Technical Programme

The oil and gas industry has been a cornerstone of the global economy for over a century and will continue to remain relevant for years to come even as the world faces the dual challenges of climate change and energy security. Innovation, sustainability, and global collaboration are the key pillars that will shape its future. Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, has revolutionised the energy industry by enabling the extraction of oil and natural gas from unconventional reservoirs, and by enabling higher performance completions in high permeability reservoirs primarily in deepwater. The global outlook for hydraulic fracturing is marked by both opportunities and challenges. In regions such as North America, the technique continues to evolve and to drive significant economic benefits and energy independence. In emerging unconventional regions, such as the Middle East, the potential for hydraulic fracturing to unlock vast energy resources is substantial, yet it requires careful consideration of local contexts, infrastructure, and regulatory frameworks. Collaborative international efforts and knowledge-sharing will be essential to address these complex dynamics and foster responsible development of hydraulic fracturing practices. The journey towards a resilient energy future with hydraulic fracturing is a collective endeavour, and it is imperative that we work together to achieve this common goal.

Our Executive Panel Session will cover the following points:

• Emerging global landscape on unconventional resource development, its relevance to the energy sector and significance of hydraulic fracturing as the key enabler
• Technological advancements, future trends, and where to focus on innovation for the next generation of hydraulic fracturing
• Environmental challenges, safeguards, and solutions for sustainable development with hydraulic fracturing
• Best practices, examples, and future trends on global collaboration towards hydraulic fracturing excellence

Today, worldwide, unconventional fields offer the greatest potential for long-term production maintenance and growth. A lot has been done to improve operational efficiencies through pad drilling, real-time operations, stage optimisation, and more recently with the use of AI workflows. At the same time the industry is called to lower the carbon footprint of field construction and production and enhance water management practices. Flare reductions,  gas-to-power opportunities, and recycle and re-use of water have now taken centre stage in several countries. The panel explores the main technologies that are significantly improving the sustainability of these developments.