Canadian producers are facing serious challenges in respect to cost reductions, environmental management, increasing production, and fast-tracking activities – In addition, the recent Alberta Climate Leadership Plan will have serious implications to producer operations, and collaborative proactive action is required in order to effectively address these challenges. In order to tackle these challenges, it is critical that all stakeholders collaborate in active research and technology development projects. As a PTAC member, you are entitled to participate in PTAC R&D initiatives that target the development of best field practices, emerging technologies, and smart policies/regulations. PTAC initiatives not only tackle current challenges, but also provide direction and input for future initiatives through collaboration with all stakeholders, including  regulators, government, service and supply companies, and other producers.

Not enough time to dedicate to networks and projects? No problem – Get free access to PTAC’s short webinars, technology information sessions, and workshops which focus on practical field applications and innovative technologies that improve operations by reducing costs, educating field staff, lowering the environmental footprint, and developing smart regulations. Members also receive significant discounts to forums and conferences led by PTAC members and our partners.

It is PTAC’s role to bridge the gap between SMEs and their potential customers, in an effort to identify industry needs and share this information with SMEs so that they are able to better align their products with consumer demand. We understand that some of the industry’s most ground breaking innovations emerge from the SME sector, yet SMEs often face significant barriers in bringing their ideas to market.

PTAC works with SMEs to understand their innovative technology ideas and provides a conceptual analysis of the competitive landscape and market-fit feedback. PTAC also assists SMEs by introducing them to other industry stakeholders through events, such as a Technology Information Session (TIS). A TIS is an event held over noon hour which provides SMEs with an opportunity to increase the pace of development of their technology and make other industry stakeholders aware of what service they are offering, what they require from partners, and where they are planning to take their technology. More information on hosting a TIS can be found here.

Securing funding and sites to field test technologies are the biggest challenges faced by SMEs in an effort to commercialize their technologies. PTAC, through the formation of consortia, helps SMEs address both of these challenges by securing both field testing sites and funding. PTAC also works in collaboration with the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC-IRAP), which has a long history of providing technical and business advisory services related to R&D, including strategic intelligence and customized solutions to fit your business needs. NRC-IRAP also provides financial support to qualified SMEs in Canada to help them undertake technology innovation. Firms working with NRC-IRAP are better equipped to perform applied R&D, commercialize new products and services for global markets, and access new markets. NRC-IRAP is delivered across Canada through a network of over 260 ITAs located in more than 100 communities. The IRAP Calgary and Edmonton offices provide a window for the energy industry to new technologies from across the country. In addition, SMEs can submit proposals to the more than 40 Requests for Proposals (RFPs) issued by PTAC every year.

PTAC, in collaboration with the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC-IRAP), has continued to develop the SME program for nearly a decade.  Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are prevalent in the Canadian hydrocarbon energy sector. Agile and adaptable, these small companies are often at the forefront of innovation and technology solutions.  Their small size allows them to take greater risks to accomplish initial goals, but a large gap exists between the SME entrepreneur and the oil and gas exploration and production companies with whom they hope to connect. SMEs frequently build their business from limited technology development work and may offer products with acknowledged uncertainties and risks. The large-scale oil and gas operations of major producers and explorers are capital-intensive endeavours regularly scrutinized by shareholders and the public, so these companies often take a very conservative approach to technology risk.

PTAC strives to provide critical information for SMEs that are both new to the Canadian oil and gas industry and provides supplementary support to SMEs. PTAC welcomes memberships for SMEs on an “as-needed” basis. We recognize that SMEs may benefit the most from PTAC membership when they have a specific need to move technology into demonstration or commercialization stages, and our goal is to provide SMEs with solid value for their membership at the appropriate time.

One of the most popular and effective avenues SMEs choose to take with PTAC is the hosting of a Technology Information Session or (TIS). A TIS is an opportunity to increase the pace of development of your technology and make other industry stakeholders aware of what you are offering, what you need, and where you are planning to take your technology. More information on hosting a TIS can be found here.

Overall, PTAC’s work with SMEs, investors, producers and explorers has continued to gain momentum, and is effectively shifting prevailing attitudes. There is a growing atmosphere of trust in which explorers and producers feel comfortable discussing challenges and collaborating with SMEs on innovative technology solutions.

PTAC also works in collaboration with the NRC-IRAP (National Research Council Canada – Industrial Research Assistance Program, http://www.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/eng/irap/index.html) on the SME Innovation Program. NRC-IRAP has a long history of providing technical and business advisory services related to R&D, including strategic intelligence and customized solutions to fit your business needs. NRC-IRAP also provides financial support to qualified small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Canada to help them undertake technology innovation. Firms working with NRC-IRAP are better equipped to perform applied R&D, commercialize new products and services for global markets, and access new markets. NRC-IRAP is delivered across Canada through a network of over 260 ITAs located in more than 100 communities. The IRAP Calgary and Edmonton offices provide a window for the energy industry to new technologies from across the country.

