No oil and gas without geology

7 August 2008

StatoilHydro CEO Helge Lund urged cultivating stronger scientific communities and encouraging more youth to study science during opening ceremonies at the 33rd International Geological Congress (IGC),Wednesday, 6 August, in Lillestrøm, Norway.

As the world thirsts for more energy, securing sufficient supply is imperative. This puts pressure on you, because you are the ones who know how to find it,” Mr Lund told the few thousand geo-science professionals in attendance.

“Without your expertise, there would simply be no oil and gas industry!” he said

Fascinating science
To ensure a steady supply of geophysicists and geologists, more emphasis must be placed on science education.

“I hope this congress will be a showcase for how interesting and important science is,” Mr Lund implied.

He praised past, present and future geological contributions to the global oil and gas industry.

“Sub-surface skills are the core competence and backbone of any energy company. You have the knowledge to turn scattered seismic charts into reservoirs - and eventually oil and gas.”

Royal welcome
Norway’s King Harald officially opened the 33rd International Geological Congress - which runs through 14 August. His welcome was followed by several speeches and musical interludes.

It is the first time the IGC is hosted in Norway. The first event was held at the Paris Exposition in 1878, with 310 members from 23 countries participating. This year’s congress is expected to draw some 6,000 participants from 115 countries. StatoilHydro is supporting this year’s event with NOK 8 million, and additionally hosts a large stand with an eye towards recruitment.

Vital role
Mr Lund emphasised the increasingly challenging and vital role geologists play in securing future energy supply.

“Fossil fuels are crucial to meeting growing energy demand the next 20-30 years. With most of the most accessible oil gone, the task of finding new resources only gets tougher. To find it we need to explore for new opportunities and develop new ideas” he commented.

Base of expertise
“The geosciences represent the base of expertise in an oil company and we employ a majority of the geoscientists in Norway,” says Finn Roar Aamodt, special advisor for exploration in StatoilHydro’s Exploration & Production Norway business area.

“Preparation of this year’s congress has been going on for over two years. We’re covering geology from A to Z,” says Mr Aamodt, who is a member of the organising committee. “We’ve had considerable influence on the scientific programme, where petro-related disciplines are playing a larger role than before.”

For the first time there will be theme days, with geo-sciences’ importance to society as the common thread running throughout.

“Knowledge of geology, understanding of geological processes and management of non-renewable resources are crucial if we are to create a viable society in the future,” says Mr Aamodt.

For more information, see: http://www.33igc.org

StatoilHydro