Gas Processors Association Europe

Call for Papers Spring 2010 Conference

Published: 01 February 2010

GPAE Spring Conference 2010: "Unconventional Gas" - Vienna, Austria 19th to 21st May 2010

We are looking for papers on the recent developments in non traditional, or “unconventional”, sources of gas. These can range from general overview, specific developments or projects to specific aspects of the development. We hope to present papers at the conference covering the following aspects.

• What is “unconventional gas”?

  • “Conventional” methane gas found in unconventional, low permeability reservoirs.
  • Gas shales (“Shale Gas”).
  • Coal seams ("Coal Bed Methane” or CBM).
  • Tight sandstone reservoirs (“tight gas”).
  • “Methane Hydrates”.
  • “Biogas”.

• What and where are the reserves?

• Where are the markets – pipeline or LNG?

  • Advances in horizontal drilling techniques.
  • Advances in high volume, hydraulic fracturing techniques, needed to improve the matrix permeability of the reservoir.
  • Historic increases in the natural gas price.

• Why Unconventional gas can now be extracted?

• Political and Economic Drivers?

  • Closer to users.
  • Reduce dependence on large ‘conventional gas’ producing countries.

• What are the potential economic, technical and environmental challenges associated with producing unconventional gas?

If you can contribute to this conference please present a Title and a Brief Abstract (100 – 200 words) by 20th February.

All submitted papers will be reviewed by the Programme Committee. Paper selections will be advised in good time to enable preparation of  the paper. Guidelines for the preparation of your paper and accompanying presentation are given in our Information Document, Guidelines for Authors.

Abstracts and other information should be sent to the Administration Office:

GPA Europe,
10 Shetland Way, Fleet, Hampshire GU51 2UD
email: admin@gpaeurope.com      
facsimile: 01252 786260

Membership Renewals are now due for 2010

Published: 15 December 2009

Membership Renewals are due January 1st.

If you wish to renew, you can now do this online using our secure PayPal™ Payment Standard Procedure.

Online membership renewal is a very easy procedure and is our preferred payment option. You can view the status of your membership on the My Account page.

We look forward to welcoming you to another year of GPA Europe Membership and to seeing you at future conferences throughout 2010.

GPA Europe is Seeking a New Administrator

Published: 19 November 2009

Due to the forthcoming retirement of the present incumbent at the end of November 2010, GPA Europe is seeking to appoint a new Administrator to handle all day-to-day Administration Office Duties, coordinate membership applications and renewals as well as handle all registrations, venue arrangements and destination contractual matters for our four conferences per year.

If you are interested in offering your services for this important role please confirm your formal expression of interest by contacting us

Deadline for “Expressions of Interest” is 31st December, 2009.
Formal bid packages will be sent to applicants by 01st February, 2010 with proposals requested by February 28th 2010

Technical Meeting on Multiphase Pipeline Issues

Published: 14 November 2009

GPA Europe's last gathering of 2009 took place in London on Thursday 12th November.

In the morning there was a Knowledge Session titled "Masterclass on Pipeline Multiphase Hydraulics" presented by Gert van Spronsen, Principal Technical Expert - Fluid Flow & Flow Assurance, Shell Global Solutions International BV, The Netherlands.

The Masterclass covered pipeline hydraulics. The day started with the basics of pipeline hydraulics for single phase flow, after which the specifics of multiphase flow was covered. With the presentation of a case study the potential impact of multiphase pipeline design on a project concept was shown. The need for a slugcatcher, it's sizing and layout was presented and the session closed with actual examples of multiphase pipeline systems and some of their interesting aspects.

In the Afternoon there was a Technical Meeting on Multiphase Pipeline Issues with three papers presented on:

• Assuring Gas Deliverability from BP Egypt’s First Subsea Tie-Back to Shore by BP Egypt.
• Liquid surge handling at Åsgard by model predictive control by Statoil Norway.
• The Lifecycle Application of OLGA® on Subsea Gas/Condensate Projects by SPT Guildford.

These papers are now available to download by GPA Europe Members.

26th Annual Conference

Published: 28 September 2009

Our 26th Annual Conference concluded on Friday 25th September 2009.

The event was well attended with 110 registered delegates and 34 Companions. 13 Countries were represented and 34 of the delegates were first time attendees at a GPA Europe Conference. 17 Technical papers on very interesting topics were presented and these papers are now available for members to download from the Library area of the website.

Our thanks to our sponsors who helped make the event a success, Pietro Fiorentini and ABB Engineering Services

Networking sessions were entered into eagerly by all attendees  and certainly proved the point that "Nothing beats people coming together under one roof to share information, build rapport and motivate each other"