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Shale Gas Southern Africa – Understanding The Risks And Opportunities Of Shale Gas Exploration And Production

In September 2012 the South Africa government lifted the moratorium on Shale Gas exploration and thus began a process of bringing Shale Gas into the South African energy mix as laid out in the IRP Framework.

In December 2012, the British government gave the go-ahead for Shale Gas exploration to resume.

In 2012, Algeria also announced that it would pursue shale gas exploration in an attempt to move towards unconventional fossil fuels, and a more secure energy future.

Earlier this year the Chinese government announced that it would boost Shale Gas Development as China’s demand for energy continues to increase.

Shale Gas exploitation has a learning curve whereby South Africa’s entry places it at the bottom of the curve with a long way to go. Although the South African Government lifted the moratorium on Shale Gas it placed condition of: No fracturing would be allowed to take place; and only exploratory drilling would be allowed along with geological testing. These conditions will prohibit adequate Shale Gas resource evaluation.

In the meantime, these conditions are in place in order to give the government and regulators time to establish the appropriate regulations, controls and co-ordination systems that are needed for shale gas exploration in South Africa. The government would establish a monitoring committee and will recommend authorising Hydraulic Fracturing “under strict supervision of the monitoring committee”. The South African government estimate that this period would take between 6 – 12 months.

While many people feel this was perhaps that wrong way to move forward, environmental and legal specialists agree that to allow total exploration to take place without correct checks and balances in place could have disastrous results. There are many challenges ahead for South Africa and shale gas exploration. Understanding the risks is equally as important as knowing the rewards.

South Africa has the opportunity to learn from mistakes made in other more mature markets like America and at a fraction of the cost; in the meantime the gas is safe in the ground and not going anywhere.

Regulators and government at all levels, advisors, engineers, O&G companies and all other participants in South Africa’s shale gas market all have a lot to learn about Shale Gas, the risks, the rewards and the total life-cycle of the shale gas exploration process.

Shale Gas has given America’s economy a major boost and it can do the same for South Africa. However, it has to be done in a manner that is environmentally, socially and economically sound.

Shale Gas South Africa aims to explore the lifecycle of Shale Gas exploitation examining part of the process from Exploration to well-site closure and remediation.

The conference will bring together professionals from the Shale Gas industry to highlight the importance of understanding and mastering best practise.

Shale Gas South Africa will illustrate by case studies and practical examples how environmental disaster can be the exception rather than the norm.

Benefits of attending will include learning about and exchanging ideas around the following:-

Environmental Regulations
Resource Regulations
How BEE will be applied to License Applications
Regulations for water
Exploration license application process
Environmental Impact Assessments
Exploring for shale gas in water scarce regions
Geological data a South African Challenge for Shale Gas operators
Water requirements for Shale Gas operators
Groundwater and surface water management
Frac-fluid content, classification and reporting
Alternative(Green) fracturing fluids
Coal-bed methane Fracturing
The life-cycle of methane  gas exploration
Vertical and Horizontal Drilling
Advances in completion technology and practise
Well production
Well-site closure and remediation
Our esteemed speaker panel includes:-

Diego Sarmiento – ES Production Business Development Manager Europe & Africa @ MI Swaco – International Presentation
Dr Nathan Hancock – Director Research and Development @ Oasys Water – International Presentation
Ricardo Melo – Technical Support Manager Pressure Pumping Africa @ Baker Hughes – International Presentation
Dave Soberheim – Principal Engineer & Marcom Manager @ Schlumberger – International Presentation
John Langhus – Managing Director @ Sunbird Energy
Joel Raphela –Deputy Director General @ Department of Mineral Resources
Mark Gordon – Director – Environmental Impact Evaluation @ Department of Environmental Affairs
Dr Luke Havemann – @ Havemann Inc
John Ferraz – Director Projects & Projects Finance Director @ ENS
Luc Chevallier – Manager Western, Northern Cape & Marine @ Dept of Geosciences
Mike Smart – Deputy Director @ Department of Water Affairs
Doug Cole – Senior Specialist Scientist @ Department of Geosciences
Dr Chris Hartnady – Technical Director @ Umvoto
Mark Rivenbark – Eastern Hemisphere Director @ Packers Plus Energy – International Presentation
Feroze Din – VP Integrate Reservoir Solutions @ Core Laboratories – International Presentation
James McDougall – VP Marketing @ Baker Hughes – International Presentation
Kris Ravi – Technology Fellow @ Halliburton – International Presentation
Wilbert Matthews – GM @ Mateus Petroleum Consultants

Event Date: 
Monday, May 27, 2013 to Wednesday, May 29, 2013
Organisation Name: 
Aminergy
Event Venue: 
Cnr Wale & St Georges Streets
Cape Town
South Africa
Organiser Email: 
Organiser Contact Number: 
27126610515