New oil sands centre of excellence to further technical efficiencies

Calgary, AB – IBM has opened the $3.1-million Oil Sands Centre of Excellence in Calgary.

The goal of the centre is to help petroleum producers test and use new technologies that will lower costs and make oil recovery easier, more efficient, and more intelligent. IBM says the centre is the fifth IBM facility focused on the global oil and gas industry to open in the past two years.

The development of Alberta’s oil sands will be one of the world’s largest capital investments, with the petroleum industry expected to invest between $50 billion and $100 billion within the next decade. But capital costs have doubled in the past five years and many projects are behind schedule and over budget. The new centre is intendcd to promote collaboration among all industry players, helping them do business more effectively.

“At IBM, we have a proven track record of providing world-class solutions to the oil and gas industry, and have had a presence in Alberta’s oil patch for over 40 years, with all of our 2300+ people in Alberta dedicated to our clients’ success,” says Dan Fortin, president of IBM Canada. “Our collaborative partnerships – with clients, business partners, academia, and other key constituencies – enable us to accelerate the development and adoption of innovative technologies and business strategies. And that is exactly what we are seeking to do at the IBM Oil Sands Centre of Excellence.”

Located in IBM’s Calgary offices, the centre will introduce a variety of technologies including radio frequency identification, three dimensional data visualization, kiosks, and software integration. These technologies will improve construction and project management, labour productivity, business processes and environmental management.

IBM says it works closely with a number of companies involved in oil sands projects and plans to partner with other technology companies and key industry players at the centre.

Other IBM facilities focused on the global oil and gas industry include: IBM Oil & Gas Centre of Excellence in Stavanger, Norway; the Energy Competency Center, Abu Dhabi; the Energy Competency Center Beijing, and the Energy Competency Center Moscow.