Technology Talk in Cyprus: Pontem Takes the Stage
STEM 2024: Collaboration is key for huge successes
The Subsea Technology Eastern Mediterranean (STEM) conference in Cyprus was a whirlwind of activity, kicking off with engaging workshops and networking opportunities. The event highlighted a new upcoming talent within the Pontem team and culminated in a thought-provoking presentation on digitalization's role in energy production. Amidst connections forged and knowledge shared, the conference underscored Pontem's commitment to growth and innovation in the field.
Day 1: SUT Pre-Conference Workshop and Welcome Reception
The conference kicked off with engaging sessions led by John Charalambides, Mike Efthymiou, and Lakis Andronicou, all renowned veterans of the Cyprus oil and gas scene. Their wealth of experience set a solid foundation for discussions throughout the day. Despite being in the conference room, enjoying the “lyrics” of our industry, I had to juggle around with my laptop, responding to emails, solve fluid problems and periodically joining calls with our clients….. The work doesn’t know what conference is and the time doesn’t stop!
Attendees had the opportunity to delve into the intricacies of subsea systems through a series of technical sessions. These sessions covered everything from the basic components of subsea elements to cutting-edge innovations in new subsea technologies.
The day concluded with a welcoming reception hosted by SIA, which proved to be an excellent networking opportunity. The relaxed, chill atmosphere allowed attendees to reconnect with peers, meet new industry experts, and discuss potential collaborations in a friendly setting.
Over drinks, which always seem to foster good connections, it was particularly pleasing to see the Pontem Cyprus team actively engaging in various groups and discussions.
The atmosphere grew even more vibrant with the late arrival of our dear friend and colleague, Alessandro KBC (actually Speranza, but everyone in the company knows him as “Alessandro KBC”). Together, we delved deep into conversations about the future directions of the industry and shared some personal reflections, keeping us there well into the evening. The time flies pretty quickly when you spend time with people like him.
Day 2: Talent, Confidentiality, and Relaxation
The second day of STEM was marked by significant highlights, celebrating the growth and potential within our team. We were thrilled to introduce Grace Allam, a standout second-year student recommended by UNIC, as our new summer intern. Grace made an impressive mark at the conference, surprising many with her maturity and knowledge at such an early stage in her academic career. It's clear she will be a fantastic addition to our team, underscoring Pontem's commitment to nurturing young talent.
A couple of updates for the existing team:
Markos —> We were happy to extend his internship as he continues to amaze us with his exceptional blend of programming and engineering skills. If all continues with the same pace, we will be happy to transition him to a full time soon.
Ivan —> Despite serving 4 days in the army, Ivan is not wasting any of his time and investing into developing his flow assurance knowledge. It's hard to be busy 7 out of 7 days, but he manages it pretty well.
If you haven’t read how Pontem Cyprus started, dive into the post below recapping the last EMC Conference.
Content-wise, the conference sessions were rich and engaging, featuring regional operators who shared valuable, yet strictly confidential insights. This underscored the strict no-photos/videos policy within the conference room to ensure open and secure discussions.
The evening concluded with an offsite dinner featuring excellent cuisine and soothing music, providing a perfect setting for relaxation after a knowledge-intensive day.
The night ended on a personal note with heartfelt conversations at Limassol Marina with Alessandro, prioritizing valuable time over preparation for my upcoming speech.
Actually, no preparation needed if you know your stuff, that’s the honest truth.
Alessandro - If you are reading the post, it was my pure pleasure spending my time with you. Will definitely see you soon, having in my plans to pass through UK next month.
Day 3: Embracing Digitalization in East Med Energy Production
The final day of the conference was a pivotal moment for me as I addressed a discerning audience of over 150 industry experts. It was a genuine honor to present on the topic "Bridging Expertise and Technology: Enhancing East Med Production Through Digital Solutions." The engagement and receptivity we received underscored the value of sharing our experiences and insights in such esteemed company.
Our primary objective was to underscore the critical role of data in today's digital landscape and to demystify digitalization for the uninitiated. We emphasized that adopting digital solutions doesn't require an overhaul of existing systems but rather a thoughtful integration with traditional methods. To bring this point home, we likened having an offshore platform's digital twin to playing a computer game—something tangible and interactive.
Leaving the theory aside, there is no better way of explaining something with real life application. We felt quintessential presenting just a few of the hundreds of digital application solutions we have utilized in the past. Below are the 3 examples presented with just a sentence to leave you with some thoughts:
1) More Dashboards
Reports are useful, no doubt. But why have 100+ pages of document, if you can have dynamic dashboards answering all your on spot questions through field life? An evergreen source of information at your fingertips.
2) MEG Requirements
Operator: How much MEG should I inject?
Ordinary FA Engineer: MEG injection rate based on Max SITHP / Min Ambient.
Pontem Engineer: Here is your design rate, here is the dashboard to see how much MEG you actually need to inhibit your system which automatically optimizes the rate based on the reservoir pressure drop through field life. No need to waste money, these money can be used elsewhere. VOILÀ!
2) Field Monitoring
A real life scenario where Pontem “saved” the life of the field where an ESP failed and the field started depositing wax. Putting the field into a permanent cardiographer (just fancy word of saying field monitoring), helped make sure that everything runs smoothly.
Imagine now all of the above explained in deep detail by the bald guy below, impossible to forget (no kidding, haha).
Getting back to the formal tone, the feedback post-presentation was overwhelmingly positive, affirming that the audience, regardless of their expertise level, gained a comprehensive understanding of digitalization.
The 3 days flew without getting noticed….
Looking ahead, there are exciting possibilities on the horizon including the potential presentation in Houston, re-group with the US/UK office in the Astros event, and attending one of the biggest oil and gas conferences (OTC). And yes, I've indulged a bit by renting a Challenger to explore Houston—fulfilling a childhood dream!
Let’s close this post by some of our regional plans after arriving from the States:
Increase the exposure of Pontem, and attend more regional conferences like this.
Continue training interns, and meet with the new Internship Coordinator of the UNIC to evaluate the Data Science and Computer Science students for potential Data Analytics internships.
Re-engage the Cyprus SPE Section, and start lecture series.
Start looking into regional expansion aside from Cyprus. (that’s an interesting one, I will just leave it here for thoughts).
Thanks STEM for having us, and special thanks to CHC for the invitation. Looking forward seeing you again next year!