Member Services

Technology Information Sessions (TIS)
Web Site
R&D Proposals
Listing of Ongoing R&D Projects
Technical Areas
Workshops
Funding Sources for R&D
Knowledge Centre

PTAC offers a variety of services to its members, summarized in the linked menu to the left and detailed below. PTAC is continually looking for feedback on the services provided and suggestions for other services valuable to members, relative to PTAC's purpose. Please contact with feedback and/or suggestions.

Technology Information Sessions

What is a Technology Information Session?

A Technology Information Session is an R&D information session conducted by a PTAC member to:

1. Solicit interest, feedback, participation or potential funding for new R&D projects.
2. Solicit additional funding or participation for ongoing projects.
3. Find industry partners to complete proposed R&D or technology development (such as field test or pilot sites) or to report on field test or pilot results.
4. Provide information on technology related services offered by members (such as funding, legal and tax).
5. Market new technology or proven technology that is new to the Canadian oil and gas industry.

A Technology Information Session is typically run at a PTAC supplied venue for 1 1/2 to 2 hours, either from 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. over a light lunch provided by the proponent; or it may be held in the morning or afternoon. The intent of a Technology Information Session is to ensure interested parties receive all the information they need, and for the proponent to receive feedback. While project funding is typically the ultimate objective for proponents, other objectives may include requesting technical input, marketing new soliciting-technology, or finding a pilot site or appropriate partner to operationalize the technology product.

Who May Attend a Technology Information Session?

PTAC members or oil and gas industry personnel interested in collaborative research and technology development may attend. Proponents may restrict attendance if they so desire.

What Is The Cost to Hold a Technology Information Session?

TIS Proponent Fee Schedule - Proponents must be a PTAC member
Proponent pays for all 3rd party catering costs for TIS.

• (1-50 employees), $ 600 (plus 6% GST)/TIS
• (51-100 employees), 1 TIS per membership year no charge, $ 600 (plus 6% GST)/additional TIS
• (101-200 employees 2 TIS per membership year no charge, $ 600 (plus 6% GST)/additional TIS
• (201-300 employees), 3 TIS per membership year no charge, $ 600 (plus 6% GST)/additional TIS
• (Over 300 employees) 4 TIS per membership year no charge, $ 600 (plus 6% GST)/additional TIS

Any exceptions to this policy must be approved by PTAC management.

TIS Attendee Fee Schedule

• PTAC members and employees of not for profit associations: No charge
• Non PTAC Members: $ 50 + GST to be paid in advance or at the door.
• Surcharge for PTAC Members that do not register (at least 1 working day in advance) and just show up at the door: $ 25 + GST
• Please be advised that PTAC reserves the option to charge $ 25 + GST to PTAC members that register and do not attend, unless notification of cancellation is received by PTAC a minimum of 24 hours in advance of the TIS

Who May Conduct a Technology Information Session?

Any organization that is a member of PTAC may apply to conduct a Technology Information Session. A Technology Information Session must be sponsored by at least one other PTAC member or oil and gas company. The sponsor simply supports the proposal as worthy of industry consideration. PTAC will assist the proponent in finding a sponsor if necessary. If a PTAC member doesn't have a sponsor and cannot secure one after reviewing their proposal with industry personnel, then no Technology Information Session will be run.

How Does a Technology Information Session Work?

The PTAC member that wishes to conduct a Technology Information Session first prepares a one page draft “Open Letter to Industry” outlining the key aspects of their proposed R&D.  The standard outline for an “Open Letter” includes:

• Background
• Proposed scope, goals, cost (if applicable) and duration of the project
• Benefits to project participants
• What the proponent is seeking from potential participants

The letter should not contain details on the “How” of the proposal nor any proprietary information. Sample letters on past or planned sessions held may be viewed on PTAC's website under “Events and Initiatives - Information Sessions”, or obtained from Arlene Merling, , phone (403) 218-7702. Once a sponsor has been found, this open letter is finalized with input from PTAC and then emailed to:

1. All PTAC members (main contact)
2. PTAC Board members
3. Appropriate PTAC technical contacts
4. VP Breakfast Club members
5. Top 100 CAPP companies (non-members)
6. Other association contacts
7. Any other invitees the proponent wishes to include.

