Shell Trinidad and Tobago Limited partners with the UWI and UTT on Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage (CCUS) Opportunity

Shell Trinidad and Tobago Limited partners with the UWI and UTT on Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage (CCUS) Opportunity

Shell Trinidad and Tobago Limited (Shell) is pleased to announce that it has signed a research study contract with the local universities to explore Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage (CCUS) Atlas mapping in Trinidad and Tobago. Shell will be collaborating with The University of the West Indies (UWI) and the University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT) on this enterprise which is the first of its kind locally and in the Caribbean.

CCUS is an integral part of Shell’s global Powering Progress strategy which is aimed at becoming a net-zero emissions energy business by 2050 or sooner. The company believes that CCUS can be a key option for the transition to a lower-carbon energy system.

The Atlas study seeks to map onshore and offshore potential subsurface fields that can be used to capture and store carbon dioxide and will assess the feasibility of using CCS as a solution to contribute to the reduction of Trinidad and Tobago’s carbon emissions. Shell is also providing technical support and access to reservoir data to the data scientists at the Universities for the purpose of the project.

“This is an incredibly exciting opportunity for Shell and its partners The UWI and UTT to contribute to the energy transition in Trinidad and Tobago” said Suhail Kak, GM Development and Subsurface, Shell T&T. “We are truly energized by this project and its potential for reducing carbon emissions for the country, and our business.”

Pro Vice-Chancellor and Campus Principal of The UWI St. Augustine Campus, Professor Rose-Marie Belle Antoine, said that “The UWI is grateful to Shell’s support in this CCS project since it represents a significant step towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions in Trinidad and Tobago and in the meeting of this country’s global commitments in that regard. Given our own commitment to address climate change, this is a laudable objective. We are pleased to be partnering with a responsible oil and gas partner in this endeavour.”

She further pointed out that “a Carbon Capture and Storage project of this nature is a first for the Caribbean region and, with Shell’s support, will certainly enhance capacity building in Carbon Capture and Storage technology at The UWI”.

“The development of this National Storage Atlas for Trinidad and Tobago is a critical activity geared towards our country’s greenhouse gas emission reduction and the partnership with Shell will play a key role in achieving this.”, said David Alexander, Associate Professor and Project Lead, UTT.

Jerome Dookie elected as Chairman of the Energy Chamber of Trinidad and Tobago

Jerome Dookie elected as Chairman of the Energy Chamber of Trinidad and Tobago

Jerome Dookie succeeds Dwight Mahabir as Chairman of the Energy Chairman of Trinidad and Tobago. The Board of Directors of the Energy Chamber met on 10th November 2023 for the first time since the Annual General Meeting in October and elected the executive committee for the period 2022-2023.

MODEC awarded FEED contract for ExxonMobil’s “Uaru” project in Guyana

MODEC awarded FEED contract for ExxonMobil’s “Uaru” project in Guyana

MODEC has announced that it has signed a contract to perform Front End Engineering and Design (FEED) for a Floating Production, Storage and Offloading vessel (FPSO) for the “Uaru” development project. The FEED contract award relates to the initial funding by ExxonMobil’s subsidiary, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), to begin FEED activities related to the FPSO design and to secure the second M350TM hull for FPSO service.

Minister Imbert highlights Energy Chamber’s role in advocating for fiscal reform

Minister Imbert highlights Energy Chamber’s role in advocating for fiscal reform

Trinidad & Tobago’s Minister of Finance, the Honourable Colm Imbert recently reported that he had been pursued by the Energy Chamber of Trinidad & Tobago to introduce changes to the upstream oil and gas taxation regime ever since he became Minister seven years ago. It was, however, only this year with a significantly improved overall national fiscal position, driven primarily by higher commodity prices, that he had been able to respond and make some of the necessary changes.

NGC achieves Gold Standard status of reporting under the Oil and Gas Methane Partnership (OGMP)

NGC achieves Gold Standard status of reporting under the Oil and Gas Methane Partnership (OGMP)

The concerted efforts of The National Gas Company of Trinidad and Tobago Limited (NGC) to address and report on methane emissions from its business, have led to the company’s achievement of Gold Standard status of reporting under the global Oil and Gas Methane Partnership 2.0 (OGMP 2.0). This achievement - attained by companies with clearly elaborated targets to reduce methane emissions by 2025 - comes just one year after the company joined the OGMP community. The OGMP is a multi-stakeholder global partnership to improve the accuracy and transparency of methane emissions reporting, which is key to methane mitigation in the oil and gas sector. It is the only comprehensive measurement-based reporting framework covering all material sources of methane emissions from both operated and non-operated assets across all segments of the value chain.

