especially in technologies for converting cars to be fueled with compressed natural gas (CNG) as well as training technicians in this field, in addition to providing all aspects of support for the development of gas infrastructure projects in Equatorial Guinea.
EGYPT, POLAND TO COOPERATE IN MANUFACTURING CNG VEHICLE CONVERSION KITS Egypt’s National Authority for Military Production has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Poland’s AC Spolka Akcyjna (AC SA) to cooperate in manufacturing compressed natural gas (CNG) kits. Under the MoU, the National Authority for Military Production will manufacture components and assembly by utilizing the capabilities of its companies according to the designs of AC SA, which specializes in the manufacture of mechanical and electronic components for
6 | EGYPT OIL & GAS NEWSPAPER
modern CNG systems for gasoline and diesel engines The National Authority for Military Production will also work to increase local Egyptian contribution and will also participate in setting technical specifications for managing imported and local components. This is in addition to participating in purchasing raw materials and components, conducting logistical organization and planning, as well as ensuring the quality of products and their conformity to the required specifications.
At the government headquarters in the New Administrative Capital, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly witnessed the signing ceremony of two cooperation agreements between the Egyptian Electricity Holding Company (EEHC) and General Electric for Gas Energy, listed on the New York Stock Exchange as “GE”, in the presence of Mohamed Shaker, Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy. The signing of the two agreements aligns efforts to decarbonize the energy sector in Egypt, within the framework of Egypt’s preparation to host COP 27. The first memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed by Gaber Desouky, EEHC’s Chairman, and Joseph Anis, President and CEO of GE for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.
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MOUS
PETROLEUM DISCOVERIES
EL MOLLA PRAISES NATURAL GAS TRIPARTITE MOU SIGNED AT EMGF MINISTERIAL MEETING
EGYPT AWARDS EIGHT MINING LICENSES IN THE EASTERN DESERT TO FOUR COMPANIES
Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Tarek El Molla praised the natural gas tripartite memorandum of understanding MoU between Egypt, the European Union (EU) and Israel, which was signed at the seventh East Mediterranean Gas Form (EMGF) ministerial meeting.
The Egyptian Mineral Resources Authority (EMRA) announced the result of the international bidding for gold and minerals in the Eastern Desert for the year 2020, in its second round. EMRA indicated that eight regions were assigned to four British, Canadian and Egyptian companies.
The MoU will allow natural gas to be transported to Europe using Egyptian infrastructure and facilities.
"The tripartite MoU is an important step by governments to pave the way for intensifying work and cooperation between companies in Egypt, Israel, and the EU," El Molla said, adding that "the MoU can serve as an umbrella and framework for companies to work on later in concluding agreements and contracts between them to implement projects and necessary procedures for infrastructure and gas liquefaction and export."
EGAS, CHEVRON SIGN MOU TO DEVELOP INFRASTRUCTURE FOR TRANSPORTING EAST MEDITERRANEAN GAS THROUGH EGYPT Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Tarek El Molla has witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the Egyptian Gas Holding Company (EGAS) and Chevron to cooperate in the fields of liquefying, exporting, importing, and exporting gas from the East Mediterranean through Egypt. The MoU was signed by Magdy Galal, the Head of EGAS, and Jeff Ewing, Chevron East Mediterranean Managing Director, aiming to develop the needed infrastructure to transport the available natural gas from the
East Mediterranean to Egypt. The two parties also agreed to form a negotiation committee to allow all parties to agree on future projects in this regard as well as to conduct studies on producing low-carbon liquefied natural gas (LNG). In the same context, El Molla met with Mike Wirth, Chairman of the Board and CEO of Chevron, to discuss mutual cooperation between the two sides as well as the exploration and production operations of Chevron.
The result of the second round of bidding represents a success in attracting new investments despite the successive global challenges such as the corona pandemic and the Russian-Ukrainian conflict. This reflects an extension of what was achieved in the first round of bidding in which 82 regions in the Eastern Desert were awarded to 11 Egyptian and international firms.
ATON RESOURCES YIELDS 1.72 G/T OF GOLD AFTER NEW DRILLING OPERATIONS AT RODRUIN Aton Resources announced that it has drilled more zones of oxide mineralization at its Rodruin gold exploration project located at Abu Marawat Concession as part of the Phase 2 diamond drilling program. The company said that these drilling operations returned 1.72 grams of gold per ton of minerals (g/t gold) and 11.5 g/t silver. It elaborated that it has drilled four holes; ROD-07, ROD-07, ROD-078 and ROD-079. ROD-076 and ROD077 showed good correlation with the original RC holes, with ROD-077 returning a mineralized intersection
from surface grading 1.79 g/t Au and 3.7 g/t Ag over a 30.6m interval, from surface.
JULY 2022 - ISSUE 187 | 7
CORPORATE NEWS
SDX SDX COMPLETES DRILLING OF THE MSD-24 WELL AT THE WEST GHARIB CONCESSION SDX Energy announced that it has completed the drilling of the MSD- 24 infill development well which is located on the Meseda field in the West Gharib concession. In a statement, the company said that MSD24 encountered the primary top Asl Formation reservoir at 4,089ft measurement drilling (MD)
through which it met 86.5 feet of good-quality, net oil pay sandstone, with an average porosity of 19%. SDX elaborated that the well will be tied to the existing facilities and the flow will be tested. MSD-24 is the fourth well in the 13-well development campaign on the Meseda and
Rabul oil fields in the West Gharib concession in the Egyptian Eastern Desert. Currently, operations are continuing at the third well MSD-20. As activities progress, the drilling campaign seeks to expand its production to c.3,500 – 4,000 bbl/d by mid-2023.
TOTALENERGIES TOTALENERGIES BECOMES QATARENERGY’S FIRST PARTNER IN THE NORTH FIELD EAST EXPANSION PROJECT TotalEnergies has been chosen by QatarEnergy as its first international partner in the North Field East (NFE) expansion project, which is the largest LNG project in history.
LNG export capacity from 77 million tons per annum (MTPA) to 110 MTPA as part of a competitive process. Production is expected to begin before the end of 2025 on the $28.75 billion NFE project.
QatarEnergy selected its international partners in 2019 for the NFE project, which will increase Qatar’s
QatarEnergy and TotalEnergies will join forces in a new joint venture company (JV), in which
QatarEnergy will hold a 75% stake, while TotalEnergies will hold the remaining 25%. Ultimately, the JV will own 25% of the entire NFE project, including the four LNG trains with a combined nameplate capacity of 32 MTPA.
SHELL SHELL PLANS TO BUILD LARGER VESSELS FOR CO2 TRANSPORT TO EXPAND CCS AMBITIONS Shell is creating larger vessels that can transport more carbon dioxide over longer distances as part of its global carbon capture and storage (CCS) expansion ambitions, according to the oil major, Reuters reported.
The ability to move huge volumes of CO2 from industrial sites to offshore CCS hubs is important for these projects to achieve economies of scale. The goal of CCS is to decarbonize heavy sectors like refining, cement, and steel.
Shell’s joint venture with Equinor and TotalEnergies will build two ships capable of delivering 7,500 cubic meters of CO2 as part of the Northern Lights project in Norway.
PETRONAS PETRONAS LAUNCHES CARBON-FREE ENERGY FIRM Malaysian state oil firm Petronas established Gentari as part of a global push to produce carbon-free energy, Reuters reported. In 2020, Petronas, the world’s fourth-largest LNG exporter, announced that it was stepping
up investments in hydrogen and expanding its renewable energy portfolio.
mobility solutions to become a full-service net zero solutions provider.
According to a statement by Gentari, Petronas has assigned Gentari to deliver renewable energy solutions, hydrogen solutions, and green
The company plans to build 30-40 gigawatts of renewable energy capacity by 2030, primarily through solar, and provide up to 1.2 million tonnes of hydrogen annually (mtpa).
bp bp TO ACQUIRE A 40.5% STAKE IN ONE OF THE WORLD’S LARGEST RENEWABLES, GREEN HYDROGEN ENERGY HUBS bp has agreed to acquire a 40.5% stake in the Asian Renewable Energy Hub (AREH), which has the potential to become one of the world’s largest green hydrogen hubs. By using world-scale renewable energy generation to generate and export green
hydrogen and green ammonia, AREH aims to provide sustainable power to local customers in the largest mining region in the world while also producing green power, ammonia, and hydrogen for the local market and export to major international markets.
The Australian Renewable Energy Hub plans to develop onshore wind and solar power generation in multiple phases to a total generating capacity of up to 26 gigawatts (GW), or approximately onethird of all electricity in Australia in 2020.
ROSNEFT ROSNEFT VOWS TO CONTINUE WITH VOSTOK OIL PROJECT DESPITE PARTNER WITHDRAWAL Igor Sechin, Rosneft PJSC’s CEO, said Rosneft PJSC will proceed with its Vostok Oil project in the Arctic, just over a week after a key partner announced it would leave the venture over the invasion of Ukraine, Bloomberg reported. As planned, the project continues to live and develop, despite inevitable difficulties, Sechin said on a panel at the St. Petersburg International
8 | EGYPT OIL & GAS NEWSPAPER
Economic Forum Saturday. He added, “We’re confident they will get done.” In response to President Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine, commodities trader Trafigura Group announced it intends to sell its 10% stake in Vostok Oil. The move follows similar moves by other major western energy firms including bp Plc and Shell Plc.
Production is scheduled to begin in 2024 on several fields on the Arctic Taymyr peninsula. Sechin estimates it will pump 115 million tons of oil a year by 2033, or 2.3 million barrels per day. It would be equivalent to more than 20% of Russian oil production last year.
