Total’s Pazflor project wins IPTC award

Total’s Pazflor project team won an award at the recent International Petroleum Technology Conference (IPTC), in China for excellence in project integration.This year’s IPTC award ceremony was held in Beijing to identify and honour achievements in terms of integration of multiple disciplines and execution of major industry projects - from discovery to delivery.The Pazflor project was established in Angola, deploying artificial lift systems and combining gas/liquids separation and pumping modules. This achievement will mark a major step forward along the road to sub-sea processing.Pazflor oil is both viscous and heavy, and is contained in low-pressure Miocene reservoirs, requiring artificial lift systems to reach the surface. The oil and water liquids are boosted by innovative hybrid pumps that combine multiphase and centrifugal pump technologies.The Pazflor project management team applied rigorous and well-regulated standards to project reporting. Contractors were closely supervised and stakeholders and project teams were kept informed on project progress irrespective of their global location.Conferencing technology was also used to the full, with up to 10 different onshore and offshore sites worldwide being a part of major milestones. Despite the global scope and the need to pool skills around the world, Pazflor was managed as a single integrated project team with everyone working towards the same goal.Founded in 2005, the IPTC is a flagship multi-disciplinary technical event. The scope of the conference programme and associated industry activities will address technology and relevant industry issues that challenge specialists and management around the world.