Upon completion of the training Underground Gas Storage Course (UGSC) the participant will:

• Understand and be able to compare the technical lay-out and capabilities of the different kinds of storage facilities (state-of-the-art technology).

• Be capable of making an assessment of the storage facility that provides the best performance for a specific market demand.

• Know how to analyze costs of storage facilities and develop tariffs for storage services, based on those costs.

• Have an improved insight into the planning constraints and environmental and safety issues related to the implementation of an underground gas storage plant.

• Better understand the positions of various stakeholders (regulators, consumers, transportation companies, storage providers), involved in storage services in liberalized markets.

The UGS training will not only give you the perfect opportunity to visit one of the world’s largest UGS schemes from close-by, but also to exchange experiences with staff in charge of the daily operations of these facilities.
 

At whom is the Underground Gas Storage course targeted?

You are working in the gas business and have an academic level of working and thinking. You are aware of the role that underground storages play in the supply & demand balance of gas markets and you are interested in approaching the subject of underground storage not just from a technical but also from an economic perspective. Also, you have a working knowledge of both business and technical English. Having a team spirit also helps.  

We have already welcomed participants from a.o. Shell, Iberdrola, Statoil, Georgian Oil and Gas Corporation and Repsol.
 

Which topics are addressed during this course?

The Underground Gas Storage Course lasts five days, and consists of lectures, dialogues and practical assignments with two main focus points:

1. Technical and planning aspects of underground storages.

2. Commercial market related issues, i.e. regulatory regimes, tariffs, valuation, viewpoints from a practical experience of both UGS operators and users.
 

Which experts do you get a chance to exchange views with during this course?

The key lecturer in this course is the international underground gas storage expert, Mr Hans Plaat, a former Shell executive. To guarantee both high quality and a varied programme, he will be supported by lecturers from a carefully selected group of gas companies who are directly involved in underground storage, and by lecturers from the academic network, governmental bodies and prestigious consulting firms, including Centrica, Logica CMG, Shell, the University of Groningen (Energy Law).

How did others evaluate the course?

“We had a very mixed group in our class – primarily people who were directly involved in the business of gas storage in one way or another. Being a testing engineer myself, it was very interesting to look at my own position in the business and process chain from different perspectives. Having to concentrate on the many commercial aspects of underground gas storage, for instance, was relatively new to me. But also fascinating. And it has certainly given me a broader understanding. The knowledge I acquired at the course is still very helpful when I need to calculate and prepare proposals for gas storage. But what I appreciated best of all was the interaction between the participants... the open exchange of knowledge and information, particularly during the case study and outside classes. To me, the people I met at the course were very valuable contacts. The exchanges really added to my professional knowledge. I am still in contact with several of my fellow participants. Basically, the course offered an open horizon.”
 

Reinder van der Wall
Project Manager & Testing Engineer,
Golder Associates, Germany

Start
18 - 22 June 2012
12 - 16 November 2012

Location
To be determined

Investment
€ 4.700,- (accommodation costs and VAT excluded)

Application procedure
To register for this course, please fill in the application form and send it back to us by fax or email.
 

Download your application form here.