Technology Information Session Presentation Guidelines

A proponent typically needs to accomplish five key objectives during a Technology Information Session:

1. Tell the potential customers about the research or technology offered or proposed by the proponent and why it is important.
2. Tell potential customers how the proponent will deliver what has been offered or proposed.
3. Provide sufficient background to establish confidence with potential customers that the proponent can deliver what has been promised.
4. Obtain feedback and solicit questions from potential customers to upgrade or focus what has been proposed, or to ensure the customer has gained a clear understanding of the issue.
5. Tell the customers what is the next step and timetable.

Potential customers need first, and foremost, to understand how the research or technology proposed will improve the business performance of their organization (financial, environmental, or safety). To ensure they believe that it makes sense, potential customers need to have some understanding of the technical details, however it is not essential that they be provided with an exhaustive technical review of the entire science. If some potential customers want to learn more about the “how”, this can be dealt with during the question and answer discussion or later on in a one on one basis.

PTAC recommends that proponents  do the following:

• Supply a copy of the presentation, proposal, company brochure and business cards where applicable.
• Plan your presentation to last 45 minutes [maximum].
• Allow up to 45 minutes for formal question and feedback discussion
• Ensure your most important point is emphasized at the beginning and the end of your presentation; people remember the first and last thing you say. 

The essential elements of a presentation are: (recommended % of session time)

1. Introduce all presenters and representatives including self-introductions of all attendees (4%).
2. Tell people at the start and end what the next steps will be [tell them your plan] (3%)
3. Review briefly past relevant accomplishments and expertise of individuals, or organization(s). (3%).
4. Provide an overview of the proposal or technology [scope, goals, cost, and duration]. (25%)
5. Outline deliverables and benefits to potential customers. (9%)
6. Provide background specific to current proposal or technology (9%).
7. Specify contribution required from potential customers [project funding, field test site, technical input, purchase of technology are all possibilities]. (4%)
8. Solicit questions and feedback to obtain upgrade suggestions and ensure a clear understanding by potential customers. (40%)
9. Wrap up including next steps or next meeting, or actions required by potential customers (3%)
10. Engage in informal discussions with interested individuals and organizations at the conclusion of the session.

How do I Protect My Intellectual Property?

PTAC members must protect their intellectual property during these sessions as they would elsewhere in the business world. PTAC recommends that only non-proprietary information be provided to participants. PTAC members may request participants to sign a non-disclosure agreement in advance of the session, however this is not generally done as it is likely to limit attendance. PTAC has sample agreements available for members in the support library on the website, or in hard copy or electronic format from Arlene Merling.

PTAC's web site contains the following information and is accessible to anyone on the Internet:  (See also Site Map)

About PTAC

FAQs
Executive Summary
Profile Summary
History
Personnel
Board of Directors
Members - Links are provided to the Member web site or e-mail address where available.
Member Services
Membership Application
Annual Reports
Media Coverage
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Current e-talk News
Past Newsletters
Request Tech Info
Contact Us

PTAC members may make R&D proposals to the oil and gas industry by either sponsoring a Technology Information Sessions or simply by having their proposal posted on our website. We recommend doing both to maximize the number of interested people you reach. PTAC will ensure that any proposals received from members are posted on the public section of our website.

Listing of Ongoing R&D Projects

R&D projects facilitated by PTAC are listed on PTAC's web site.  This list contains the project title, name of organization performing the project, contact information and a link to the member's email and/or web site if available.

Projects are grouped in the Index into one of the eleven technical subcommittee areas of interest. We encourage all PTAC members with ongoing R&D related to the oil and gas industry to have their projects listed in the Index.

Please send your project information in electronic form (MS Word) to Arlene Merling at or on cd. Please do not send proprietary information. 

