On June 18 the Technical Chamber of Greece, known as TEE, which is the professional body representing all engineering professions, in a one day seminar which took place in its premises and was fully backed by IENE, provided a first class opportunity for reviewing Greece's latest efforts to develop its hydrocarbon resources.
On June 18 the Technical Chamber of Greece, known as TEE, which is the professional body representing all engineering professions, in a one day seminar which took place in its premises and was fully backed by IENE, provided a first class opportunity for reviewing Greece's latest efforts to develop its hydrocarbon resources.
The seminar, which was well attended with more than 100 participants, was opened with a keynote address by TEE's Chairman, Mr.George Stasinos who stressed the importance of the hydrocarbon sector both in terms of economic development but also from a research and technical know how point of view. From IENE' part Mr. Costis Stambolis, the Institute's Executive Director, emphasized the need for Greece to step up its efforts as an unprecedented number of concession areas all over the country have now been let out with several major oil companies involved.
The seminar consisted of two parts with some 10 speakers participating in all who between them covered all aspects of exploration and research work. Speakers in the first session of this ground breaking meeting included some of Greece's top oil and gas executives while in the second part representatives from academia provided a vivid account of the research and teaching work now being carried out by the country's leading technical universities.
Dr.Yiannis Bassias, Chairman and CEO of the HHRM, the country's state hydrocarbon agency, opened the proceedings contributing a detailed account of the various concession areas, progress made so far and the associated geological considerations and priorities. Yiannis Grigoriou, CEO of Hellenic Petroleum Upstream company, subsidiary, informed of his company's on going research and exploration work in the Patraikos Gulf but also in other areas in north Ionian,south Peloponnisos and south of Crete where HELPE participates in two consortia along with ExxonMobil and Total. Then Dr. Dinos Nikolaou, senior technical adviser of Energean Oil&Gas and well known reservoir engineer reviewed progress in the Prinos offshore concession where Energean has been operating for over ten years now producing some 5,000 barrels of oil daily, in the Ioannina inland concession where Energean works along with Repsol, and in Israel where Energean is now developing the Karish and Tanin fields with first gas expected early in 2021.
A presentation by Prof. Angelos Syrigos on the current geopolitical issues confronting Greece and the East Mediterranean concluded the first session. Chairing the second session was Mrs. Teressa Fokianou, who heads IENE's Upstream Committee. In her opening remarks Fokianou made special reference to the unique challenges posed by exploration in big depths, beyond 3,000 meters, which is the case of the areas south and south west of Crete. Presentations then followed by Prof. Sofia Stamataki , a well known petroleum geologist and former head of HHRM, from the Athens Technical University, by Prof. Nicholas Varotsis from the Technical University of Crete and by Prof. Avraam Zelilidis, from the Technical University of Patras. Between them the three senior academics provided an all round picture of current research work in Greece's academic establishments, the challenges faced and the excellent prospects of expanding their educational work as demand is rising fast for trained and competent professionals in oil and gas.
In a special microsite prepared by TEE all above addresses and presentations can be found. See http://portal.tee.gr/portal/page/portal/SCIENTIFIC_WORK/EKDILOSEIS_P/ekdiloseis_2019/hydrogonanthrakes/eishghseis
