Business and innovation

University star-gazers may provide lifeline to Scotland's oil fields

Scotland’s oil fields could be given a life extension under plans by a Lanarkshire based company and university experts to develop a state-of-the-art computer tool.

Sciencesoft and the University of Glasgow have teamed up to work on the unique software package which will allow energy companies rapidly evaluate methods to improve the recovery of oil from their reservoirs.

The project has already attracted worldwide interest from global giants, who could make significant financial gains through improvements in oil recovery.

The £75,000 initiative developed from an initial approach by the University's Research & Enterprise department, which aims to build links between the educational institution and small and medium sized businesses in the west of Scotland.

The collaboration led to a successful funding bid from the Scottish Executive’s SCORE programme and has enabled Dr Richard Barrett, an expert from Physics and Astronomy to work on the project as part of a year long placement with the company.

The company, Motherwell-based Sciencesoft, develops and supplies technical computing software to the oil and gas industry.

Dr Lindsay Wood, the company’s head of research and development, said: “This is potentially an exciting breakthrough as it will allow oil and gas companies to look at ways to extend the life of their oil reserves in a simple and efficient manner.

“Oil fields are multi-billion dollar assets, so even an improvement of 1% in the total oil recovery can be financially attractive and we anticipate any software package which allows oil companies to realise this improvement will be highly sought after.”

He added: “This whole venture has spun out from an approach by the University who have been working closely with us over the past year. By tapping into the services available at the University, we have been able to push ahead with this development more quickly and cost effectively than would otherwise have been the case.”

The oil industry currently use computer models of reservoirs which show how much oil is present, where it is located, and how easy it will be to extract.

Reservoir engineers use these models, calculated in a complex technical program, along with considerable knowledge and experience, to select a method which maximises oil recovery while minimising economic and environmental costs.

However, incomplete knowledge of reservoir conditions due to the remote physical location of the reservoir can mean this is as much an art as a science.

The software being developed by Sciencesoft will place reservoir engineers’ analysis on a firmer footing and allow companies to evaluate schemes such as injecting water into reservoirs to force more oil out of them.

Dr Fraser Rowan, Business Development Manager at the University , said: “This is an excellent example of how the University can share its expertise and facilities with an SME with the aim of helping them become more innovative and stay one step ahead in a fast-paced business environment.

“We are delighted to have been able to find a solution which matches the needs of Sciencesoft in developing this innovative software and they have been able to benefit from getting the best out of what the University can offer.”

Commenting on the project, Dr Declan Diver, a plasma scientist from the University of Glasgow’s Astronomy and Astrophysics group, said: “The data and simulation techniques used in astronomy and plasma physics are very similar to those that will be harnessed by Sciencesoft for a more sophisticated approach to modelling in the oil industry.

“The University is delighted that common scientific approaches can be mutually beneficial in both academia and industry, and we look forward to working with Sciencesoft over the next year.”