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CONOCOPHILLIPS CONOCOPHILLIPS BECOMES THIRD PARTNER IN THE LARGEST LNG PROJECT IN HISTORY ConocoPhillips has been selected to partner with QatarEnergy on the North Field East (NFE) expansion project, the largest in the history of the LNG industry. In the course of the $28.75 billion expansion project, this is the third announcement about partnerships.
QatarEnergy President and CEO Mr. Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi and ConocoPhillips Chairman and CEO Mr. Ryan Lance signed the partnership agreement during a ceremony held at QatarEnergy’s headquarters in Doha.
a new joint venture (JV), in which QatarEnergy will own 75% while ConocoPhillips will own 25%. In turn, the JV will hold 12.5% of the entire NFE project, which will produce 32 million tons of LNG per year.
According to the agreement signed today, QatarEnergy and ConocoPhillips will partner in
CHARIOT CHARIOT SIGNS FEED CONTRACT TO DEVELOP THE ANCHOIS GAS PROJECT IN MOROCCO Chariot announced that it has signed a frontend engineering and design (FEED) agreement with Schlumberger and Subsea 7, as part of a consortium, for the Anchois gas development project in Morocco.
In order to maximize the return on investment, Chariot, Schlumberger, and Subsea 7 will continue to use a “one-team” integrated and collaborative approach.
Oliver Blaringhem, CEO, Subsea Integration Alliance: “We are delighted to work with Chariot on the FEED project. We remain fully aligned with their objectives and will build upon the work undertaken to date to optimize the design and development of the Anchois Gas Project.”
SAIPEM SAIPEM SELLS ITS ONSHORE DRILLING BUSINESS TO KCA DEUTAG It has been announced that Saipem has entered a binding agreement with KCA Deutag (“KCAD”) to sell its entire Drilling Onshore operations in exchange for $550 million in cash plus a 10% stake in KCAD after it acquires Saipem’s Drilling Onshore operations. With around 4,000 employees and 83 companyowned land rigs, Saipem operates its Drilling
Onshore business in 13 countries outside Italy, with a focus on the Middle East and the Americas. In 2021, Saipem’s Drilling Onshore business posted EUR 347 million in revenues and EUR 82 million in adjusted EBITDA; the adjusted EBITDA for Drilling Onshore will account for around 20% of Saipem’s consolidated adjusted EBITDA in 2022.
In addition to drilling, engineering and technology, KCA Deutag also operates onshore and offshore. It employs 8,300 people and operates 110 drilling rigs in 20 countries. KCAD reported consolidated revenues of $1,196 million and adjusted EBITDA of $237 million for the full year of 2021. At the end of 2021, the consolidated net debt was $396 million.
ADNOC ADNOC L&S ACQUIRES THREE NEWLY-BUILT VESSELS AMID SOARING LNG DEMAND ADNOC Logistics & Services (ADNOC L&S), Abu Dhabi National Oil Company’s (ADNOC) shipping arm and the largest shipping company in the region, has decided to acquire three additional liquefied natural gas (LNG) vessels.
Its state-of-the-art new-build vessels will enhance the company’s ability to respond to the increasing global demand for LNG. ADNOC L&S is the region’s largest shipping and integrated logistics company. Each of the 175,000 cubic meter-capacity new LNG vessels is significantly larger than ADNOC’s
current L&S vessels, which have a capacity of 137,000 cubic meters. Earlier this year, ADNOC L&S announced that it would acquire two LNG vessels, bringing the total number of newly-built LNG vessels ordered to five that are scheduled to be delivered in 2025 and 2026.
H2 INDUSTRIES SCZONE SCORES MAJOR DEAL WITH H2 INDUSTRIES FOR NEW GREEN HYDROGEN PROJECT Yehia Zaki, the Chairman of Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZone), has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Michael Stusch, the CEO of German H2 Industries, to develop a new station for transforming wastes into green
hydrogen in the SCZone with investments of $4 billion. The station will be established in the eastern part of Port Said City with a production capacity of 300,000 tons per year of green hydrogen.
Zaki highlighted the efforts exerted to attract such kind of investments at the SCZone, especially since it is one of the important sectors that the state is aiming to include as part of the green economy. The project came in line with COP27 which Egypt will be hosting next November, he added.
NEPTUNE ENERGY NEPTUNE ENERGY, EXXONMOBIL, ROSEWOOD, EBN TO WORK TOGETHER ON L10 CARBON CAPTURE AND STORAGE A cooperation agreement has been signed between Neptune Energy, ExxonMobil subsidiary XTO Netherlands, Ltd., Rosewood Exploration Ltd., and EBN Capital B.V. to progress the L10 large-scale
offshore carbon capture and storage project in the Dutch North Sea. A robust carbon storage offering for industrial customers in the Dutch sector will now be possible thanks to the agreement, which brings together
the technical and commercial capabilities needed. A storage license application will be submitted by the end of the year once the L10 project is FEED-ready. The project is intended to reach the concept select stage by 2022.
JULY 2022 - ISSUE 187 | 9
RESEARCH & ANALYSIS
Egypt's Annual Review for Petroleum Transporation OVER FYS 2019/20 & 2020/21 BY JOLLY MONSEF, MARIAM AHMED & YOUSTINA MOUNIR
MAIN TRANSPORTATION CHANNELS 1. RAILWAYS NUMBER OF RAILWAYS TANKS PER TYPE FY
TRANSPORTATION CAPACITY OF TANKS (mmt)
Available for Operation
Under Construction
FY
Estimated Quantity
Actual Quantity
2019/20
480
524
2019/20
0. 525
0.277
2020/21
429
575
2020/21
0.718
0.325
10.6
Rate of Change (%)
9.7
AVERAGE NUMBER OF RAILWAYS TANKS PER PRODUCT
Rate of Change (%)
Jet Fuel
Diesel
472
122 Gasoline
Mazut
99
AVERAGE SHARE OF TANKS PER PRODUCTS (%)
Jet Fuel
Diesel
2019/20
0.083
0.175
0.016
0.004
2020/21
0.118
0.198
0.009
-
Rate of Change (%)
47
Gasoline
9.85
Mazut
31
Jet Fuel
10 | EGYPT OIL & GAS NEWSPAPER
42.2
13.1
Gasoline
Mazut
-
43.8
AVERAGE SHARE OF PETROLEUM PRODUCTS IN TANKS’ CAPACITY (%)
12.2
Diesel
17.3
QUANTITIES TRANSPORTED BY TANKS PER PRODUCT (mmt) FY
311
36.8
4.18
61.93 Diesel
Gasoline
1.44
Mazut
33.17
Jet Fuel
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2. PETROLEUM PIPELINES TYPES OF PETROLEUM PIPELINES
SHARE OF PETROLEUM PRODUCTS Product
Main Lines Collecting Lines
Long Lines
Transport High Amounts of Oil & Gas at High Pressure
Short Lines
Used by Companies to Collect Oil & Gas from Refineries to Major Pipelines
Share (%)
Diesel
57.01
Gasoline
31.05
Mazut
4.56
LPG
7.39
QUANTITIES TRANSPORTED BY PIPELINES (mmt) 2019/20
Growth Rate (YoY)
59.1
1.2% 59.8
2020/21
4. COASTAL TANKERS
FY
AVERAGE QUANTITIES TRANSPORTED BY PIPELINES PER PRODUCT (mmt)
24.7
Crude Oil Gasoline Mazut
10% 8.6
FY
COASTAL TANKERS CHARACTERISTICS
3.1
Condensates
0.5
Jet Fuel
Crude Oil
41
1
5
7
26
11
5
Condensates
Alnabila (6)
Characteristics
SHARE OF PETROLEUM PRODUCTS (%)
Diesel
Growth Rate (YoY)
7.8
2020/21
6.7
4.3 3.0
LPG
Mazut
2019/20
15.2
Diesel
Jet Fuel
QUANTITIES TRANSPORTED BY COASTAL TANKERS (mmt)
3
Vessel Type
Oil Products Tanker
175
244.06
248
244
239.1
239
Breadth (m)
27.43
26.03
42.04
43.04
42
42.03
38.01
Gross Tonnage (t)
22,184
18,106
52,875
56,841 57,190
56,172
50,199
LPG
Gasoline
Others
QUANTITIES TRANSPORTED BY COASTAL TANKER (mmt)
Alnabila (5) Alnabila (6)
QUANTITIES TRANSPORTED BY TRUCKS (mmt)
Alsharifa (4) Alexia (3)
FY 2020/21
17.2%
11.88 Mazut
0.95
Album
22.5
Chris Marina VV
AVERAGE QUANTITIES TRANSPORTED BY TRUCKS PER PRODUCT (mmt) Diesel
FY 2020/2021
Growth Rate (%)
0.871 0
0.106 0.837
88 -
1.997 2.206 2.499 0.222 0
1.814 2.011 1.681 1.824 0.341
9 9 33 722 -
25 26
6.47 1.54
FY 2019/2020
AVERAGE SHARE OF COASTAL TANKERS IN QUANTITIES TRANSPORTED (%)
Gasoline
LPG
Crude Oil Tanker
171.2
3. TRUCKS
19.2
Chris Marianna VV
Length (m)
Coastal Tankers
FY 2019/20
Alnabila Alsharifa Alexia Album (5) (4) (3)
Alexia (3)
5 Alnabila (6)
6
Alnabila (5)
Album
23 Alsharifa (4)
12 Chris
2 Marina VV
JULY 2022 - ISSUE 187 | 11
RESEARCH & ANALYSIS
LEADING INDICATORS 1. QUANTITIES
2. COST
TOTAL QUANTITIES TRANSPORTED (mmt)
TOTAL TRANSPORTATION COSTS FOR PETROLEUM PRODUCTS (EGP million)
2019/20
Growth Rate (YoY)
150.5
Growth Rate (YoY)
27,492
39.4%
91.2
2020/21
2019/20
11.3% 30,603
2020/21
FY
FY
TRANSPORTATION COSTS PER CHANNEL (EGP million)
AVERAGE SHARES OF QUANTITIES TRANSPORTED THROUGH TRANSPORTATION CHANNELS (%)
FY
17.25 49.19
Trucks
Pipelines
6.79
Railway Tankers
Trucks
Pipelines
Coastal Tankers
2019/20
20.5
1,036
25,399
1,037
2020/21
36.1
1,462
28,261
844
0.13
4.29
92.37
3.24
Coastal Tankers
26.52
Sumed Pipelines
0.25
Railway Tankers
12 | EGYPT OIL & GAS NEWSPAPER
Average Shares (%)
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UNDER THE PATRONAGE OF H.E. TAREK EL MOLLA MINISTER OF PETROLEUM & MINERAL RESOURCES - ARAB REPUBLIC OF EGYPT
PART OF THE EGYPTIAN OIL AND GAS SECTOR MODERNIZ ATION PROGRAM
8TH EGYPT OIL & GAS CONVENTION October 2022 Featuring case studies from E&Ps, JVs, and technology service providers this year’s Convention will cover:
TECHNICAL WORKSHOP SESSIONS ABSTRACT CONTENT: KEY TRENDS IN DECARBONIZATION TECHNOLOGIES: • Blue Hydrogen and Injection of CO2 for tertiary recovery • Reducing fugitive emissions • Improvement of maintenance routines to reduce intermittent flaring and vapor-recovery units to reduce methane leaks • Proven technologies and practices in reducing CO2 emissions
• Description of the proposed paper summarizing the scope of business upon which the paper will be based.
