Innovation holds the key to unlocking the energy the world needs in a safe and responsible manner and the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region is no stranger to innovation, a senior Shell executive has said.

Samia Nehme, Shell vice president of deal delivery, was speaking at a panel session entitled: "The Importance of Technology in the Current Environment" at the 20th Middle East Oil & Gas Show and Conference (MEOS) 2017 in Bahrain. The event, which opened yesterday (March 6) runs till March 9.

"With oil and gas resources becoming increasingly difficult to find, unlock and produce, factors including remote environments and complex geologies are pushing industry boundaries and this is where innovation plays a vital role," said Nehme.

"Increasingly, new gas resources tend to be relatively sour, while we face at the same time on the global playing field both tighter sales specifications and stricter environmental emission standards," added Nehme.

Sour gas is so called because it contains hydrogen sulfide (H2S) which is both corrosive and poisonous. Developing sour gas reservoirs requires special materials and chemical processes to clean the H2S out of the hydrocarbon gas before this can be piped to market. The operating procedures for developing sour gas fields must be rigorous and well designed to ensure the safety of personnel.

Shell has over 50 years' experience in gas treatment, and the company's licensed technology is used in more than 1,200 plants worldwide. Shell recently developed a novel response to sour gas: a simplified integrated gas processing design.

Nehme stated: "This new gas processing concept needs less equipment, and is easier to operate, than traditional line-ups. It is also very flexible, and can deal with a wide range of gas volumes and compositions and it delivers ultra-low sulfur oxide (SOx) emissions, well below World Bank Standards. The simplified plant is therefore a sustainable technology solution, both environmentally and economically."

On renewable energy solutions, she highlighted that "For the longer term, Shell's new energies business is actively exploring opportunities where the commercial value is clear. We have invested in the past, and we intend to continue to invest in new opportunities at scale in the future."

In Oman, Shell is involved via Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) in the GlassPoint project. Over the last 15 years, Shell has used enhanced oil recovery techniques involving the injection of gas to boost recovery rates of crude oil in Oman. In a new approach using renewable energy, the GlassPoint solar project has been designed to use solar energy to produce steam which is injected into reservoirs at the Amal oil field, making viscose oil easier to extract. When fully operational, much of the gas currently being injected into the field will be freed up for other uses.

Annually, Shell invests more than $1 billion on R&D. Since 2007, the company has spent more on research and development than any other international oil and gas company, the company said.

This year, at MEOS 2017, the Shell stand consists of five main attractions including two interactive virtual reality stations which showcase Shell's experience in subsurface and wells software as well as a tour of the GlassPoint project in Oman. There is also a virtual interactive golf range simulated along the entire length of Shell's Prelude Floating Liquefied Natural Gas (FLNG) project. In addition, the stand features an Integrated Gas Value Chain application through a custom-designed display.

Visitors will also get to see the 'made in Saudi Arabia' Shell Eco-marathon car which was built by a student team from King Saud University who participated in the competition in 2015. - TradeArabia News Service