WHEN TALKING ABOUT SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS, SDG 17 SAYS IT ALL!

We must focus on sustainable development goals (SDGs) not only for achieving national and global goals for the 2030 agenda but also because these goals are very important for human beings. When SDGs were first introduced and adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015, they were appropriately developed to cover all the concerns of people to have a better life, securing peace and prosperity for people and the planet. However, unexpected and unprecedented circumstances have been experienced by the world so everyone became confused about how these SDGs and corresponding targets could be achieved. Many efforts have been exerted to ensure the possibility of achieving these goals despite all that happened due to the pandemic and the current war between Russia and Ukraine. Many initiatives are being implemented, while others are being in place.

If I were to be asked which SDG is the most important from a business point of view, my direct answer would be SDG-8 and SDG-17, regardless of the expected arguments that could be raised by environmentalists as I consider myself a realistic environmentalist.

In these few words, let’s focus on SDG 17 considering that it says it all.

SDG 17 is “partnerships for the goals,” I claim to support the fact that all organizations, regardless of their size or nature, have to find more opportunities for partnership to unite the world to be able to face the current challenges.

Partnership and inclusion are much better than exclusion based on any specific perspective and it is the time to avoid any extreme opinions, such as considering the oil and gas industry as the enemy of climate action. Those environmentalists who support the noneasily achievable concept of defossilization should rather support the achievable objective of decarbonization, where the oil and gas industry could play a significant role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Hence, I strongly support the idea that better beats the best where improvement and optimization are the only way to achieve any goal ever.

During COP27, the Egyptian Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources demonstrated its commitment to climate action by sponsoring Decarbonization Day, as one of the thematic days, where many success stories for climate action measures and initiatives in the petroleum sector were introduced. The oil and gas sector in Egypt and all over the world have many plans to incorporate renewable energy into the existing industrial processes. What had been achieved in COP 27 will last for all the next COPs and Oil and Gas companies or let’s rename them as energy companies will not be excluded or disregarded anymore.

One good example of partnership is what was introduced in the collaboration between the United Nations for Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the Egyptian Petrochemical Holding Company (ECHEM) to build a peer-topeer network (P2P) in the petrochemical industry, where Sidi Kerir Petrochemicals Co. (Sidpec) led this P2P to transfer knowledge and expertise in energy management systems (EnMS), energy efficiency optimization, and solar heating for industrial processes (SHIP) to its peers in petrochemical companies to disseminate the concept of decarbonization and demonstrate the commitment of petrochemical sector towards climate action.

Mohamed Salaheldin

Energy Expert Sidpec - Quality, Energy & Excellence General Manager

BED 1-7 FIRST SLICKWATER FRACTURING IN EGYPT

Being a promising technology with huge potential, slickwater fracturing is a new approach that has proven to be less costly, more environmentally friendly, and more effective than many other types of hydraulic fracturing. It uses water as the primary fracturing fluid and has gained prominence as an innovative oil and gas extraction method, particularly for tight formations, such as shales.

Egypt’s first slickwater fracturing job was performed lately to produce a 23 API oil. This is from the known unconventional Abu Roash F reservoir by TAG OIL Egypt on their first well BED 1-7.

A slickwater fracturing mixing and pumping program involves a set of procedures to mix and pump slickwater into a wellbore to create fractures in the surrounding rock. This usually involves the following steps:

☑ Water preparation: Water used for slickwater fracturing is purified using chemicals to remove contaminants and impurities to improve its flow properties.

☑ Chemical addition: Minute amounts of chemicals are added to the water to enhance its flow properties and prevent corrosion. The type and amount of chemicals that are to be added depends on the specific wellbore and formation.

☑ Sand addition: This also involves adding sand to the slickwater to prop open the fractures within the rock. The amount of sand added will vary and should be based on the specific wellbore and formation.

☑ Pumping: This step involves pumping slickwater into the wellbore at high pressure. The extremely high pressure of the slickwater will force the water to break through the rock and form significant fractures. Sand will then be pumped into these fractures to prop them open.

☑ Fracturing monitoring: Personnel should closely monitor the fracturing process to make sure the fractures are formed as planned. This step in the process is completed using a number of different tools, including acoustic sensors and pressure gauges.

Careful planning and execution of slickwater fracturing are needed for the best results in this complex process. Having a comprehensive and detailed understanding of the specific wellbore and formation is really essential for this approach to be a success.

Overall, slickwater fracturing is less costly, more eco-friendly than other types of hydraulic fracturing, and has successfully proven its effectiveness as an oil and gas extraction method, particularly for unconventional reservoirs.

Nonetheless, it should be noted that slickwater fracturing can cause water contamination and earthquakes. It can also use a large supply of water as well.

There are a number of best practices that should be used when designing and executing a slickwater fracturing mixing and pumping program, which include the use of the latest technology and equipment, hiring the most experienced personnel available, strictly following all safety regulations, and closely monitoring the fracturing process.

Hassan Salem

Reservoir Studies, The Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation

VALUE AND VOLUME OF SHARES TRADED FOR ENERGY & SUPPORT SERVICES SECTOR IN APRIL 2023

PERFORMANCE OF PETROLEUM COMPANIES IN THE EGYPTIAN EXCHANGE IN APRIL 2023

Source of Raw Data: CBE, CAPMAS, Egyptian Exchange, PMI by S&P Global