PTDF to commercialize oil & gas research products
Ilenre Irele
The Petroleum Technology Development Fund, PTDF, has said it was planning to commercialize researched products in the oil and gas industry, in order to ensure that their research impact and reflect on the lives of the people.
Executive Secretary of PTDF, Ahmed Galadima Aminu, made this known, saying that softwares had been developed and new processes created through research, hence a framework has been put in place to see to their commercialization, in order to create jobs and create innovation in the industry.
Aminu spoke during the Technical Knowledge Sharing and Close Out Seminar of PTDF Professoral Research Chair, at the University of Port Harcourt, said PTDF has funded many researches over the years in partnership with several universities.
The PTDF boss represented by the General Manager, Research and Innovation Department, Engr. Olayinka Agbola, commended the outgoing Occupant, PTDF Professoral Chair on Gas Engineering Research, Prof. Dolu Appah, for the successes recorded under his watch in the last five years.
He further disclosed that the process for the release of funds for research has been reviewed to ensure needed funds made available in due time.
“PTDF has funded a lot of research efforts over the years. We have partnered with many universities to conduct research through the endorsement programme and we also have the oil and gas research grant competition where we fund different research groups on different areas which are very germane in the oil and gas industry.
“So a lot of viable results have been achieved on these research programmes. A lot of patent certifications been generated from this research and a lot of knowledge have been created, new processes have been created, softwares have been developed and we need to take it forward. We felt that it just shouldn’t end there, we have to ensure that these products translate into viable products in the market place and that’s commercialization.
“Now we have the framework for commercialization and we will be working with different partners as well as the universities and the respective researchers to see how these research products can be commercialized, so that we can have different start ups and entities that can emanate from these research works. They can create jobs, we can create innovation for different products for the betterment of the oil and gas industry.
“You can see that a lot has been achieved. A lot of capacities have been developed at the Masters and PhD levels. They have created papers. They’ve written in different journals to enrich the publication of those journals. They’ve developed products which are or value to the industry, that can be commercialized. So the next stage for us now is to see how we can take those products and commercialize them for the industry.”
Also speaking, the outgoing Chair, PTDF Professoral Chair on Gas Engineering, Prof. Dolu Appah, said they researched on Methane Emission Detection and Hazard Alert System For Natural Gas Facilities; Gas Transportation from Gas Utilization.
Appah also highlighted some achievements recorded by him and his team in the last five years which he said include, human capacity development and manufacturing of gas equipment in the country, and urged PTDF to sustain their support for research in the country.
“Nigeria is a gas province and we should be able to conduct research on gas, because gas is green energy, it is energy or today, energy of the future. And then, you’ll be transporting gas. Gas transportation is more challenging than crude oil transportation, because gas is highly compressible, has is hazardous, it can cause fire and posses danger to humans and facilities.
“We have been able to train a number of people that will take over from us because success without successor is a failure. In terms of technology, we have been able to show that you can develop certain capacities in-country and you don’t need to bring expatriates from outside. We have added value to industry problem, the problem of detecting gas transmission.”
Earlier, the Guest Speaker, Engr. Emmanuel Okudor, who spoke on “Leak Detection And Repair”, stressed on the need for adequate gas leak detection programme in both the public and private sector.
“We need to design to suit the environment and looking at the current challenges which is aging facilities, we have so much aging facilities, corosions, etc. So, it is very important for asset holders to have a leak detection programme.
“And when I mean leak detection programme, it should be in conjunction with things like asset integrity management, trying to ensure that there’s no loss of containment. And that has to do with resources. Resources need to be made available, because you need very good maintenance which translates to having competent personnel to monitor throughout the life cycle of the asset.”
