Shale Gas South Africa

Joining leading local, regional and international organisations at what promises to be the largest Shale gas conference in the region to date. The conference will explore and unpack the latest local and international opportunities, risks and best practise in Shale Gas Exploration and production.

The conference features a leading panel of international and local experts including:-
•Charlotte Batson - Principal @ Batson and Company (International)
•John Langhus - Manaing Director International @ Forest Exploration (International)
•Dr Barry Stevens - President @ TBD America (International)
•Dr Michael Prohaska @ Chair of the EFD European Chapter (International)
•Paul Scagnetti - VP & GM @ FEI (International)
•Dr Kris Ravi - Chief Technical Professional @ Halliburton (International)
•James Elston - CEO @ Palladian Energy (International)
•Robert Lestz - Chief Technology Officer @ Gasfrac (International)
•Wim Plaizier - Head of the Africa region @ AT Kearney
•Charl Moller - CEO @ Transnet Pipelines
•Paul Eardley-Taylor - Head of Oil and Gas South & Southern Africa @ Standard bank
•Rob Jeffrey - Managing Director @ Econometrix
•Muzi Mkhize - Chief Director Hydrocarbons @ Department of Energy
•Dr John Decker - Principal Geologist @ Petroleum Agency SA
•Dr Luke Havemann - MD @ Havemann Inc
•Dr Mike du Pontes - CEO @ iGas
•Dr Chris Hartnady - Technical Director @ Umvoto Africa
•Professor Gerrit van Tonder - Professor @ Ground Water Institute

Topics to be covered include:-
•Energy Security - South Africa's Integrated Resource Plan and the Potential Shale Gas Impact on Energy planning, pricing and Economics; positive or negative impact for the consumers?
•Value Added Proposition - Maximizing the Shale Gas resource in South Africa's power generation, steel, petrochemicals, fertilizers, transport, fuel and consumer gas consumption industries.
•SA's Current and Future Natural Gas Infrastructure - Building pipelines, gas plants, LNG plants, GTL refining, distribution systems and sales networks
•Economics and Finance - How to finance, build and profit from the future Natural Gas Infrastructure Needs. Local versus International partnerships.
•Regulatory Regime/MPRDA & NEMA -South Africa's Legal and Regulatory Framework - Can they effectively manage Shale Gas Exploration, Development, Production, Distribution, Sales and Consumption?
•Karoo and South Africa Water Resources - Existing Surface and Subsurface Water Resource Options
•Hydraulic Fracturing Waste and Waste Disposal - How to best manage the disposal of Fluids, Chemicals and Drill Cuttings generated from Shale Gas operations.
•Shale Gas Exploration and Production Geology - Identifying Targets Zones and Their Relationship to Drilling, Completion and Productivity
•Shale Gas Drilling, Completion and Production Programs - Technology to maximize production and protect the environment. Casing, cementing, hydraulic fracturing (Water, gel, Propane).
•Seismic Events and Shale Gas Exploitation - Minor seismic events related to Hydraulic fracturing and Waste water disposal.
•Infrastructure, Supply, Logistics Challenges - South Africa's ability to support Shale Gas exploitation and maximise and grow local capacity.
•Skills Audit for Shale Gas exploitation in South Africa - Skills requirements and meeting the challenges locally.
•Alternative Energy Sources - How Shale Gas can be an intermediate answer to the energy shortages and help finance Alternative Energy sources.