Minister Young presents at the 24th Ministerial Meeting of the GECF in Cairo, Egypt

Minister Young presents at the 24th Ministerial Meeting of the GECF in Cairo, Egypt

“Natural gas must continue to play a role in energy and food security which are top priorities globally. There is a need for LNG and gas produced products such as fertilizers and ammonia in particular, and its byproducts. We are also conscious of the negative effects of climate change in particular on small island states and other CARICOM islands, as well as in countries on the African continent, as we all feel the ill effects of climate change.” These words were part of the address by the Minister of Energy and Energy Industries and Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister, the Honourable Stuart R. Young MP as he gave his address at the GECF Ministerial Meeting Cairo, Egypt on October 25th.

Minister Young meets with Venezuelan Vice Minister in Cairo, Egypt

Minister Young meets with Venezuelan Vice Minister in Cairo, Egypt

The Honourable Stuart R. Young, M.P., Minister of Energy and Energy Industries and Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister met with Mr. Leonardo Graterol, Vice Minister Gas, Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela on the sidelines of the GECF 24th Ministerial Meeting in Cairo Egypt. Also in attendance were Mr. Ronnie Romero, Vice President PDVSA, Ms. Penelope Bradshaw Niles, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries and Mr. Mark Loquan, President NGC.

Touchstone to bid on upto three blocks in bidround

Touchstone to bid on upto three blocks in bidround

Touchstone Exploration President and CEO, Paul Baay indicated that the company could bid on as many as three onshore blocks in the 2022 Onshore and Nearshore Competitive Bid Round.

Diesel and gasoline sales in T&T have declined, partially offsetting price increases

Diesel and gasoline sales in T&T have declined, partially offsetting price increases

Increases in the prices of gasoline and diesel receive a huge amount of media attention every time that the subsidy is reduced, and prices rise. What does not receive any media attention is the fact that over the period when the subsidy has been gradually removed and prices have risen, the total volumes of both diesel and gasoline sales have significantly declined.

Minister Young meets with CEO of Woodside Energy in Houston

Minister Young meets with CEO of Woodside Energy in Houston

Minister of Energy and Energy Industries and Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister, the Honourable Stuart R. Young, M.P. met with Ms. Meg O’Neill, Chief Executive Officer of Woodside Energy at Woodside’s office in Houston, Texas, USA. Also attending the meeting were Ms. Sandra Fraser, Permanent Secretary (A.g.) of the Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries, Woodside’s Ms. Shiva McMahon, EVP International Operations, Mr. Juan Vazquez, President and Country Manager, Woodside Trinidad and Tobago and Dr Carla Noel-Mendez, Corporate Affairs Manager, Woodside Trinidad and Tobago.

NGC and bpTT sign Collaboration Agreement to explore synergies in the energy sector

NGC and bpTT sign Collaboration Agreement to explore synergies in the energy sector

The National Gas Company of Trinidad and Tobago Limited (NGC) and bp Trinidad and Tobago (bpTT) have signed a Collaboration Agreement to explore opportunities for cooperation in several focus areas of mutual interest within the energy industry. The Agreement, which was signed on 12th October 2022, serves to strengthen the relationship and leverage synergies between the two companies.

Touchstone announces first gas from Coho

Touchstone announces first gas from Coho

Touchstone Exploration Inc. announced safe delivery of first gas from the Coho facility. This represents the first onshore natural gas project to come onstream in Trinidad and Tobago in over twenty years.

MEEI officials tour Woodside Energy's CSEM Vessel in Chaguaramas

MEEI officials tour Woodside Energy's CSEM Vessel in Chaguaramas

Officials from the Ministry of Energy and Energy including the Minster of Energy and Energy Industries and Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister the Honourable Stuart R Young M.P. and Permanent Secretary Mrs. Penelope Bradshaw-Niles toured Woodside Energy’s contracted Controlled Source Electromagnetic Survey vessel docked in Chaguaramas.

Guyana, Suriname, Jamaica and Trinidad & Tobago: building regional partnerships

Guyana, Suriname, Jamaica and Trinidad & Tobago: building regional partnerships

I really enjoyed my visit to Guyana this week to attend the Guyana Basin Summit. It was great to catch-up with old friends and colleagues and to make many new contacts as well. This was my first visit since the pandemic and it’s really encouraging to see the progress that has been made in the past few years, with lots of stories of productive new business relationships between Trinidadian and Guyanese companies, and with many Surinamese and Jamaican businesses also in the mix.