ABSTRACT CONDITIONS: EFFICIENCY IN OPERATIONS • What is the impact of digitalization for efficiency in the operations? • How can Oil & Gas companies reduce energy consumption • Increased use in composite line pipe
• Must be technically factual and includes lessons learned • Should avoid commercialization • Must be written in English • Should be submitted in electronic format and be maximum of 500 words
ASSET INTEGRITY CHALLENGES & OPPORTUNITIES • Importance of Asset Integrity (safety and environmental impact) • Well Integrity Management System
IMPROVING PRODUCTION • Unlocking unseen development potential in a brownfield area • How to estimate the production rate of ESP wells from major electrical parameters • The most effective techniques for Tertiary Recovery, case studies
ABSTRACTS DEADLINES • July 24, 2022 - Abstract Submission • August 1, 2022 - Notification of Acceptance • September 1, 2022 - Presentation Submission
PLEASE SEND YOUR ABSTRACTS TO: abstracts@egyptoil-gas.com
ORGANIZED BY
TECHNICALLY PREPARED BY
OFFICIAL RESEARCH PARTNER
SUPPORTING ORGANIZATION
JULY 2022 - ISSUE 187 | 13
INTERVIEW
TAKING THE FOREFRONT OF REVOLUTIONARY PIPELINE INDUSTRY
AN INTERVIEW WITH KHALED MAMOUR, DIRECTOR, INTERNATIONAL MARKETS, COMPOSITE SYSTEMS, SHAWCOR In an age of massive change, how would you say the global pipeline industry has been evolving and what steps has your company taken to adapt to that evolution? The global pipeline industry has changed significantly in recent years, and today pipelines represent the safest and most environmentally sound method of transporting fuels. This follows years of advancements in integrity-focused technologies. Recently, the industry has adopted widespread use of corrosion-resistant composite pipes, with a lower carbon footprint and more efficient installation process than previous products. Shawcor has been at the forefront of this
revolutionary change with our industry-leading FlexPipe line of spoolable composite pipe technologies.
Tell us more about your company’s footprint in the Middle East’s pipeline industry, particularly in Egypt. The Middle East is a very interesting region for us. Business tends to be driven by one client only, the local national oil company. We’ve been involved in converting some of these from metal to spoolable composite pipe. Currently, Middle Eastern operators – and in particular Aramco and ADNOC – have not only standardized the use of spoolable composite pipe for all their fields but are also sponsoring research and driving development of the technology on a global level. Egypt, through its driving force (Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation) and its joint ventures with a number of international operators, has experienced first-hand the benefits of this technology. West Bakr is an example of a very happy user of our composite pipe, and they enumerate its many benefits, from quick and cost-effective installation to a product that mitigates the potential of leaks. We believe Egypt is a very good market for spoolable composite pipe. It is a proven technology with great potential – both as a replacement for existing problematic pipelines and for new pipelines. Egypt has shown its commitment to the environment and is driving its energy transition. A study done by a major Middle East operator shows that our composite pipe has about 50% less carbon footprint than metal alternatives. That is a perfect example of how our product can help Egypt meet its commitment to a greener environment.
You had once used FlexPipe, which is a corrosion-resistant alternative to steel, to replace steel pipes in Egypt. Please give us a brief overview of the advantages of FlexPipe and how it would affect the wider Egyptian oil and gas market? To start with, FlexPipe is corrosion-resistant, which allows for significantly longer design life in corrosive environments – whether that corrosion results from corrosive media being transported or from corrosion caused by the external environment. FlexPipe offers many other advantages to oil and gas operators in Egypt and around the world. If I were to associate one word with FlexPipe, it would be ‘efficiency’. FlexPipe’s innovative spoolable design allows for extremely efficient installation.
❝ Recently, the industry has adopted widespread use of corrosion-resistant composite pipes, with a lower carbon footprint and more efficient installation process than previous products. Shawcor has been at the forefront of this revolutionary change with our industry-leading FlexPipe line of spoolable composite pipe technologies. ❞ 14 | EGYPT OIL & GAS NEWSPAPER
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One reel of FlexPipe holds several hundreds of meters of pipe. This results in a much lower frequency of connection in the field than steel pipe requires. For example, steel pipe joints are typically 12 meters long to allow for shipment of the pipes, whereas it can be up to 1600 meters before a connection for spoolable composite pipe is necessary.
❝ We believe Egypt is a very good market for spoolable composite pipe. It is a proven technology with great potential – both as a replacement for existing problematic pipelines and for new pipelines. Egypt has shown its commitment to the environment and is driving its energy transition. ❞
Many of the services that your company offers involve digitalization, data management, etc. What do these solutions contribute to the services that you offer and how has your company managed to stay ahead in that aspect? Digital enablement of our leading products, services and data management has been a key focus for Shawcor. Through our iLINE suite of digital solutions, we are committed to advancing the industry by developing and leveraging digital technologies that provide safety, integrity, productivity and cost efficiencies for our valued customers in Egypt and around the world. One of these key technologies is the iLINE Customer Portal, where customers can log in and view key data associated with their pipe orders, inventories and ongoing projects. The iLINE Mobile Integrity app – utilized by installation contractors on a phone or tablet – gives pipeline owners a real-time awareness of their FlexPipe installations, as well as a paperless installation and approval record. This is a massive step forward in the traceability, visibility and consistency of a pipeline installation.
Additionally, FlexPipe’s proprietary crimp connection is a simple design, so external contractors employed by the oil and gas operator can install the pipe easily and efficiently.
Climate change is a matter of scientific consensus. What do your pipe coatings and other technologies do to protect assets from the environmental effects of climate change?
Finally, the flexibility of the product allows it to be spooled, which, in turn, provides additional efficiencies in handling, shipping and laying the pipe in the ground.
The efficient design of FlexPipe results in a much more environmentally friendly system than other options. FlexPipe has a lower carbon footprint than steel, both in terms of its highly engineered and efficient manufacturing process, and its simplified and quick installation process. The installation process also results in a much lower impact on the local environment where the pipeline is being installed. With spoolable composite pipe, there’s a highly reduced use of heavy equipment going in and out of the installation site. And, as importantly, when properly installed, both our composite pipe and steel pipe coating technologies can significantly reduce the potential of spills, which ultimately is the greatest environmental protection of all when it comes to pipeline installations.
As companies are beginning to commit to The Paris Agreement, what changes have you made to achieve 2050 net-zero goals?
How would you say digitalization has contributed to the pipeline industry and would you say that pipeline digitalization in the Middle East is keeping up with the rest of the world? Digital enablement has played an increasingly important role in moving the pipeline industry forward. The most important advancements have been in the areas of installation and operational cost efficiencies, as well as safety and integrity. With many technologies allowing for real-time understanding of a pipeline installation or operation, operators can have an immediate understanding of what is happening in the field. This allows for better – and quicker – decision making, which ultimately allows for reduced costs and a safer pipeline operation. In the Middle East, digitization is part of every strategy and all future planning. Companies in the region clearly see the high value of digitalization.
❝ FlexPipe offers many other advantages to oil and gas operators in Egypt and around the world. If I were to associate one word with FlexPipe, it would be ‘efficiency’. ❞
We have established ambitions related to Scope 1 & 2 greenhouse gasses (GHG) emissions to achieve a 50% reduction from our 2019 baseline by 2030. We have made progress on these ambitions by streamlining our operations and undertaking energy-efficiency improvements, as well as by increasing the renewable content in the energy that we consume. We continue to remain focused on identifying and acting on opportunities for continuous improvement.
❝ With many technologies allowing for real-time understanding of a pipeline installation or operation, operators can have an immediate understanding of what is happening in the field. ❞ As COP 27 approaches, what are your expectations for the summit and how would that change the way things are done in your company and the pipeline industry overall? We are expecting further clarity and standardization. We have seen a lot of qualitative discussions around climate adaptation, and we expect to see more concrete roadmaps unveiled in the summit. We continue to view oil and gas as an integral part of the energy mix – as is evidenced in the supply and demand imbalances that we see today. COP 27 may provide more clearly defined expectations on responsible extraction, production and transmission, and on use of these resources.
