GE-Statoil Initiative Launches Second Open Innovation Challenge Focused on Water Reduction and Reuse

Ambitious joint-industry initiative seeks innovative ideas to reduce and reuse water in onshore shale development

HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- GE and Statoil’s Sustainability Collaboration has launched the call for entries for its second Open Innovation Challenge focusing on water usage in the development of onshore unconventional oil and gas reservoirs. Through crowd sourcing, the Challenge seeks to find innovative solutions for both reducing fresh water usage and treating and reusing water from development activities—while maintaining or improving productivity.

“This collaboration with Statoil is centered on both our companies’ commitment to continued investment in technology and innovation to help develop low-cost and more efficient energy solutions. We recognize that great ideas transcend any one company or geography, which is why we’ve launched this open innovation challenge,” said Eric Gebhardt, Chief Technology Officer, GE Oil and Gas. “We invite individual innovators, institutions and companies—large and small— from around the world to co-develop potential solutions to make energy production more sustainable by improving the use of water in unconventional operations.”

Water, a precious natural resource, represents one of the greatest environmental stewardship challenges facing the oil and gas industry. Companies involved in onshore unconventional development and production, in particular, have a strong incentive to develop technologies and methods that reduce fresh water usage, as well as treat and recycle water that returns to the surface as part of their operations.

“Ideas at any scale are welcome,” said Lars Høier, Senior Vice President, Research, Development & Innovation, Statoil ASA. “Even incremental strides in improving water management can add up to significant conservation gains. Wherever possible we try to reduce freshwater usage; for example we recently successfully fractured two wells with 100% produced water, saving 3.5 million gallons of freshwater per well – and we are eager to do more to help move the industry towards better water conservation.”

The collaboration was launched in January as an ambitious joint technology-focused program to drive industrial solutions to some of the biggest challenges facing global oil and gas production. The initiative seeks to reduce the environmental impact of oil and gas development and production by accelerating the development of environmentally and economically sustainable energy solutions.

In this second challenge, up to five winning entries will win a prize of $25,000 USD each and the opportunity to be eligible to receive additional funding from an available discretionary prize pool of $375,000 USD in development funds. Also, GE Oil & Gas and Statoil will leverage their joint assets and resources to support the commercialization of the winning submissions.

The launch of the Water Challenge “Reduced Use and Reuse of Water in Onshore Operations” comes just as the Sand Challenge (“Reduced Use of Sand in Onshore Operations”) draws to a close. The Sand Challenge focused on reducing the amount of (or replacing) sand required to drill and maintain productive wells. Finalists in that Challenge will be announced later in July.

For more information on the challenge please visit poweringcollaboration.com for updates, submission forms, and winner and finalist profiles.

Collaborating to Drive Efficiency through Innovation

The Powering Collaboration joint technology-focused program is aimed at driving an industrial response to some of the biggest challenges facing global oil and gas production, including flaring, CO2 and methane emissions and water usage, while also optimizing business operations.

The joint program focuses on developing new approaches to create efficient, low-cost technologies for oil and shale gas production while simultaneously reducing emissions. In its initial stage, the collaboration is building on a foundation of concrete projects already initiated that address key sustainability dimensions of the industry, including:

• Reduce flaring and lower CO2 intensity through innovative application of CNG In A Box™ as part of the innovative Last Mile Fueling solution: Provide a full-service natural gas fueling solution for operations by capturing, compressing and using natural gas that would be otherwise flared at well sites. Compressed natural gas (CNG) can be used to fuel rigs, vehicles, and other equipment thereby reducing the use of or replacing the need for diesel.
• Reduce water usage through CO2 Stimulation: Use liquefied CO2 stimulation to both reduce water usage in fracturing operations and increase oil and gas production.
• Increase fuel efficiency through Gas Compressor Optimization: Increase performance, efficiency and extend maintenance intervals through optimization of gas compressor components.
• Increase fuel efficiency with Turbine Online Water Wash technology: Increase performance; reduce planned and unplanned turbine downtime by cleaning turbines during operation.

About GE

GE (NYSE: GE) works on things that matter. The best people and the best technologies taking on the toughest challenges. Finding solutions in energy, health and home, transportation and finance. Building, powering, moving and curing the world. Not just imagining. Doing. GE works. For more information, visit the company's website at www.ge.com.

About GE Oil & Gas

GE Oil & Gas works on the things that matter in the oil and gas industry. In collaboration with our customers, we push the boundaries of technology to bring energy to the world. From extraction to transportation to end use, we address today's toughest challenges in order to fuel the future. Follow GE Oil & Gas on Twitter @GE_OilandGas.

About Statoil

Statoil is an international energy company with operations in 34 countries. Building on 40 years of experience from oil and gas production on the Norwegian continental shelf, we are committed to accommodating the world's energy needs in a responsible manner, applying technology and creating innovative business solutions. Statoil's headquarter is in Stavanger, Norway with approximately 23,000 employees worldwide, and the company is listed on the New York and Oslo stock exchanges.

Subject to Official Rules http://bit.ly/1UssgHU. Must submit at least one Entry by 5 pm ET on September 24, 2015 to be eligible. Must be 18 years of age or older to participate. Free NineSigma account and internet access required. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited. Up to 5 cash prizes available (USD $25,000 each) plus up to 5 grant awards (from USD $375,000 Total Grant Pool). Grants subject to agreed-upon business relationship and other conditions. Winning depends on Entrant’s skills in meeting judging criteria. Sponsors reserve right not to award all prizes depending on quality of Entries received.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20150707005851/en/

GE Oil & Gas
Stephanie Cathcart, 202-637-4108
Head of External Affairs
[email protected]
or
Statoil
Kirsten Henriksen, 713-269-8927
Communications Manager – US Onshore
[email protected]

Source: GE

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