GlassPoint Solar, the leading supplier of solar to the oil and gas industry, is showcasing its technology at the 10^thEdition of Oman’s Oil and Gas Exhibition and Conference (OGWA). At the exhibition, local and international leaders in the oil and gas industry will learn how solar energy can help produce heavy oil more sustainably and reduce production costs.

GlassPoint, an associate sponsor of the event, is giving visitors a chance to experience a virtual reality 3D tour of Miraah, its landmark project with Petroleum Development Oman. Announced in July, the one gigawatt solar thermal project will harness the sun’s energy to produce an average of 6,000 tons of steam per day, replacing a sizeable portion of valuable gas. The virtual reality experience allows visitors to immerse themselves within one of the world’s largest solar plants, experiencing first-hand how solar technology can reduce costs and achieve long-term energy goals for the Sultanate.

“With the current decline of oil prices, it becomes even more important for oil companies to look at ways of reducing production costs,” commented GlassPoint CEO Rod MacGregor. “Oman is the first to take advantage of solar energy to replace traditional fuel resources to generate steam for enhanced oil recovery. It takes a vast amount of energy to produce oil, with a typical heavy oil field consuming the same amount of energy as a small city. By using solar, gas saved can be directed towards higher value applications to stimulate Oman’s economy and have a lasting impact on growth,” he added.

GlassPoint’s technology can reduce the natural gas used to extract heavy oil by up to 80 per cent, a process called solar enhanced oil recovery (EOR). By using solar, the gas saved can be redirected to meet rising demand for power generation, desalination, industrial development and liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports. Solar EOR can also generate significant in-country value, creating new opportunities in supply chain development, manufacturing capability, employment and training.

OGWA is being held alongside the SPE EOR Conference, where global experts in all forms of EOR will convene to present, share, and discuss their ideas, initiatives, and findings. Daniel Palmer, Vice President of Sales at GlassPoint, will participate on the panel session “EOR Enablers” moderated by Total and Halliburton. In the session, Palmer will discuss how solar can help heavy oil producers maintain long-term production levels, while achieving sustainable economic and environmental gains for their countries. Data and lessons learned from more than three years of operating a pilot in southern Oman will be presented, proving that solar EOR is a reliable source of steam for thermal EOR operations in the harsh desert oilfield environments of the Middle East. The success of the pilot paved the way for Miraah, which is currently under construction.