Bright future for oil and gas in TT

Speaking at an Energy Symposium last week at the University of Trinidad and Tobago’s Pt Lisas campus, Jupiter said various stakeholders in the oil and gas industries, including contractors and labour organisations, must work together to ensure survival of the fabricating industry. “We have done it before where all parties have come together and I still believe there is a future in the fabrication industry in Trinidad.

“I know clearly it was not easy at first. It was tough to ensure we do it (build platforms) in Trinidad and clearly after all of that time, there is no reason why it should not continue and I think it will continue but you have to look at cost. You have to look at cost of doing it in Trinidad. We have key players, all these guys who were involved in the Angelin project. I think we can do it again.” The symposium was titled, ‘Enhancing Oil and Gas Production in Trinidad and Tobago’, with speakers focusing on several oil recovery methods including polymer flooding and carbon dioxide injection.

It was attended by energy experts in the public and private sector.

Jupiter said Petrotrin received about 29 expressions of interest from companies, both locally and internationally, for enhanced oil recovery in mature fields which include use of steam, carbon dioxide, water flooding, gas injection and polymer flooding.

Asked whether there is a future for the oil industry in Trinidad and Tobago, Jupiter said: “Most certainly there is a future. When I entered the industry in 1979, I was told we had eight more years of oil production. From ‘79 to now, we are talking about 38 years and oil is still here...so there is a future.” Jupiter added, “And you heard today that if you can only produce 10-15 percent in primary oil recovery and another 20 percent in secondary oil recovery, that is where you have found oil already.

The amount of oil that is being produced so far, we can produce as much of that oil in the future. There is a great future for the oil industry in Trinidad and I do not believe it is only gloom and doom.”