THE (HYDRATE) MEMORY EFFECT
A new chapter with old friends
Person #1: Are we really still utilizing oil and gas in 2024?
Person #2: It seems like.
If I was asked this question back in 2022, I might have given a different answer as I was trying to “run away” from the industry before it was “too late”.
OK, maybe I was not that delusional about the realistic timeline required for an energy transition but, after having overcome a global pandemic, a (short) financial downturn, and with Messi finally having won a trophy with the Argentina National Team, I thought nothing could stop us from achieving any goal we had as a society. Little did I know about such things as supply chain, or the complex details of a full transition into a reliable and affordable low-carbon energy system.
THE (DANGEROUS) COMFORT ZONE
Besides the post-pandemic sustainability and energy transition euphoria, there was another significant driver in my search for change back in 2022. I wanted to prove to myself I was able to operate outside the emulsions, gas hydrate, and flow assurance comfort zone I had been confined to for almost 12 years.
With this objective in mind, I started to explore options outside the energy industry. Eventually, I encountered an exciting (and fitting) opportunity where I could deploy acquired skills and knowledge on developing large-scale projects to make real world contributions, while also starting a new adventure in a completely different setting.
The new role involved leading feasibility studies and developing project opportunities focused on mitigating greenhouse emissions in a polymer manufacturing process. In addition to checking the boxes for sustainability focused and new knowledge domain, this opportunity presented another attractive major feature: a cultural (and gastronomical) discovery journey. Being part of a Japanese conglomerate, I took a deep dive into continuous process improvement and just-in-time manufacturing philosophy. These concepts helped transform how I approach situations and problems at different levels.
NOTIFICATION: ACTIVITY RUNNING IN THE BACKGROUND
Meanwhile, after the initial “Renewables Rush” cooled off, it became clear that, despite everyone wanting a cleaner and more sustainable energy system, society will need to rely on fossil fuels for a while in order to support current living standards and to provide energy security for everyone. Particularly, when it gets too hot, or too cold; it rains too much, or it does’t rain enough; wind is too strong, or it doesn’t blow at all, etc. (Please note PTSD caused by Houston weather events impact on the electrical grid)
Fortunately, a clearer vision in the O&G industry about energy needs in the near future allowed projects to keep moving forward during these uncertain times. In this context, and while I was on my manufacturing plant adventure, I learned some thrilling news: the main project I had been working on for over three years had been greenlighted.
As a PhD, a researcher, a hobby horticulturist, an emigrant and, hopefully someday, as a parent, very few things can be as fulfilling as starting a project from the concept (idea) stage and watch it turn into reality. For that reason, I felt a need to somehow come back and finish what I had started five years ago.
In parallel, more exciting developments had been taking place in the background. A fresh start for the talented leaders and team members at PONTEM ANALYTICS. Now, with an even stronger focus on bridging the gap between data science and real world operations, both within and outside the energy industry.
THE (HYDRATE) MEMORY EFFECT
Timely, an opportunity to join the team at PONTEM ANALYTICS became a reality. Having worked with good part of the team in the past, I was well aware of the high-caliber professionals in the company and their potential to create (and deliver) unique solutions to clients. Such work environment, and the opportunity to become involved once again in a world-class project (and finish what I had started), made the decision to join PONTEM a no-brainer. Disclosure: many engineers (including me) will have a tendency to over analyze and evaluate career and life decisions even if these seem obvious.
For those (unfortunate) readers not familiar with gas hydrates, there’s a fascinating property in these systems called memory effect. In this phenomenon, after gas hydrates have formed and dissociated in a system, the water molecules that initially formed the hydrate cages, apparently, are able to “remember” to some extent the original cages structure speeding up subsequent hydrate formation under favorable thermodynamic conditions. A simple analogy can be made with human muscle memory allowing movements to be performed with little to no conscious effort. Furthermore, in order to prevent water molecules from “remembering” their previous state as hydrate cages, the system has to be heated up well above hydrate equilibrium temperatures at the system pressure.
In this new chapter I will be taking advantage of the “ability to remember” hydrate management strategies (or can we say “hydrate memory”?) to help unlock energy resources needed to make life better for everyone while more sustainable energy alternatives become universally available.
As I finish writing this post I am about to take a flight to Veracruz (Mexico) to start working on a collaboration with local partners focused on providing flow assurance testing support and expertise for ongoing offshore projects. Let’s go.
Great read! Welcome back to Flow Assurance Alejandro. Good luck on the new adventure, and good call Tommy on the great new addition to your team!