Technical Areas

PTAC is organized around the following Technical Areas:

CO₂ Enhanced Hydrocarbon Recovery

Coalbed Methane / Unconventional Gas
Completions
Drilling / Abandonment
Eco-Efficiency
Emission Reduction / Energy Efficiency
Environment

• Air
• Ecological
• Soil and Groundwater
• Water

Health and Safety
Heavy Oil
Hydrogen / Hydrocarbon Upgrading
Inactive Wells
Innovation
Instrumentation / Measurement
Natural Gas Production
Oil Production
Oil Sands
Pipelines
R&D Funding
Reservoir / Geoscience
Resource Access
Telecommunications

PTAC members are encouraged to identify contacts for those technical areas of interest to their company. PTAC will email notices directly to these individuals for Technology Information Sessions, Workshops, Forums, proposal  sessions and other events or information of specific interest.

The role of PTAC in each Technical Area includes:

• Identifying opportunities and problems in the Industry that require research or technology development.
• Identifying existing R&D underway to raise Industry awareness and minimize duplication.
• Clearly defining problems and opportunities and potential R&D solutions including soliciting proposals and launching new projects with sufficient support.
• Ensuring new R&D proposals receive a fair hearing by the appropriate Industry people.

Participation in the planning of and attendance at workshops, forums, and technology information sessions is open to those who have expertise in the specific technical area of interest. Organizations that wish to participate in PTAC facilitated projects are expected to join PTAC if they are not already a member.

Workshops

PTAC sponsors workshops in whatever areas of interest our members request.  These workshops typically run for 4-8 hours. The typical format is as follows:

1. Introduction and overview of workshop process.
2. Problem and opportunity identification (including prioritizing the most important areas)
3. Brainstorming of potential solutions (including prioritizing top potential solution areas)
4. Preparation of initial draft Request for Proposal including background, requirements/deliverables, scope of work, stages, timing, potential performer(s) of R&D, deliverables and co-champion(s).
5. Final group feedback and discussion including whom is interested in what topics.

Workshop notes and RFPs are issued to all attendees subsequent to the workshop.

Forums

PTAC sponsors forums that are focused on a specific problem area or technological solution. The forums consist of a series of 30-minute presentations by technology suppliers that have been co-sponsored as worthy of consideration by a producer or regulator. PTAC provides the venue, food and refreshments, invitation, copies of all presentations made, and the opportunity for members and collaborating associations and regulators to provide input to the planning.

Copies of presentations are posted to PTAC's website subsequent to the event. Should you be interested in having PTAC sponsor a Forum in a particular technical area, please contact us.

Attendance at Forums is open to all those who are interested, however non-members of PTAC are charged a significantly higher fee to attend.

Funding Sources for R&D

PTAC has provided both website documentation (www.ptac.org/funding.html) and Technology Information Sessions on funding to help increase the number of projects and technology development that receive funding. There are several funding sources available and several PTAC members are funding organizations (AERI, BDC, NRC/IRAP, NRCan). Typically, non-industry funders are looking for some sort of interest or commitment by Industry to ensure the project or technology proposed is considered worthwhile by the end user.

Knowledge Centre

The PTAC Knowledge Centre provides access to information on technologies applicable to the hydrocarbon energy industry, provides technical literature searches on subject specific databases and contact information for subject experts. With funding from Western Economic Diversification, the Knowledge Centre is expanding to include materials to support the Technology for Emission Reduction and Eco-efficiency (TEREE) project that facilitates eco-efficient and GHG reducing technologies.

The growing collection, in electronic or hard copy, consists of research program reports, books, journals, conference proceedings, links and resources.

PTAC members have access to:

• non-proprietary literature on hydrocarbon energy technologies
• complimentary technical literature searches
• contact information for industry, government and academia
• assistance to identify, locate and acquire documents
• web site resources and links

We invite PTAC members to provide non-proprietary technical brochures, reports or other literature from your company, in hard copy or electronic format, to be displayed in the Knowledge Centre. We encourage you to submit relevant materials for consideration on an on-going basis.

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For further information,
please contact:

Arlene Merling, PTAC
Director, Operations
phone 403.218.7702
fax 403.920.0054
amerling@ptac.org

© PTAC 2007

2007 10 30 LF