http://www.oil-itf.com/index/news-app/section.General News from www.oil-itf.com en 2012-05-18T05:00:43300:10 hourly 1 1970-01-01T00:00+00:00 http://www.oil-itf.com/index/news-app/story.127/title.itf-to-launch-us-oil-and-gas-technology-cluster-for-operators-to-share-costs-and-risks-of-bringing-new-ideas-to-market ITF, the industry technology facilitator for the global oil and gas industry, is getting set to launch a cluster group for the US that will focus solely on solving major technology challenges hampering exploration and production. ITF member Shell has agreed to host the first event at its Houston offices as ITF urges other operators to get behind the initiative that will bring companies together to share the risks and costs of bringing new technology to market in North America.   Announcing the plans at the Offshore Technology Conference in Houston, ITF wants to secure $15 million from the region by 2015 for groundbreaking solutions to problem areas such as seismic imaging and unconventional reservoirs. The cluster group will bring operator and service companies together to identify common technology challenges within the region and then seek commitment on collaborating to overcome them. Neil Poxon, managing director of ITF said: “We want operators with interests in the US to get behind collaboration through this dedicated cluster group. We are confident that it will speed up the development of technologies that are sorely needed to support the capture of harder-to-reach reserves. The ITF model has been proven around the world and this targeted approach to technology development will benefit the industry as a whole as well as academia and companies with the brightest ideas.” The first event will take place in September at Shell’s Houston offices with presentations from major operators including Total’s Wafik Beydoun, President and CEO E&P Research and Technology USA.   Around $6 million has been distributed to US and Canadian research institutes and companies through ITF so far. ITF has launched more than 180 JIPs globally with targets to increase projects in the US by 25% over the next three years. Neil Poxon added: “Our collaboration model for funding is proven to work and following our strategy to set up bases in key international hubs, we are working with our members to rapidly target the specific challenges that each of these regions faces. Technology developers can receive up to 100% funding and unlike other programs, we ensure that they retain full intellectual property rights.” ITF is a not-for-profit organization headquartered in Aberdeen, Scotland and wholly owned by its membership of 30 operator and service companies. ITF is exhibiting at OTC on the Scottish Pavilion, stand no. 2175/7. General 2012-04-30 http://www.oil-itf.com/index/news-app/story.125/title.technology-strategy-board-to-invest-up-to-1-million-in-oil-and-gas-innovation The Technology Strategy Board have announced a new competition for feasibility studies in oil and gas. General 2012-04-26 http://www.oil-itf.com/index/news-app/story.126/title.itf-s-quackers-around-the-world-mission-for-befriend-a-child Staff at ITF are attempting to race two rubber ducks in Dons’ strips around the world to raise thousands of pounds for Befriend A Child. Sixteen members of the team scaled Bennachie to bid farewell to Donald and Daisy on April 19th, sending the two plucky ducks on their travels. Donald and Daisy were hidden in a geocache – a treasure chest which has its coordinates posted online so that budding treasure hunters can navigate their way to the bounty and take part in the adventure. Donald and Daisy are going head to head to see who can fly the furthest in the next 12 months. The mission is for the mighty ducks to travel to every ITF office to raise funds for the children’s charity, clocking up 25,000 miles on their journey. Befriend A Child aims to help children and young people in Aberdeen who are identified as suffering or at risk. Formed in 1975, it is Scotland’s oldest befriending service for deprived and vulnerable children. Neil Poxon, managing director at ITF, said: “Befriend A Child is a very important charity benefitting young people in need locally. The two teams behind Donald and Daisy are sure to get into the competitive spirit in this round the world race to raise money for this worthy cause. We will be keeping a close eye on the ducks to see how they are getting on, and hope that we can raise a lot of money and awareness of such an important charity in the process.” Both Donald and Daisy have their own Travel Bug – a tracker tag to follow their migration around the globe which will hopefully reach ITF hubs in Houston, Abu Dhabi, Perth and Kuala Lumpur, raising as much money as possible on the way. ITF has made Befriend A Child its charity of the year and has further plans to raise money for the cause. The firm is hosting a bake sale and five members of staff are also taking part in the Baker Hughes 10k on May 20th. Duncan Peter, Fundraising Development Manager at Befriend A Child, said: “We are delighted to have the support of ITF for the coming year, and are excited about the creative ideas that the staff have come up with. “We are always looking to put the fun into fundraising and the events that ITF have planned certainly should achieve that. I’m looking forward to the chance to get to know the staff and engage with them as they raise funds for our on-going work with disadvantaged and vulnerable young people in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire.” To track the ducks on their journey visit; http://www.geocaching.com/track/details.aspx?tracker=TB4XQ30 for Daisy, and http://www.geocaching.com/track/details.aspx?tracker=TB4XQ31 for Donald.. If you would like to donate towards ITF’s fundraising efforts please visit http://www.mycharitypage.com/itf. General 2012-04-25 http://www.oil-itf.com/index/news-app/story.124/title.itf-boosts-membership-with-leading-service-companies ITF announces boost to membership with Siemens and Petrofac. General 2012-03-28 http://www.oil-itf.com/index/news-app/story.123/title.itf-drives-forward-middle-east-oil-and-gas-technology-development Joint industry project to prove ITF process in the region General 2012-03-22 http://www.oil-itf.com/index/news-app/story.122/title.itf-signs-up-thailand-s-pttep Major focus on oil and gas funding in the Asia-Pacific region General 2012-03-06 http://www.oil-itf.com/index/news-app/story.121/title.gulf-oil-and-gas-technology-collaboration-to-be-debated-by-major-players ITF is bringing more than 30 leading oil and gas organisations in the Middle East together to discuss the opportunities and challenges of collaborating on technology development in the GCC. General 2012-02-23 http://www.oil-itf.com/index/news-app/story.120/title.developers-encouraged-to-join-itf-s-technology-street-at-adipec-2012 ITF is inviting technology developers who are interested in showcasing their innovative solutions to the Middle East oil and gas market to join ITF's bespoke 'Technology Street' at the high profile ADIPEC conference and exhibition. General 2012-02-20 http://www.oil-itf.com/index/news-app/story.119/title.oil-and-gas-companies-unite-to-drive-australia-s-technology-development Established by ITF, major oil and gas companies have formed a dedicated cluster group in Australia to collaborate on identifying common technology challenges and potential solutions. General 2012-02-17