JULY 2022 - ISSUE 187 | 15
TECHNOLOGY
COMPOSITE PIPES: THE NEXT STEP IN THE PIPELINE INDUSTRY’S EVOLUTION BY NADER RAMADAN
I
f the oil and gas industry to humanity can be thought of as the heart of the body, then the pipeline industry is an intricate network of blood vessels that feeds humanity’s energy needs. When one or the other fails, the results can be cataclysmic. Energy security can only be realized through excellence in asset protection, which is at the center of all the global environmental and economic challenges that humanity has had to address for many years. Asset protection is also a foundational element in maintaining the integrity of the infrastructure that keeps the oil and gas industry running like clockwork which will ultimately determine the well-being of human communities and ecosystems alike. The pipeline industry is a fundamental part of this process, ensuring that essential hydrocarbon resources reach their markets without inflicting damage.
As the industry evolves and environmental challenges become increasingly complex, the pipeline industry has had to adapt to a market that demands a better delivery of services and more durability in its products. It goes without saying that one of the key adaptations that have allowed the pipeline industry to succeed in expanding profits, enhancing asset protection, and benefiting communities around the world is the use of composite pipes, especially when it comes to concerns about fatigue, weight, and corrosion. Recently, thermoplastic composite piping systems are just one of many possible options that have become a popular alternative to traditional steel pipes due to these three concerns. Thermoplastic pipes have a solid pipe wall composed of thermoplastic polymeric material as well as reinforcement fibers or glass. With these fibers fully embedded, the manufacturing process is designed to produce a robust composite structure. The end result is a highly durable, spoolable alternative that weighs less than traditional equivalents made of metal. Depending on how the piping system is applied, companies typically choose a specific thermoplastic matrix and fiber which would be the perfect fit for their project. Moreover, corrosion no longer has to be a top concern for those who choose to work with thermoplastic pipeline systems with their highly resistant chemical composition and relatively low-cost installation process. Without corrosion, companies do not have to worry about all other corrosion-related costs, which include inspection and maintenance measures, pigging, and pumping corrosion inhibitors. With soaring global temperatures becoming a top concern and the urgent need to work toward net-zero emissions, companies have been hard at work minimizing or eliminating the environmental impact of composite pipes, which have also proven to be useful in lowering the carbon footprint of companies around the world. Research has shown that composite pipe has a significantly lower carbon footprint than carbon steel installations – up to 50% in some instances.
BENEFITS OF FLEXPIPE
SHAWCOR’S COMPOSITE LINE PIPES Shawcor’s composite line pipes have been proven to be at the forefront of innovation. The company has several types including FlexPipe, FlexPipe HT (high-temperature) and FlexCord, as well as a myriad of various joint systems. All of these are also easy to install and have been proven to be cost-effective.
16 | EGYPT OIL & GAS NEWSPAPER
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These systems are designed for maximum durability, with the ability to endure extreme conditions including high temperature, pressure, and corrosion. Maintenance and long-term chemical inhibitors should never be a concern as Shawcor’s composite line pipes actually have a service life of 20 years.
As one of Shawcor’s key products, FlexPipe is a flexible, spoolable line pipe known for its ability to keep installation costs down as well as its endurance, being made from thermoplastic liner (HDPE/PE-RT liner), a helically wound glass fiber reinforcement, and a highly durable external thermoplastic jacket (HDPE/ PE-RT liner), which is able to withstand corrosive, high pressure conditions of up to 1,500 psi. FlexPipe HT has the same advantages as FlexPipe, with the added benefit that it demonstrates continuous performance at temperatures of up to 82oC (180o F). It can operate at a maximum pressure of 1,500 psi. Being suitable for sour service applications and compatible with up to 50% of aromatic and cycloalkane hydrocarbons, FlexPipe products are low friction, abrasion-resistant, and also have the advantage of higher flower rates compared to traditional steel pipes. Both FlexPipe and FlexPipe HT are used in the upstream, midstream, and downstream industries in everything from oil and gas to transporting water. It’s also worthy of noting that the FlexPipe systems are designed to exceed industry requirements of API, ASTM, and CSA standards and their connections are fit with reliably durable fittings that never leak and are available for companies in two corrosion-resistant material options. If severe pressure cycles and pulsations produced by piston pumps are a concern, then Shawcor’s FlexCord would be a more than an ideal option, offering all the same benefits as FlexPipe and fit with a high-strength steel-cord reinforced design, capable of operating at pressures of up to 2,250 psi. With five different layers (an HDPE external jack, internal liner, and barrier layer as well as two galvanized steel cord layers), FlexCord is ideal for high frequency 225 psi peakto-peak pressure pulsations in addition to ten full pressure on-off cycles of 0-1,500 psi per day. Its safety features eliminate needed de-rating in the majority of cyclic applications. Its steel cord layers easily enable rapid decompression since it facilitates the enhanced venting of gases that go through the liner. As far as installation goes, companies that choose this product could potentially save up to 50% on installation costs and help achieve up to 35% installation cost savings when compared to the traditional steel alternative. The FlexCord Linepipe Anti-Buoyant consists of a thermoplastic jacket, a structural layer of galvanized steel cords, and an internal layer of thermoplastic liner. It is designed specifically for shallow-water environments and can be used at a depth of up to 30 meters. Since it is anti-buoyant, it eliminates the need for weights to anchor it down, which is essential for the completion of a cost-efficient and timely installation process. In addition, this product's corrosion-resistant galvanized reinforcement layers are ideal for shallow water couplings and terminations. Pipeline companies would be happy to know that they can save up to 35% on installation costs since the process requires fewer crewmembers, minimal heavy equipment, as well as fewer connections. These systems can be connected using a variety of the company’s joining systems, made from either nickel-coated or stainless steel fittings.
SHAWCOR’S SUCCESS STORY IN EGYPT Being a joint venture between the Egyptian National Oil Company and TransGlobe, the West Bakr Petroleum Company has three fields in Egypt’s Eastern Desert which it operates including oil wells, flow lines, and gathering lines. The gathering systems, made of previously installed bare carbon steel, faced extensive corrosion issues due to the presence of oxygen and carbon dioxide. In addition, West Bakr also needed to install new corrosion-resistant flow lines. Shawcor’s FlexPipe was more than an ideal choice.
The entire installation process took 40 days, which included 20 days of hydrotesting. As a brownfield installation, working with flexible composite pipes was particularly advantageous for doing work amongst existing infrastructure. The process was complete without any elbows or custom fittings due to FlexPipe’s continuous construction. Previous installations done by West Bakr with carbon steel lines proved time-consuming, taking five times longer than FlexPipe. The installation process involved 25,000 meters of 4” FP301 HT and helped create a savings opportunity of up to $50,000 annually. The installation of FlexPipe for West Bakr was highly successful in saving both time and money in the process. In expressing his gratitude to Shawcor, West Bakr Petroleum Company’s spokesperson said “Shawcor and their installation team were co-operative and easy to work with, proving that they are truly a partner.” As the pipeline industry continues to ride the waves of change, its various technologies and innovations have sought ways to ensure that pipeline systems are more durable, reliable, and cost-effective in both installations and maintenance. For the years to come, companies will be hard at work in enhancing the value of pipeline systems around the world for the prosperity of human communities, ecosystems, and the environment.
JULY 2022 - ISSUE 187 | 17
OVERVIEW
EGYPT’S PIPELINES:
A KEY ENABLER FOR ITS TRANSFORMATION INTO A REGIONAL ENERGY HUB
BY FATMA AHMED
S
ince the Russian-Ukrainian crisis started, Europe has been looking for alternative supplies for Russian oil and gas. Egypt is one of the recommended countries to be part of the solution. Not only due to having amounts of natural gas for exports, but also because of its efforts in developing the needed infrastructure for exports. During the past eight years, Egypt exerted big efforts to improve its pipeline infrastructure, especially those that connect the country to the other world countries.
Why Pipelines? Pipelines are a necessary mean to transport oil and gas from country to country. They are also used to transport the raw materials from areas of production to refineries and chemical plants. Additionally, they are used to transmit the final product to gasoline terminals, natural gas power plants, and other end users. They are cost-efficient in transportation, especially the onshore ones and in case of short distances. Egypt considers natural gas as the most important source of energy, especially after achieving self-sufficiency and directing the surplus production toward exporting. This occurred due to the unprecedented rates of production which reached 6.8 billion cubic meters per day (bcm/d) coming from the big number of discoveries and fields development. Due to these efforts, Egypt ranked the second in Africa in natural gas production and the 14th globally in 2020. This also pushes the country to put great interest on its infrastructure and pipelines to allow exports. Egypt already has a pipeline for exporting natural gas and recently it seeks to add more pipelines to connect to other countries, especially within the East Mediterranean region.
