Tracking the future of energy technology

Tracking the future of energy technology

Shell’s Yuri Sebregts talks about the challenge of storing energy.

This is a bright innovation to reduce the issue of  pipeline Vandalism . To generate more energy without polluting the atmosphere in a cost effective manner. I love what Shell is doing....... Read Below

You’ve been at Shell for 24 years and have seen many developments in the energy industry. What have you focused on since taking over as Shell’s Chief Technology Officer in early 2015?

Shell’s Yuri Sebregts talks about the challenge of storing energy

The role of technology in our lives has never been more important. As countries around the world work to reach an agreement at the UN climate conference, Shell Chief Technology Officer Yuri Sebregts speaks about the critical role technology can play in lowering carbon emissions. How energy companies can learn from the medical and space industries. And why companies must work harder to turn their bright ideas into commercial opportunities.
Although I started at Shell as an engineer, I’ve since focused most of my career on managing businesses so that they can work as commercially as possible. I’m taking a similar approach here.

We are facing lower oil prices and in this environment, more than ever, it’s my job to find ways to use technology in a more affordable way. That means we need to be better and faster at taking our bright ideas from the laboratory and turning them into commercial assets. We do it, but we could do it better. I often see activities where we’re doing great technical and scientific work but we haven’t given enough thought to how we as a company are going to implement it commercially.

What kinds of technology can help Shell find and produce energy more cost-effectively?

The use of automation and robotics is an important technical development for energy companies. Today, for example, Shell uses aerial drones to inspect flaring stacks at some of Europe’s biggest gas plants. We also use underwater robots that look like something from a James Bond movie to install underwater equipment.

We use an intelligent well-monitoring system that acts like an autopilot on an aircraft. It gathers data from Shell’s oil and gas wells around the world and uses that information to monitor drilling operations remotely in real time, improving efficiency and safety. For example, Shell drilling experts in the UK can oversee a drilling rig in the waters off West Africa. And one expert can oversee many rigs in different locations, saving our company time and money.


Source: Shell