2023 SPE University Student Experience @GOTECH

Middle East and North Africa Region

2023 SPE University Student Experience @GOTECH

Project & Contest Details

‘Together for a Sustainable Future’

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INTRODUCTION
“The solutions necessary to reach net zero in the future are within our reach, but we are running
a race against time. Guided by the vision and directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al
Maktoum, green hydrogen has become one of the key enablers to achieving Dubai’s plan to reach net
zero by 2050.”

HE Saeed Al Tayer, Vice Chairman-Dubai Supreme Council of Energy Managing Director

CEO Dubai Electricity & Water Authority PJSC (DEWA)

The road to reach net zero is challenging but together we can jointly overcome those challenges.
COP28 will be held in the United Arab Emirates in Nov-Dec 2023. This year has been accordingly named
Sustainability year in UAE. COP28 announced four areas of focus and actions to implement the Paris
agreement which are to accelerate decarbonization, protect people and food systems from climate
impact, make climate finance more affordable, accessible and help communities rebuild after climate
disasters. To build a more sustainable world and meet our goals, we must start working together now,
take urgent and impactful climate actions. The world will always require and produce energy, we have to
think of more innovative approaches to do so with no Carbon footprints. We have to inspire the world
with new ideas and overcome challenges by getting ahead of the future to drive sustainable practices
while building more prosperous, climate-resilient environments for the next generations.

To meet green initiatives target, Dragon Oil LLC an upstream oil and gas exploration, development
and production company owned by the Government of Dubai follows a “Zero spill policy”, which is
intended to ensure all tier 1 or tier 2 incidents are prevented and mitigated with the most robust barriers
in place. At present, Dragon Oil has a set strategy for “Zero flaring” and achieving minimum greenhouse
gas emissions. Meanwhile, setting a stringent goal for the effluent water treatment and drive the initiation
of “Zero Liquid Discharge - ZLD” for all Dragon Oil assets. Also, has landfill waste disposal facilities and a
dedicated team for waste management. Following the waste hierarchy model, aiming to decrease waste
generation through prevention, reuse, recycling, recovery, treatment, and disposal options.

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 2023 SPE University Student Experience @GOTECH
Middle East and North Africa Region

Every human being is responsible to act now for a positive climate change. Companies worldwide
started working towards reducing Carbon Footprint while maintaining their lines of production. The aim
of the project is to combine innovative ideas to implement and reduce Carbon footprint as soon as
possible. The Oil and Gas is a vast industry looking into every minor detail with a vision of a greener goal.

TEAM TASK
As a team, you are requested to review the operations in the Oil and Gas industry and explore
effective approaches to reduce the carbon footprint by minimum 50% in 10 years with maintaining the
economic value. In addition, the team needs to decide on the best strategy that promises the highest
profitability and most sustainable returns yet allowing to excel in meeting technical, economical, and
technological demands.

CONSIDERATIONS FOR SELECTING THE BEST STRATEGY COULD INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING:
1. Choose between upstream or downstream operation
2. Present the impact of Carbon emission in the operation chosen
3. Learn and Review learn from minimizing carbon footprint success stories
4. Show factors contributing to high Carbon emission in the chosen operation
5. Present your best innovative idea on reducing the operations carbon footprint
6. Prove with facts the best approach of your choice to reduce Carbon footprint and maintain
economical value

JUDGING CRITERIA
• Novelty and originality of the work
• Technical content (activities/projects/tasks/problems)
• Delivery (slide organization/visuals/volume clarity)
• Ending and handling questions

DELIVERABLES
Each team shall present its proposal and findings through a PowerPoint format. The presentation
must clearly identify the issue; define the problem, and proposal. Presentations should be no longer, than
10 minutes followed by a 5-minute Q&A

TEAM FORMATION
• Up to 5 students per team.
• 1 of the 5 students should be appointed as Team Leader and main point-of-contact