Arab Gas Pipeline (AGP): Strategic Arabic Gas Corridor AGP was established in Egypt in Sinai to export Egyptian natural gas to Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon having branches passing through Israel. It started in 2003 at a cost of $1.2 billion. Its construction was implemented in three phases, according to Egypt Today. The first phase was from Egypt to Jordon at a capacity of 10 million cubic meters per year (mmcm/y). Then the second phase included two stages during which the natural gas was transported from Jordan to Jordanian-Syrian borders. This phase was launched in February 2006 and completed in March 2008. After that, the third phase was commissioned in July 2008 to transmit the natural gas from the Jordanian-Syrian border to the city of Homs in Syria. In addition, the pipeline is extended to reach Lebanon then Turkey then Europe, but it is suspended due to the Syrian war. The line will be used to carry Egyptian natural gas to Lebanon after the two countries have agreed to export the gas to Lebanon through Syria. Moreover, Iraq announced its desire to connect to AGP, so it can send its gas to Egypt to be exported to Europe. Toward More InfrastructureBesides AGP, Egypt is looking forward to more pipelines in the coming few years especially to support its new position as regional hub for
18 | EGYPT OIL & GAS NEWSPAPER
trading oil and gas. In this regard, Egypt seeks since 2018 to establish a pipeline from Cyprus to Egypt. This planned pipeline will connect the Aphrodite gas field to the Egyptian liquefied natural gas (LNG) plants with costs estimated at $800 million to $1 billion. In May 2022, Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Tarek El Molla announced the start of construction works with a capacity of 4.5 trillion cubic meters to be processed in the Egyptian plant and then exported to Europe. The pipeline is expected to start operation between 2024 and 2025. Furthermore, Egypt and Israel are studying the establishment of a new onshore pipeline with investments of $200 million to transport 3-5 bcm/y of natural gas from Israel to Egypt to be liquefied in Egypt and then shipped to Europe. Egypt, Israel, and the EU have recently signed a tripartite agreement to boost natural gas exports to Europe. These pipelines are expected to allow Egypt to gain additional revenues from transportation in addition to more investments opportunities.
Brightening Inside Egypt has also given great importance to reinforcing the local grids infrastructure. In this regard, Egypt constructed the Ain Sokhna/Wadi hagool/ Al-Hafayer pipeline with investments EGP219.2 million in 2018. It also established Ras Bakr/ Ras Ghareb/ Assiut butane pipeline with costs of EGP 475.5 million in 2018. El-Sukhna/ El Tebbin pipeline for mazut and diesel was completed in 2019 with costs of EGP 902 million. Moreover, the country updated and replaced several pipelines including Mahala-Shawa petroleum pipeline, Suez/ Mostorod mazut pipeline, Suez/ Mostorod petroleum pipeline, Benha/ Zagazig diesel pipeline, Abu Qir/ Khorshid diesel pipeline in the period between 2018 to 2020. Per natural gas distribution, Egypt constructed pipelines of a total length of 880 km with investments of EGP 11.2 billion during the period from 2014/15 until December 2020, a report issued by the petroleum ministry stated. Also, Egypt is currently establishing pipelines with a total length reached 335 km and costs of about EGP 7.735 billion. In October 2021, the petroleum ministry announced that it started to construct a gas pipeline in the Western Desert with a capacity of 15 million cubic feet per day (mmcf/d).
INE G AR
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INDUSTRY INSIGHTS
THE CORE OF OIL & GAS LANDSCAPE:
PIPELINE USAGE & CONNECTIVITY BY RANA AL KADY
T
o begin with, it is essential to understand the importance of pipeline infrastructure as oil and gas, as well as distillation products and chemically stable compounds, are typically transferred between locations through pipelines. Ever since the turn of the century, investments in the worldwide pipeline business have grown rapidly.
Pipelines carrying oil and gas serve as genuine arteries within the Earth. They transfer gas and oil throughout the world using massive steel and plastic pipelines. Their relevance in international affairs is undeniable since they can be utilized to deliver energy to any region, including those with no natural assets. In fact, the growth in investments is due to favorable market circumstances and market trends, which are produced by factors such as a rise in offshore operations, growth in deep water productivity, and the discovery of isolated and difficult-to-reach fields. With that, the pipeline industry contributes around 40% of the overall offshore capex. The primary market restraints would be the poor economy and economic turmoil in some regions of the globe.
GENERAL OVERVIEW Furthermore, the new phase of substantially lower pricing is taking root in the oil and gas industry, placing severely leveraged oil and gas firms on creditrating organizations' watchlists and impeding even the most effective capitalexpenditure and transport strategies. More than financial modifications are
for pipelines. Maintenance and investing in good quality materials is important to making the operation run smoothly, but the innovative [technologies] is what makes a difference in the field.” In fact, the expanding use of IoT in the midstream oil and gas industry is a significant trend that will benefit the oil and gas pipeline and transportation management industry. The analysis of various oil and gas pipelines as well as transport automation technologies such as SCADA and PLC minimize maintenance and operation expenses. The increased awareness of online technology and the versatility of operating software applications are projected to have an effect on market development in the coming future. Without a question, the destiny of pipelines will be determined by how technology is used in their design, operations, and upkeep. In addition to the resources innate in the procedure of monitoring and administration (operational software, leak detection, etc.), new technology is increasingly being taken into account, utilizing Analysis Tools (Big Data, Artificial Intelligence), premised not only on operational information but also on information generated by sensors on gadgets.
required to address the underlying decline in oil markets. Consequently, the sector is not opposed to embracing these new technologies. It has invented or used a wide range of cutting-edge innovations over the last half century, including geophones, robotics, satellites, and sophisticated workflow remedies. These systems, nevertheless, largely work at the asset level, are not connected across sectors, and do not integrate company information. The oil and gas sector has one of the lowest levels of digital sophistication, at 4.68 on a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being the least developed and 10 as the most developed. It was found that less digitally developed firms tend to rely on particular technologies and have policies that are definitely practical in emphasis. Despite that, the deployment of technology doesn't really generate economic benefit by itself. To do this, businesses must relate IoT installations, like any other technology adoption, to particular business goals, which may be roughly summarised using 3 types of increasing breadth. Businesses attempt to reduce hazards to health, safety, and the environment by minimizing interruptions. Following that, businesses strive to increase operational cost and capital efficiency by boosting productivity and optimizing the distribution network. At the broadest level, businesses attempt to discover new revenue opportunities and strategic edges that will revolutionize the firm.
PIPELINE CONNECTIVITY The decrease in demand, a growing emphasis on renewables, security risks, and harsh weather all pose obstacles; yet, the sector is reacting with better operational excellence, boosting output while decreasing costs. Connectivity is a critical component of this. With the dependable and timely transmission of crucial data from distant locations, as well as the capacity to carry out orders remotely, manufacturers may eliminate the need to deploy field staff, lowering costs and enabling faster reaction times. Because pipelines must pass through isolated places, broadcast connectivity is the right approach for stability and reliability; with Ground Control's solutions, firms can also effectively manage expenses, with remote enablement or deactivating of GPS trackers as required, and the ability to exploit mobile networks if accessible. As suggested by a Pipeline Inspection Engineer, who preferred anonymity, “[Connectivity] is a very underrated concern
20 | EGYPT OIL & GAS NEWSPAPER
In addition to increasing production, these tools will redefine pipeline upkeep, lowering the chance of accidents and speeding up repairs. Meanwhile, research is being conducted to improve the material used to lengthen the lifetime of pipes, which is now reaching 20 years.
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JULY 2022 - ISSUE 187 | 21
ENERGY ECONOMICS
TRANSPORTING HYDROCARBON THE ECONOMIC WAY
BY SARAH SAMIR & JOLLY MONSEF
H
ydrocarbons are a crucial part of every industry and in powering everyones' lives. When it comes to hydrocarbon transportation, the world looks at several means and chooses the safest, fastest, and most economic. The hydrocarbon transportation methods, whether it is to move natural gas or petroleum products, differ according to the amount and distance they travel, and they include: maritime navigation, land transportation, and pipelines. As the war between Russia and Ukraine goes on, several countries start eying the European market and studying the best transportation options for oil and gas.
LAND AND WATER TRANSPORTATION When it comes to maritime transportation of oil and gas, many aspects are considered. As for natural gas, in order to move it across seas, it has to be liquified. In that case, the costs of transportation are based on the natural gas liquefication plant, LNG carriers' expenses, and the fees paid for renting Floating Storage and Regasification Units (FSRUs). In LNG transportation, around 15% to 20% of the capital cost is spent on the exploration and production phase. Meanwhile, 30% to 45% of the cost is spent on liquefaction, 10% to 30% on shipping, and 15% to 25% on storage and regasification, according to an article entitled, 'Natural gas prices, LNG transport costs, and the dynamics of LNG imports', published by ResearchGate. The average cost of transporting LNG from one country to the other is estimated at $2 to $3 per 1 Metric Million British Thermal Unit (MMBtu), according to Springer. This is equivalent to $2 to $3 for every 1,000 cubic feet of natural gas. When it comes to oil and petroleum products, transportation methods vary from water navigation to on-land transportation. "Historically, railroads were the primary means of petroleum transportation. Today, railroads compete with pipelines: While usually more expensive than pipelines, the already existing railroad infrastructure creates a more flexible, alternative route when pipelines are at capacity. Many petroleum products travel from refineries to markets by tank truck or railroad tank car. Tank trucks deliver gasoline to service stations and heating oil to houses," according to An Oil and Gas Industry Research Guide, entitled Modes of Transportation, published by the Library of Congress.
COST-EFFICIENT PIPELINES TRANSPORTATION When it comes to pipelines, most of the cost is paid in the construction phase. "Natural gas pipeline projects are capital intensive by nature. High upfront investment costs typically account for over 90% of total costs occurring through the lifespan of a gas pipeline (~40 years), whilst operating expenses (e.g. fuel costs associated with gas compression, maintenance and repairs, staff, etc.) usually account for up to 5–10% of total costs," according to Springer.
