OREANDA-NEWS  On 25 November was announced, that October saw the 10th International Gas Research Conference of International Gas Union (IGU) – IGRC 2008 in Paris.

The Conference is held once in three years and provides the platform for presenting relevant scientific and technical achievements, discussing the main issues and global research development strategies, exchanging opinions between specialists. The VNIIGAZ delegation, headed by the General Director R.O. Samsonov, Doctor in technical sciences, took active part in IGRC2008.  

The 10th International Gas Research Conference of International Gas Union (IGU) - IGRC2008 was held in a state-of-the-art exhibition complex of “The Centre of Science and Technology – La Villette”. The Conference gathered a large number of participants - over 800 delegates from 38 countries. Achievements and innovative scientific developments of Russian companies were presented by over 50 delegates (most of them – leaders of strategic R&D areas and scientists of Gazprom and VNIIGAZ).  

The issues that R&D companies face in the areas of gas exploration, production, supply and disposal worldwide differentiated this forum from the previous one. The Conference organizers defined the main target as maintaining balance between short-, mid- and long-term research issues. The main focus was given to the correlation between gas business and R&D activities. The conference sessions aimed at fulfillment of the mentioned target could be conveniently divided into three sections.

First, key issues of R&D activity, R&D organization strategy and gas industry development prospects were discussed at plenary sessions, round tables and workshops. Second, technical sessions and poster sessions covered particular R&D developments in gas production, distribution and disposal chains. They were divided according to the corresponding topics– “Exploration and Production” (including LNG), “Storage” (UGS), “Transmission”, “Distribution Networks” and “Disposal”. There were 12 sessions at the conference. Over 45 reports were delivered and over 250 posters-presentations – demonstrated. Third, the innovational technical exhibition presented certain achievements, introduced into particular engineering solutions that have already entered the market or have the marketed prototype.

The organizers of the conference pointed out that in the recent time R&D developments (including those of gas industry) do not satisfy actual current needs of the society, such as increased demand for energy, requirements to environmental safety of power engineering, reduction of environmental impact and consumer expenses by efficient high-technological economic schemes. It was also noted that the global economic crisis makes many gas and service companies decrease budgets for R&D activities.

The presentation “Improvement of science and technology management in Gazprom” delivered by V.V. Rusakova, Head of the Department of Strategic Development of Gazprom and one of the key speakers to the conference, sounded very relevant. V.V. Rusakova highlighted the considerable role of Gazprom in the global gas market and focused attention on trends of planning and financing R&D activities and on the structure of R&D management in Gazprom. R&D subdivisions of the company have accumulated the vast and unique experience in gas and gas condensate field development. The major recent achievements of the company comprise: development of unique gas and gas condensate fields under permafrost conditions, large-scale gas-collecting and processing complexes (including ultra sour gas), large-diameter extensive pipeline systems and Unified gas supply system, which integrates gas fields, trunk pipelines, UGS, distribution networks and ensures reliable and safe gas supplies to consumers. V.V. Rusakova described in detail challenges of innovational development of Gazprom, three levels of R&D management, which provide for the efficient development and strategic forecasting of current R&D activities and their active and fast introduction into practice. V.V. Rusakova also mentioned the need to intensify mutually profitable international scientific-technical cooperation.

VNIIGAZ delegation has made a considerable contribution to IGRC2008. The General director of VNIIGAZ R.O. Samsonov presented the results of the studies of “Main targets of the Russian unified gas supply system sustainable operation under rehabilitation and development”. The session “E&P fit for future” was headed by S.G. Rassokhin, Ph.D. in technical sciences, Head of the Laboratory of physical modeling of multi-phase processes, “Development, operation of natural gas fields and well drilling” Centre, VNIIGAZ. Scientists of VNIIGAZ presented 9 poster reports and delivered a report within “Addressing climate change” session.

Scientific reports and presentations, given by scientists of VNIIGAZ, covered a large scope of issues and proved to be relevant in all conference sessions. The oral presentation “Methane emissions in Gazprom’s systems” by G.S. Akopova, Head of the Environment Laboratory of VNIIGAZ, raised great interest of conference participants due to its relevant nature. Presentations by V.V. Kharionovskiy, T.S. Esiev, A.V. Grunvald, G.N. Ruban should be also mentioned. 

During the conference the delegates of VNIIGAZ conducted negotiations with Technip, French Oil Institute, GDF-Suez.

At the closing session organizers made the presentation of the next IGRC2011 Conference, which will be held in Seoul (South Korea).