Cape Town – The Minister of Energy Ben Martins today applauded South Africa’s state-owned oil and gas company PetroSA in the launch of a R15-million geoscience collaboration visualisation and technology centre which will prove a boost to gas exploration and drilling.
“With the intellectual capital that we have here I expect us to build on this and double what we have been able to achieve thus far,” said Martins, at a ceremony at PetroSA offices in the city to open the centre.
Geoscientists, engineers and technical officials will be able to collaborate together in the Ulwazi centre, which is equipped with various screens and computers that can display 3D imaging of subsurface formations, to make better informed and faster decisions when drilling for gas.
The centre can also be used on a daily basis to monitor and guide drilling operations for PetroSA’s gas drilling project Ikhwezi, located off the East Coast to sustain its gas-to-liquids refinery in Mossel Bay.
For example, the centre would allow scientists and engineers to quickly compare and update information in screens, without having to print out documents and graphs.
Using data fed back from drilling bits on such things as sand or rock type or resistivity of the substance being drilled, officials will also be able to adjust where exactly to drill, compare data from old drilling sites and make changes to the angle or direction of its active drill bits.
This is particularly useful in the currently drilling in the Ikhwezi project where horizontal drilling is now taking place 1.5km along the basin at a depth of 4km from the surface.
“Every journey begins with one small step and I would like to believe that with the facility we have been able to realise this single step on this great journey that PetroSA still has a contribution to make,” said Martins.
The centre will also be used to train PetroSA’s new generation of scientists and engineers.
Martins said he hoped that the facility could also be used by neighbouring African countries to search for gas and oil.
He said he also hoped that the centre would help promote maths and science education in the country.
“PetroSA should invite learners and students from primary schools, high schools and tertiary institutions to visit the centre.
“In the long run, exposing young people to this innovation will contribute to skills development in the technology sector which is a driver of a modern economy,” said Martins. – SAnews.gov.za