22 | EGYPT OIL & GAS NEWSPAPER
This makes natural gas transportation via pipelines lower compared to this of LNG and oil carriers. "The cost of [small-scale] SS LNG transportation can be significantly lower than that of pipeline gas, provided that the distance is more than 930 km, and the number of delivery directions is not less than 5. However, when considering gas supply projects for individual locations, LNG is less attractive due to relatively high operational expenses." According to the paper entitled 'Economic assessment of heat and power generation from small-scale liquefied natural gas in Russia' by Pavel Tcvetkov, A.E. Cherepovitsyn, and Aleksei B. Makhovikov. Accordingly, LNG is economically feasible only in the case of long distances or pipeline complexities due to geographical or geo-political reasons, as stated in 'Major Gas Finds in East Mediterranean – a source of new supply and conflicts in South East Europe,' a paper published in 2012 by Pelaghias. However, it is crucial to consider pipelines when transporting oil and gas across different countries, especially those with political unrest, as pipelines could be unreliable. In case of geopolitical challenges, maritime navigation could be considered the safest consistent option.
AIR POLLUTION COST COMPARISON The efficiency of an oil and gas transportation cost does not only include the expenses used to move hydrocarbon, but the world should also consider the air pollution cost. Poor air quality and greenhouse gases affect the world economically. Air pollution costs the US alone around $617 billion in damages every year, according to the World Economic Forum. Greenhouse gases and air pollution are caused by different factors, including hydrocarbon transportation. "Air pollution and greenhouse gas costs equal $1,000 per 1 million barrel-miles via rail transportation compared to just under $400 in damages from spills and accidents. Via pipelines, it costs $500 in pollution and emissions costs per 1 million barrel miles while it costs about $50 for spills and accidents," Carnegie Mellon University's article entitled 'The costs of transporting petroleum products by pipelines and rail' explained. Between pipelines, land, and maritime transportation of hydrocarbon, the choice is not an easy one to make. Whether the means of transportation is economic or not, depends on several variances. Based on the surrounding circumstances, the two parties in any oil and gas transportation deal will study and decide on the most economic transportation means.
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JULY 2022 - ISSUE 187 | 23
LEGAL
SURVIVING GLOBAL CHALLENGES:
THE FUTURE OUTLOOK FOR OIL & GAS POLICIES BY MAHMOUD RASHED EGYPTIAN GENERAL PETROLEUM CORPORATION
I
n November, world leaders will have a two-week dialogue in Egypt’s most scenic Read Sea coastal resort city of Sharm Elsheikh, as the world’s top climate gathering known as the United Nations’ Conference of the Parties (COP) will come to Egypt. After a vague outcome of last year’s COP-26 in Glasgow, global observers are counting on this year’s COP 27 to yield game-changing outcomes that would help in saving the planet by reducing Earth’s temperature by two degrees Celsius
Let’s admit that taking considerable action in Glasgow was tough. However, looking at the current global circumstances, governments are finding out that now it is even tougher. One of the most significant outcomes of COP 26 for the oil and gas industry was the “new alliance commitment” to ending oil and gas extraction. Several countries including Denmark, France, Sweden and Ireland promised to end oil and gas production within their borders. It's true that other countries are still hesitant, nevertheless, they are also dedicated to taking “significant concrete steps” including legislation to limit oil and gas production. Italy, European Union’s second biggest oil producer, for instance, made a less motivated promise, saying it would align its future oil and gas extraction with the 2015 Paris Agreement, a decision that may also require the Italian government to pass the necessary legislation to make this possible. Looking at the current global circumstances, shall we question whether the world is really ready at the moment to stop oil and gas production? The conflict in Ukraine has changed the game during the past three months not only for the oil and gas industry but also for the global rebound procedures. This was following the COVID-19 pandemic fallout, which included supply chain crises, inflation, as well as food and energy scarcity in different locations worldwide. In other words, despite the decisions that were made at COP 26, concerns over European political and economic instability helped drive oil and gas prices upwards, boosting the profits of energy majors. This means additional production activities to reap rewards, thanks to OPEC+ decisions to ease production restrictions. Additionally, due to sanctions imposed on the Russian energy sector, the EU now is prioritizing conventional energy in its race to abandon Russian coal, oil and gas and there are suggestions that they may implement the necessary legislation to do so. EU leaders are signing new contracts to import gas, committing to build new liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals and prioritizing deliveries of non-Russian crude oil shipments. Europe's struggle to secure more LNG could turn fuel away from poorer importing countries that as an alternative will turn to coal. Such deals may be beneficial to East Mediterranean, North African and Middle Eastern countries to replace the Russians as the main gas provider for Europe which means more production activities. Here in Egypt, for instance, natural gas and (LNG) export revenues increased by 98% to reach $3.892 billion in only the first four months of 2022, knowing that the country exported natural gas worth $3.959 billion in 2021. Accordingly, although climate change is relentless, and the world would potentially break 1.5 degrees Celsius of warming in the next five years (Atmospheric carbon dioxide levels measured at Hawaii’s observatory exceeded 420 parts per million last April for the first time in human history), all the mentioned outcomes during 2022 are pushing against adopting any actions or legislation to cut fossil fuel in the near future.
24 | EGYPT OIL & GAS NEWSPAPER
However, the EU is still in a better situation than its western ally as the White House is under mounting political pressure amid soaring energy prices as a consequence of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. This situation has forced the United States to increase its oil and gas capacity as it seeks to increase production to push prices down on one side, and help the EU rapidly end its reliance on Russian oil and gas on the other side. Accordingly, this forced the American administration to change its obligations and end fossil fuel production on public lands as well as approve new policies and legislation for exporting LNG to Europe. So, as a bonus for the oil & gas industry, will the war on Ukraine delay actions on climate change? Following the war, prices of oil and gas increased abruptly, with the oil benchmark trading above $115. This is not putting governments at ease, particularly in countries relying on imported oil and gas to secure their energy needs. So, energy security and affordability are back at the top of the agenda. OECD countries are releasing 60 million barrels of oil – an equivalent of 12 days of Russian exports – from their strategic reserves to the market. This step is meant to ease the price burden. Yet, as history shows, such actions have a limited impact on prices because what is released today will need to be replaced in the near future and so on. Subsequently, the crisis has made links between climate change, economy, supply chains, commodity prices, energy needs, policies and legislation clearer. The rising prices of oil and gas may benefit the industry and its major players, but it’s not for the benefit of governments that pursues to provide goods and services to their citizens at affordable prices, while achieving the lowest possible deficits. Hence, the current global economic situation and the need for energy security may facilitate a more rapid energy transition to sustainable and renewable energy sources in the medium term. For instance, in light of the need to transition away from Russian gas, the UK is expanding “both” North Sea oil and gas production and its renewable energy production capacity with the government’s own commitment to reaching net-zero emissions and saving the UK from the volatile global gas market. Moreover, China, the world’s biggest carbon emitter, now accepts more natural gas from Russia- at slightly lower prices- as a substitute market for Europe, which will enhance the Chinese energy mix. However, Chinese energy security concerns could speed up its climate goals this year as its clean energy transition is gathering pace as wind and solar capacity would double between 2020 and 2025, reaching 1,100 gigawatts, three times the amount installed in Europe. To conclude, despite the ongoing oil and gas industry glow, Ukraine’s critical crisis would not divert the world from the climate’s long-lasting threat and will help energy transition in a different way. Let’s wait for COP 27 to see how world leaders could make the desired balance.
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to re-compute and re-calibrate drilling parameters. Real-Time Well Engineering can help you stay one step ahead and reduce uncertainty and enhance prediction accuracy by leveraging machine learning and AI to help mitigate operational risk for smarter drilling outcomes. Deep data, physics-driven analytics feed various engineering models to train machine learning (ML) models and inform you of current uncertainty via microservices technology in the cloud. The Torque and Drag and Anti-collision models allow you to compare trends in planned well details and continuously monitor well positions.
KEEPING ON TOP OF REAL-TIME OPERATIONS Real-Time Well Engineering, a DecisionSpace® 365 cloud application, allows you to monitor multiple wells simultaneously in real time, using fewer resources, for safe, efficient, and cost-effective operational performance. Built from the ground-up using ground-breaking computation, this smart system automatically detects rig state and seamlessly couples engineering and system uncertainty models in real-time closed looped systems. It also facilitates the automation of broader E&P workflows, and effective operational decisions, which can improve drilling efficiency and performance of downhole tools to reduce well costs.
ACT IN THE MOMENT Automated, digital technologies empower faster and more effective decision making to help mitigate drilling risks and improve performance. Real-Time Well Engineering can help increase your drilling performance by up to 25 percent by automatically processing and analyzing rig state activities and associated drilling data to help minimize ILT. With the ability to run up to 10,000 calculations a day, without the need for human interventions, Real-Time Well Engineering can re-compute drilling parameters using automatically updated models at a rate that would not be humanly possible using traditional methods. This is achieved with advanced modeling techniques using deep data computational physics/algorithms to help reduce the time and effort to perform advanced drilling analytics to gauge the level of uncertainty. What once would have taken days can now be accomplished in minutes. This dynamic data can be quickly and easily accessed and consumed via single intelligent master dashboards that help improve data interpretation.
Figure 2. Torque and Drag Model
CHOICE & FLEXIBILITY The open architecture on which Real-Time Well Engineering is built enables choice and flexibility by facilitating the easy integration of other DecisionSpace 365 applications such as Digital Well Program®, another DecisionSpace 365 cloud application, as well as other 3rd party software. This ease of connection means that you can fully leverage your existing assets to analyze drilling efficiency and dynamically update your well program and operations.