Benefits of attending will include learning about and exchanges ideas around the following:-
•South Africa's Integrated Electricity Resource Plan 2010-2030 - The diversity of energy sources and the potential roles of the existing such as coal and nuclear. The intermediate and future role of shale gas and how this can enhance the long-term role of wind and solar.
•USA Shale Gas Impact - In 2001 the average wellhead price of natural gas was $4.85/million cubic foot per the US Energy Information Agency (EIA). By mid 2003 that price had increased to $5.50/mcf or 13%. The EIA's March 2012 wellhead price was now at $2.25/mcf. This dramatic 60% price decrease below the 2003 wellhead price is directly attributable to the huge success in shale gas exploration and production. Some are saying that the impact of the USA shale gas successes is leading to significant energy independence.
The IRP 2010 included both CCGT fuelled by LNG and OCGT fuelled by diesel. At the recent COP17 in Durban Eskom discussed its "generation plant mix" whereby they planned to use various technologies to generate electricity and to investigate various forms of energy and renewable energy sources. Eskom currently has plans for their Coega Integrated LNG to Power Project (CIP) using imported LNG. Sasol is currently developing their R1.8-billion, 140 MW gas-fired power project currently under development at Sasolburg along with a feasibility investigation into a 140 MW gas-fired power plant near Ressano Garcia, in Mozambique. All three of these projects are currently dependent on imported gas. This move from coal to natural gas could create a significant demand for local resources. The Karoo shale gas fed to these projects would provide a value added aspect to these local resources and have a significant economic growth impact. Can South Africa combine shale gas in this as part of the total mix? If so, how does South Africa progress this from conception to reality?
•Environment - Natural resource extraction and the associated processes have created an often hostile atmosphere with those concerned with protecting the environment. A major challenge is for government, extraction companies and the environmental entities to find common ground and cooperate as opposed to confrontation. Can South Africa meet this challenge?
•Peak Oil - In 1956 Dr. M. King Hubbert predicted that global oil production would peak in about 1970 and decline thereafter. In 1975 Dr. Hubbert revised his "Peak Oil" prediction to occur in 1995. This same prediction is also applied to the supply of coal. What has caused this "peak oil" life to move and does it exist? What are some of the technologies that E&P companies will employ to further extend the "peak oil"? Are these new technologies compatible with fragile ecosystems such as those in the Karoo? If so, will the E&P companies be able to employee technologies, give consideration to the environment and still make a reasonable profit without passing on exorbitant costs to the consumers? Are the environmental entities flexible enough to allow the risks to the environment? Can South Africa ignore this opportunity?
•Water - Drilling, completing and the hydraulic fracturing in the Karoo will require large quantities of water in an area where there is a water deficit. This precious resource will always be critical focus point from the sourcing, management, contamination and the community perspective. The World Economic Forum has openly declared the Water-Food-Energy-Climate Nexus a major threat facing our planet. This coupled with global and local developments in the Acid Mine Drainage space means that the South Africa Shale gas players will need to understand, establish and operate within clear guidelines to ensure that water protection is AT LEAST as important as Shale Gas extraction. What are the real threats and how does South Africa and the petroleum operators ensure that lessons from the international community are employed in order to avoid or at least minimize the effects on the Water-Food-Climate and yet secure the Energy portion of that important chain?
•Chemicals - South Africa is closely following the USA in development, environmental and regulatory approach to the shale gas industry. Shale Gas markets experts have indicated that there are indeed unique environmental, geographical, geological and geophysical differences between South Africa and the US. Do these differences warrant rejection of these comparisons and if so, why?
•Pollution, Contamination and Waste Disposal - Surface and groundwater chemical contaminations are focal points of hydraulic fracturing opponents. These concerns have caused the call for moratoriums and outright banning of hydraulic fracturing in several USA states and internationally. These stumbling blocks have caused the petroleum industry to develop new hydraulic fracturing chemicals and process that may be more environmentally friendly. What are these chemicals and what are the determinants for variation?
•Well Design, Operations and Technology - Surface and subsurface contamination during the well operations is highly dependent on employing the best technologies. These include casing and cementing procedures, surface control of fluids, flow-back operations and waste disposal. Some estimates show that the South Africa shale gas production may commence within the next 7-10 years. During this period what new technologies will be developed that will minimize the chance of environmental catastrophes?

Who should attend:-
•Oil & Gas Operators
•Oil & Gas Service Contractors
•Geologists
•Technology and Solutions Vendors
•Consultants
•Regulators
•Engineering professionals
•Legal advisors
•Financiers
•Environmental Practitioners
•Transport operators
•Local Government Executives
•Academics

Date: 22 October 2012 to 24 October 2012
Time: 08:00 - 17:00
Venue: Lagoon Beach Hotel, Cape Town
Cost: ZAR8995.00