With the growing demand for oil and gas, particularly in the UAE, to meet the ever increasing need for power generation and desalination requirements as well as aiding the ambitions in infrastructure development, immediate attention is now turning towards the exploitation of undeveloped complex reservoirs containing sour oil and gas with significant levels of H2S and CO2. In Abu Dhabi the complexities envisaged in the development of the Shah and Bab fields have led to a rethink as to how best to optimise the gas potential of these sour fields against the considerable financial requirements involved, with the SGD project initiating these significant developments.

Whereas the techniques for removal of H2S and CO2 are well understood, there will always be a need to further develop and improve these processes as well as bringing onstream new technologies as future sour oil and gas production increases in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and other parts of the world.

Allied to these developments are the all important management aspects of HSE, handling, storage, disposal and processing, in addition to the vital issue of ensuring sour oil and gas exploitation is in no way detrimental to the environment. It is envisaged that Sulphur production in Abu Dhabi alone will produce in excess of 10,000 tonnes a day in 2011 as the projects come onstream.

As with previous events, SOGAT 2008 will serve to act as a focus for debate and discussion on these issues not only in the Middle East but it will also provide the unique opportunity to exchange views from recognised experts worldwide.

There are many important technical issues that contribute to the area of Well Completion and it is felt by the Advisory Committee that they should form the foundation of a separate Forum that will be conducted later this year. However, the relationship between H2S and CO2 removal in sour gas reserves is so vital in the current climate that the 2nd International CO2 Forum will be an integral part of SOGAT 2008. Another vital component of SOGAT 2008 is the workshops on ‘Acid Gas Injection and Compression’ and ‘Sulphur Chemistry and Technology’ which serve to not only present the latest findings but also give guidance and a foundation of better understanding on these vital areas.