INCREASE YOUR OPERATIONAL PERFORMANCE As an operator, you’re committed to drilling a well program safely and on time – but today, you must do this at significantly lower cost and with fewer resources. And, to mitigate risk and keep well costs down, it’s essential that well operations proceed with maximum efficiency. The convergence of real-time drilling analytics, such as big data and cloud computing, and other digital technologies is helping make it possible to tune rig processes for optimal performance and longer producing life. Real-Time Well Engineering, a key component in Halliburton Landmark’s Digital Well Operations DecisionSpace 365 solution, can help increase your operational performance by automating and optimizing your well operations, and help reduce operational uncertainty so you can focus your time on informed decision making.
Figure 1. The Real-Time Well Engineering Dashboard
STAY ONE STEP AHEAD Continuous, real-time monitoring of drilling data can enable early recognition of anomalies or deviations from plan and applies analytics
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JULY 2022 - ISSUE 187 | 25
POLITICS
VEINS FOR GEOPOLITICAL POWER BY IHAB SHAARAWY
G
rowing demand for petroleum-based products in every corner of the globe has generated a need to accelerate the process to locate and recover the supply of oil and natural gas from major reserves across the globe. However, the fact that supply and demand are rarely concentrated in the same place, caused an urgent need for economical, reliable, and efficient means of transportation for oil and gas supplies. Tankers, railroads, and pipelines have proven to be efficient and economical means for connecting petroleum supply and demand. However, in many cases, pipelines are widely considered the most critical infrastructure for the transportation of oil and natural gas, connecting producing areas to refineries, chemical plants, households, and business needs. Over the years, pipelines have become the most trusted means of transportation that can guarantee an uninterrupted flow of vital, energy-generating gases and liquids for domestic and international users. Having a higher transportation capacity, pipelines are more economical and reliable. It is constant, less exposed to environmental and socioeconomic risks such as earthquakes, strikes, or closed roads, while its rate of serious incidents is far below the rate recorded for transportation on trucks and even trains. However, expanding hydrocarbon arteries is not without its challenges. Building a major oil and gas pipeline is among the most complex projects that any organization can undertake. It is filled with many different potential difficulties that can cause delays, excessive costs, and various other problems. A cross-border pipeline may take a decade or longer before the actual construction starts. It may be challenged by difficult terrain, infrastructure shortfall, or right of way issues. However, It’s the geopolitical and security challenges that make pipelines a more complicated issue than it seems to be.
GEOPOLITICAL CHALLENGE In the world of oil and gas, geopolitical factors tend to gain greater importance as the mismatch between production and consumption becomes larger. The quest for oil and gas resources has already fueled several conflicts in many corners of the world throughout history. As there is the geopolitics of oil and gas, there is the geopolitics of the pipelines too. Although the economic aspect remains the main driver for pipeline projects, the destiny of many of these projects remains hanged on geopolitics decisions that may kill them despite their economic feasibility. In several cases, pipelines were not only used for turning raw energy into profit, but also as veins of geopolitical power. The availability of economic feasibility and the required finance will not be enough for the construction of the cross-border pipelines if it fails to secure strong political will, support from the transit countries and local authorities, and ensure proper management of geopolitical risks as political messages may flow through a pipeline. Over the past decade, pipelines have entered political discussion and debate as they became a manifestation of power and became one of the most visible points of social conflict over infrastructure and logistics.
NORD STREAM 2 One of the striking examples of pipelines' geopolitical complexities is the Nord Stream 2, which was at the heart of the current Russia-Ukraine conflict. The 1,200 km pipeline, which runs under the Baltic Sea to take gas from the Russian coast near St. Petersburg to Lubmin in Germany, was observed by the United States as a fundamentally political, rather than commercial, project. The US and several European allies thought that the pipeline is intended to destabilize Ukraine economically and strategically, depriving the country of an estimated $3 billion a year in gas transit revenue. It was also thought to be a punishment to Ukraine for choosing to step outside of Moscow’s geopolitical orbit. For decades, there were fears in the US that allowing European countries to be highly dependent on Russia for energy will make them vulnerable to Russian political and economic pressure. The US has tried to block Nord Stream 2 before, by imposing sanctions on companies involved in the project. However, it has only targeted Russian firms and not German ones, for fear of damaging diplomatic relations with Berlin. Before the Ukraine crisis, former German leader, Angela Merkel, did a lot to try and push through Nord Stream 2 as Germany already imports 35 percent of the gas it needs from Russia and she thought Nord Stream 2 would be a way of getting much more Russian gas delivered directly to Germany. However, the massive energy project that cost $11 billion has become one of the first causalities of the Russian military operation in Ukraine, which prompted the German government under Chancellor Olaf Scholz to stop the certification process altogether.
26 | EGYPT OIL & GAS NEWSPAPER
The US has also shown the same fears about the TurkStream pipeline, which will carry Russian natural gas to southern Europe through Turkey and is also part of Moscow’s efforts to reduce shipments via Ukraine.
SECURITY AND SOCIAL CHALLENGES Among important Pipelines issues that were recently a subject of front-page news is the TransCanada’s Keystone XL project. This pipeline, which was supposed to be the final part of a multi-stage pipeline project, was intended to link oil extracted in Alberta, Canada, with storage facilities and refineries based in the US. The pipeline project has gone for good following President Joe Biden’s denial of a key permit on his first day in office. For ten years, the Keystone XL was the epicenter of an enormous environmental, public health, and civil rights battle. In several parts of the world, many pipeline projects turned to be pumping dreams after failing to cross the barriers of political and security fears. On top of them, we can see the much-delayed Turkmenistan-AfghanistanPakistan-India (TAPI) pipeline project. The $10 billion project, if realized, would bring significant benefits for the four countries. It would help to diversify the energy markets for Turkmenistan, and create income ranging from $500 million to $1 billion annually in transit fees for cash-strapped Afghanistan and satisfy growing energy demands of Pakistan and India. However, significant obstacles, related to the financing difficulties and the provision of security along the proposed route, must be addressed before the first gas from Turkmenistan could reach India.
GROWTH DESPITE DIFFICULTIES The strategic influence of pipelines in the relationships between countries is undeniable, as they can supply energy to every territory, especially for the landlocked countries and areas with no natural resources. According to Global Data statistics, the total length of global oil and gas trunk pipelines is 2.12 million km in 2022 and is expected to increase registering a total growth of more than 4% by 2026. Asia leads globally with 155 planned and announced trunk/transmission oil and gas pipelines during the outlook period, followed by North America and Europe. Asia also leads globally in terms of new-build pipeline length growth, followed by North America and Europe. Away from geopolitical complexities, oil and gas pipelines can work as a tool for spreading peace and achieving common prosperity. It remains the most secure and economical way to transport the much-needed energy sources.
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JULY 2022 - ISSUE 187 | 27
OPINION COLUMN
WHY PETROLEUM ENGINEERING WILL REMAIN TO BE IMPORTANT
W
ith increasing climate concerns, funds for petroleum engineering activities and research have been limited to reducing the environmental effects of climate change, with energy companies facing stricter emissions regulations. For this reason, some may mistakenly think that petroleum engineering is not an appealing field of study, though the realities on the ground demonstrate its utmost importance as a discipline. After a recession of about 1% in 2020 due to COVID-19 effects, global electricity demand is set to grow by close to 5% in 2021 and 4% in 2022 – driven by the global economic recovery. For 2022-2024, demand growth is set to grow by 2.7% a year on average with high uncertainties due to the global political effects. That lack of supply and increase in demand created another challenge for finding a net zero reliable renewable energy option. The US weather crisis in December 2020 proved that geothermal energy resources are the most reliable option. Wind turbines shut down at very low temperatures, and snow can collect on solar panels. Petroleum engineering has the best solutions to develop them and is the best engineering science for drilling the most efficient geothermal wells, selecting the best formation to inject, and optimizing the subsurface flow of injection water till produced at a higher temperature. Geothermal energy engineering and subsurface carbon storage are not only related to the basic petroleum engineering subjects but also it is relevant to the most advanced ones. Research related to reservoir thermal recovery and corrosion-related well problems due to the production of high-temperature fluids or injection of corrosive fluids, or understanding the macro scale reservoir geomechanics for multistage hydraulic fracturing are the problems that petroleum engineering already experienced. Petroleum engineers and researchers still need funds to solve those problems. Moreover, the extensive skillset of petroleum engineers can enable the efficient management of geothermal energy sources. This can also create a new market for the overwhelming number of new graduates of petroleum engineering. The majority of Egypt’s geothermal resources are mainly located along the Gulf of Suez and the Red Sea as illustrated by Aref Lashin (2015). Some other spots are found in the Western Desert of Egypt. It’s a treasure that can be integrated with Egyptian human resources to achieve exceptional progress. Egyptian petroleum engineers and geology researchers can shape new geothermal renewable energy resources and can create a complete road map for selecting the best place for geothermal projects and optimizing their operations. Egyptian researchers can become the leading experts in petroleum engineering worldwide and we already know how to realize that accomplishment once we make the right decisions.