If you represent an SME and are interested in discussing your project or innovation with PTAC, we ask that you please fill out this online preliminary intake form and submit it or alternatively, download this PTAC Preliminary Intake Form and return as directed. Upon receipt we will then reach out to you to schedule a meeting.

We understand that your needs parallel the needs of other industry stakeholders, most importantly the needs of producers, which focus centrally on reducing costs, improving environmental management, increasing production, and fast-tracking activities. Canadian service and supply companies provide solutions to these challenges, however to implement these solutions, proactive action is required through collaborate multi-stakeholder research and technology development projects. As a PTAC member, you are entitled to participate in select PTAC R&D initiatives and committees that not only tackle current challenges, but also provide direction and input for future research and technology development initiatives through collaboration with all stakeholders, including  regulators, government, and producers. PTAC also assists service and supply companies by introducing their technologies to other industry stakeholders through events, such as a Technology Information Session (TIS). A TIS is an event held over noon hour which provides service and supply companies with an opportunity to increase the pace of development of their technology and make other industry stakeholders aware of what service they are offering, what they require from partners, and where they are planning to take their technology. More information on hosting a TIS can be found here. In addition, research providers can submit proposals to the more than 40 Requests for Proposals (RFPs) issued by PTAC every year.

PTAC Membership provides Midstream companies with a voice in initiatives which aim to improve regulatory development, as well as the safety, financial, and environmental performance of the Canadian oil and gas industry through PTAC led networks and projects. Our Steering Committees, which are comprised of PTAC members, lead initiatives which address industry challenges and improve performance. In tackling these challenges, it is critical that all stakeholders collaborate in active research and technology development projects. As a PTAC member you are entitled to participate in select PTAC R&D initiatives which not only tackle current challenges, but also provide direction and input for future initiatives through collaboration with all stakeholders, including regulators, government bodies, service and supply companies, producers, and other midstream companies. Not enough time or resources to dedicate to networks and projects? No problem – Get free access to PTAC’s short webinars and information sessions which focus on practical field applications and innovative technologies which progress operations by improving safety performance, developing smart regulations, lowering costs, educating field staff, and reducing the environmental footprint.

PTAC acknowledges that Canadian academic institutions are progressively expanding their basic research platform into applied research, development,  and deployment of new technologies. As a PTAC member, post-secondary institutions are entitled to participate in PTAC workshops, forums, conferences and networks, enabling your organization to provide direction and input for future research and technology development initiatives through collaboration with all stakeholders. PTAC also assists university researchers by introducing their technologies to industry stakeholders through initiatives such as a Technology Information Session (TIS). A TIS is an event held over noon hour which provides organizations with an opportunity to increase the pace of development of their technology and make other industry stakeholders aware of what service they are offering, what they require from partners, and where they are planning to take their technology. More information on hosting a TIS can be found here. In addition, research providers can submit proposals to the more than 40 Requests for Proposals (RFPs) issued by PTAC every year. We recognize that post-secondary institutions not only are leaders in scientific research, but are also responsible for educating the leaders of tomorrow, many of whom will one day be impacted by and participate as partners in PTAC led joint industry projects. Academic institutions contribute to solving industry challenges by providing the fundamental research required by stakeholders to address issues related to environmental management, cost reductions, increasing production, and fast-tracking activities. As a PTAC member, post-secondary institutions are entitled to participate in PTAC R&D initiatives and committees that not only tackle current challenges, but also provide direction and input for future initiatives through collaboration with all industry stakeholders, including  regulators, government, producers, and other academic partners. Membership also provides all staff and students with access to PTAC information sessions, webinars, and forums, at substantially reduced rates, and provides your institution with recognition as a leader in collaborative hydrocarbon research. Participation n these sessions allows your institution to become familiarized with current industry challenges, thereby providing insight as to where your efforts in developing relevant research and technologies to address the industry challenges should be directed.
The execution of all PTAC projects is reliant on our industry’s professional services and consulting companies. The R&D outcomes that result from PTAC initiatives ultimately provide professional services and consulting companies with the resources required to successfully carry out the work they perform, and hence provide their clients with cost effective and environmentally sustainable solutions for their operational challenges. In addressing all industry stakeholder needs, PTAC seeks to enhance Alberta’s professional services and consulting company’s outreach by ensuring that they are well-informed of all recent and relevant R&D work made available through PTAC initiatives. In addition, research providers can submit proposals to the more than 40 Requests for Proposals (RFPs) issued by PTAC every year. Membership also provides professional services and consulting companies with access to important networking events.
Whether you run an individual consulting practice, are a post-secondary student, or a company membership simply doesn’t fit your needs, an individual PTAC membership may be right for you. An individual PTAC membership gets you free access to all technology information sessions hosted by PTAC, substantially reduced rates to conferences and forums, and allows you to participate in PTAC led initiatives and networks. In addition, research providers can submit proposals to the more than 40 Requests for Proposals (RFPs) issued by PTAC every year. Individual membership also provides you with access to important networking events, providing invaluable opportunities to connect with other industry stakeholders.