American Oil and Gas Reporter - June 2023 - 25

Environmental Creativity
Keeps Demonstrating
Industry's Responsibility
Greetings from South Texas!
Spring has sprung, and a busy summer is upon us. I don't
know about you, but I am excited about beach, lake and
swimming pool season in between the shows, conferences and
seminars I will attend during these warm months.
A topic that has piqued my interest lately deals with how
" green " technology is being implemented into the industry. Although
few folks may consider us green, those in the know are
well aware that this industry remains on the cutting edge of
multifaceted technology that aligns with several green initiatives.
An exciting frontier in this realm deals with companies'
acquisition and deployment of vehicle fleets that are fueled primarily
by natural gas or electricity.
Mark Berg of Pioneer Natural Resources reflected on a
related theme during a panel discussion at the 2022 Unconventional
Resources Technology Conference. Commenting on how oil
and gas companies can implement electric assets into their inventory,
he suggested " The technology is there, but the infrastructure
is not. "
Companies such as PetroPro, PetroFac and BJ Energy Solutions
are looking to change that. A recent World Oil article looks at
how BJ Energy is developing and validating next-generation
fracturing equipment to support the industry's efforts to reduce
emissions. Natural-gas-powered direct-drive turbine technologies
make a lot of sense from a power and performance standpoint.
Research continues in the field of electricity-powered blender
systems that further reduce carbon footprints while increasing
operational performance.
Additionally, PetroPro secured a deal last summer for its
first electric-powered hydraulic fracturing fleet, or e-fleet, which
will support the company's simul-frac and zipper frac operations
in the Permian Basin. PetroPro offers a natural gas option, but
predicts the e-fleet will become standard for oil and gas producers
as they move away from legacy diesel-burning fleets.
Meanwhile, last fall's acquisition of US Well Services has
given ProFrac the biggest e-fleet. The company says it aims to
reduce customer emissions without compromising wellsite performance.
One generally undeveloped aspect of e-fleets deals
with how to provide power to electric vehicles and equipment
in remote locations. Several companies are developing technology
such as microgrids that may be used for this purpose. Microgrids
are a self-sufficient energy system that can help shrink emissions
to zero by harnessing renewable energy and storing it for local
use, independent from the central grid. It will be interesting to
learn how the research plays out and how soon e-fleets will
become the industry norm. I will keep you posted.
I hope you didn't miss URTeC, June 13-15 in Denver. This
conference has become one of the best technical events explicitly
tied to unconventional plays. If you didn't make it this year,
make a point to fit it into next year's schedule. Of course, this is
a prime time of the year for industry events, and as such, the
Global Energy Show Exhibition and Conference also took place
June 13-15. The Calgary event included a presentation from
" Although few folks may consider us
green, those in the know are well aware
that this industry remains on the cutting
edge of multifaceted technology that
aligns with several green initiatives.
"
Enercat Technologies' Doug Hamilton, as well as dozens of
other esteemed industry professionals.
Looking ahead to this summer's other travel and networking
opportunities, the Society of Petroleum Engineers International
Conference on Oilfield Chemistry is scheduled for June 28-29
in The Woodlands. It is a great way to explore emerging
chemical technologies and enjoy a technical program that covers
laboratory studies, simulations and field applications.
The Independent Petroleum Association of New Mexico
will gather July 19-20 in Albuquerque, and the Mid-Continent
Energy Forum (formerly known as the YP Energy Forum) is
taking place July 20 in Oklahoma City. This forum is a nontechnical
event open to all oil and gas industry professionals interested
in networking and mutual support.
In August, don't miss the 86th Annual Kansas Independent
Oil & Gas Association Convention & Expo, Aug. 20-22 in
Wichita. After recovering from that event, you can head to
Wyoming for the Rockies Petroleum Conference, Aug. 23-25
in Laramie, and finish the month at the International Meeting
for Applied Geoscience and Energy, Aug. 28-Sept. 1 in Houston.
September also offers several significant events. The Kentucky
Oil & Gas Association will hold its fall meeting Sept. 14 in Mt.
Vernon, In. After that comes a decision between the Gas
Processors Association Midstream Annual Convention, Sept.
17-20 San Antonio, the 24th World Petroleum Conference,
Sept. 17-21 in Calgary or the North Dakota Petroleum Council
Annual Meeting, Sept. 19-21 in Watford City, N.D.
Of course, I cannot fit every event into this column, so check
AOGR's industry calendar for educational or networking events
that align with your operational needs.
Wherever the long and winding road takes you this summer,
enjoy the cool breeze of your air-conditioned car that probably
is still powered by the black gold we count on for many of life's
luxuries. I hope to see you at events throughout the region and
will look forward to the handshakes and stories to follow. ❒
JEREMY VISCOMI is a strategic
marketing expert for the oil and
gas industry. Among his many
roles, he serves as the MidContinent
regional lead for the
Petroleum Technology Transfer
Council, providing independent
operators with access to emerging
technology aimed at reducing
risk and growing profits.
JUNE 2023 25
American Oil and Gas Reporter - June 2023

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