MOHAMED ADEL GABRY Graduate Research Assistant, University of Houston Senior Petroleum Engineer, Khalda Petroleum Company
FINDING OIL AND GAS THROUGH UNDERSTANDING RIFT BASIN ARCHITECTURE
M
y greatest motivation in work has always been the thrill of illuminating the evolution of subsurface structures and then telling those stories to others. I just happen to really enjoy using my skills and talents in basins mapping and recognizing their architecture and propagation history. Basins are formed over hundreds of millions of years due to the earth’s tectonics that produce accommodation space for the accumulation of sediments. The structural architecture of the early deformed rocks in rift basins has a spectacular impact on the distribution of the syn-rift reservoirs and the trapping mechanisms in petroleum basins, as well as the pathways of hydrocarbon migration and charge. Much of the exploration success in the petroliferous basins of the world has been achieved by understanding the dynamics and evolution of these basins and their control of source and reservoir rocks. For example, to define a structural trap, it is necessary to build a good 3D visualization of the subsurface structures which includes the rift margins and master faults bordering the basin. Rift basins usually develop in response to the stretching of the continental lithosphere. Three main factors control the process of basin evolution: 1. Continued subsidence of the basin that allows thick successions of eroded material and sedimentation of organic debris within water environment to be built up. 2. ‘Eustatic sea-level change’ which is related to changes in the volume of water in the world’s oceans. 3. The amount of sediment supply to the basin that determines the source and reservoir rocks in later times. Rift basins start as separate small faults segments, and then they merge and connect in order to generate a continuous rift system. If the direction of extension or stretching is perpendicular to the rift axis, it yields orthogonal rift. Rift basins that resulted from orthogonal or oblique rifting are characterized by a segmented border fault system parallel to the rift axes. This pattern can be due to the heterogeneous distribution of slip movement on individual normal fault systems or due to the distribution of stresses along the major faults. The axial segmentation of the basin determines, to a high degree, the deposition of reservoirs and source rocks and hence, the size and distribution of oil fields. For example, the Gulf of Suez rift is segmented into three provinces. These provinces are characterized by contrasting dip attitude of both strata and flanking faults. I believe that a better understanding of the geometry and architecture of these segmented provinces has helped a lot in increasing the petroleum discoveries in this world-class petroleum basin. This improved the prediction of migration pathways, accumulation and hydrocarbon trapping scenarios in the basin. The main structure of this rift is dominated by NW-SE trending normal faults and tilted fault blocks with sedimentary fill up to 6 km thick. The sedimentation process and structural deformation determine the petrophysical properties of the reservoir and seal facies.
AHMAD MOSTAFA Exploration Department Manager (GANOPE)
28 | EGYPT OIL & GAS NEWSPAPER
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EGYPS TECHNICAL CONFERENCE
SUPPORTED BY
13 – 15 FEBRUARY 2023 | EGYPT INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION CENTER
SUBMIT YOUR TECHNICAL ABSTRACTS www.egyps.com/cfp
Upstream: Exploration of Conventional Resources (CONV)
Upstream: Exploration of Unconventional Resources (UNCONV)
Geoscience: Upstream Technology Developments (GEOT)
Oil and Gas Field Development (FD)
Drilling (DR)
Completions (COMPL)
Gas/LNG Processing, Operations and Technology (GAS)
NEW FOR 2023
Offshore and Marine Production, Technology and Operations (MAR)
Oil and Gas Economics, Concession Agreements and Project Finance (FIN)
Project Management and Execution (PM)
Operational Excellence (OpEx)
Health and Safety (HSE)
NEW FOR 2023
Downstream: Refining Technology, Operations and Marketing (REF)
Downstream: Petrochemicals Technology and Operations (PET)
Digitalisation of Oil and Gas (DIGI)
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Midstream: Transportation, Storage and Infrastructure (MID)
Environmental Sustainability, Climate Change and Energy Transition (ENV) Hydrogen, Biofuels, Alternative Fuels and Renewable Energy (BIO)
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JULY 2022 - ISSUE 187 | 29
ECONOMIC SNAPSHOT
Value and Volume of Shares Traded for Energy & Support Services Sector in May 2022
MAIN ECONOMIC INDICATORS April 2022
VALUE TRADED ENERGY & SUPPORT SERVICES
ANNUAL INFLATION HEADLINE CPI
0.23
% OF TOTAL VALUE TRADED
13.5
13.1
1.71
13.45
TOTAL
May 2022
NET INTERNATIONAL RESERVES
VOLUME TRADED ENERGY & SUPPORT SERVICES
0.07
TOTAL
5.57
37.123
35.495
46.9
47
% OF TOTAL VOLUME TRADED
1.26
Performance of Petroleum Companies in the Egyptian Exchange in May 2022
£
CLOSE PRICE
USD
4.69
YTD PRICE CHANGE
EGP
3.67
EUR
USD
23.47
23.43
22.86
23.03
19.72
19.99
20.06
19.63
19.77
18.70
18.77
18.79
18.64
Week 4
ALEXANDRIA MINERAL OILS CO. CLOSE PRICE
EXCHANGE RATES
23.18
18.51
CURRENCY
€
British Pound
NATIONAL DRILLING CURRENCY
$
Week 5
Week 1
Week 2
MAY
Week 3
JUNE
YTD PRICE CHANGE
0.27 CAPITAL MARKET INDICATORS EGX 30
EGYPT GAS CURRENCY
CLOSE PRICE
EGP
30.26
CLOSE PRICE
EGP
7.69
16.15
10,235
10,201
10,008
1.746
YTD PRICE CHANGE
1.41
Source of Raw Data: CBE, CAPMAS, Egyptian Exchange, IHS Markit
30 | EGYPT OIL & GAS NEWSPAPER
EGX 100 EWI
YTD PRICE CHANGE
SIDI KERIR PETROCHEMICALS CURRENCY
EGX 70 EWI
9,867
2,765
2.627
22-26 MAY
9,440
1.736
2.609
29 MAY- 2 JUN
1,858
5-9 JUN
2,739 1,854
12-16 JUN
1,779
2,629
19-23 JUN
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EGYPT STATS
SPUDDING MA-1X WELL AT SOUTH DISOUQ CONCESSION
EGYPT’S LNG EXPORT HIGHLIGHTS EGYPT’S LNG EXPORTS VIA IDKU PLANT OVER (JAN-MID MAY) 2022
Completion
Company
Period
21 May
21 bcf
SDX
3 Weeks Spudding
Expected Average Gross
Date
Production
No. of Shipments
Volume
Main Destinations
20
1.3 mmt
Europe & Asia
TESTING ASV-1X WELL IN THE WESTERN DESERT Europe Received 71% of Egypt’s LNG Exports in April 2022
Company
UOG
License
The Abu Sennan
STARTING CONSTRUCTION WORKS OF NEW PETROLEUM ZONE Location
Well's Ranking in Drilling Campaign
El-Tebbin at the “Modern Area”
2nd
Area
1,000 feddans
Depth 3,496 meters
Aim
Infrastructure Expansion for the Petroleum Transportation Grid from & to Upper Egypt NET RESERVOIR (meters)
9
111
The primary Abu Roash "C"
The Secondary Kharita
PLANNED PROJECT
Establishing
Company
Investment
PPC
EGP 1.8 billion
CURRENT CAPACITY OF THE DAMIETTA LIQUEFACTION PLANT Petroleum Storage & Pumping Station
5.2 mmt/y INTERNATIONAL OIL PRICES BRENT PRICES ($/BBL) 11 April
98.48
10 May 25 May
100.08 109.34
29 April
7.24
108.08 114.03
7.39 115.83
119.72 111.74
NATURAL GAS PRICES ($/MMBTU) 6.64
107.99
102.46
03 June 22 June
OPEC BASKET PRICES ($/BBL)
8.97
117.15 111
8.52 6.86
JULY 2022 - ISSUE 187 | 31
i-Trak drilling automation services Get safe, efficient, and predictable drilling performance
Applications
• Wells with inefficient, or inconsistent or unpredictable drilling performance i-Trak™ drilling automation services from Baker Hughes reduce operational risk and well delivery costs by integrating and automating drilling systems.
hydraulics, and drilling optimization services.
• Wells with hole cleaning issues, stability issues, or challenging pressure windows
In today’s complex drilling environment where surface and downhole real-time systems must deliver according to plan in a predictable, efficient, and safe manner, automation of drilling systems is crucial. The drive to reduce HSE risks by moving personnel from wellsite red zones to remote centers is simplified and supported through the integration and automation of drilling systems.
i-Trak services offers two levels of automated control: • Advisory mode: recommended actions or parameters are displayed to the driller who can accept or reject them
• Wells that must be consistently and repetitively drilled
Baker Hughes’s i-Trak drilling automation services improve drilling performance, wellbore quality and trajectory; extend bit life; reduce nonproductive and invisible lost time (NPT, ILT) to deliver wells faster and more economically while reducing operational risk to enable de-manning at the rigsite. These benefits are achieved by aggregating real-time surface and downhole data and annular pressures, and using hybrid physics-based and data-driven models, in combination with automated standardized operating procedures and checklists. Our i-Trak drilling automation services manage well construction via fully closed loop-control of Baker Hughes rotary steerable assemblies, wellbore
• Closed-loop mode: parameter changes and instructions are automatically downlinked to downhole tools or transmitted to rig automation platforms to control surface parameters. In closed-loop mode, the human driller can start/stop the system at any time to make any desired adjustments to the drilling path or operational parameters. The i-Trak service is a fully integrated extension of Baker Hughes’ digital well planning software and ecosystem. This allows i-Trak to monitor and control drilling and reservoir navigation operations based on a continuously updated digital twin of the reservoir and downhole environment. Contact your Baker Hughes representative to learn how i-Trak drilling automation services can help you achieve safer, more efficient, and more predictable performance on your next well.
Copyright 2020 Baker Hughes Company. All rights reserved. 80390 Rev. 9/2021
• Wells using decision-making remote operations or leveraging integrated operations personnel models
Benefits
• Improved safety, lower risks - Openhole pressure regime monitoring with automated alerts
- Swab/surge NPT protection - Reduced personnel risks
• Superior drilling and reservoir navigation efficiency - Improved hole cleaning
- Optimized tripping speeds
- Guaranteed average-excess dogleg severity limits (AEDLS) <1°/100 ft. (30m)
- Increased hydrocarbon recovery • Predictable drilling performance - Increased gross ROP
- Fewer stuck pipe incidents - Reduced NPT and ILT
bakerhughes.com