A New Non-Contact Swelling Meter for Assessing Early Stage Shale Hydration: Market and Capability Assessment

1. 进行市场研究，对产品和服务进行知情评估，这涉及到与已知市场领域的最终用户进行接触：BP和雪佛龙已同意提供样品（油藏岩心），以测试新设备与特征良好的样品的性能；M-I SWACO已经表达了兴趣，沙特阿美将通过现有的联系与之接洽。在开发和完善IP方面，将主要通过以下方式向利益相关者寻求帮助：-最终用户在特性和功能以及粘土水化和钻井液分析的最终分析报告方面有什么需求？这将帮助我们实现在我们打算解决的市场中具有竞争力的产品/服务的全部范围。-他们目前对井筒材料和钻井液有效性进行初始水化测试的方法是什么？这些信息将使我们能够识别现有IP的优势和劣势。-他们能确认我们的IP有市场需求吗？2. 研究竞争对手的技术发展和营销策略这项研究将包括：-对现有竞争对手的产品进行技术分析，以确定科学发展的关键领域，这些领域可以纳入我们的产品设计。这也将暴露出构建更先进的产品所涉及的风险。-调查用于从仪器数据中提取有用信息的分析技术。这将使我们能够制定一种标准化的报告格式，从而大大提高我们知识产权的效率和效益。-市场策略分析，了解竞争对手的品牌实力、分销实力、市场声誉、产品广度和技术支持。这将使我们能够开发IP，使其能够提供优于竞争解决方案的优势。研究的起点是GRACE的竞争对手的仪器，R. Patel（研究员）和M-I SWACO的联系人有直接的经验。获得其他竞争对手的产品将通过英国石油公司和雪佛龙公司。虽然我们的知识产权的主要市场用途是石油和天然气勘探，但利用我们的知识产权可以进行的测量适用于更广泛的市场。氢气储存公司Cella Energy的现有联系人对测量高压和高温下材料在水中的膨胀感兴趣，以及伦敦大学学院物理学院。任何学科的膨胀是测量随时间的材料与水和其他流体化学品的接触可以接近。我们将探索食品和医药原料行业的现有联系，因为我们相信这些是我们知识产权的另一个市场。因此，必须建立和维护这些关系，以优化我们的知识产权在整个市场中的地位。对市场机会和竞争对手进行评估，以建立商业化战略和市场路线。这项工作将由外部咨询公司Woodview Technology Limited执行，该公司在能源行业的技术开发方面具有相当的专业知识（见支持函）。除了我们与终端用户的现有联系外，他们还将与自己的、更大的供应链公司网络进行接触，这些公司可能是我们知识产权的潜在客户。这将扩大我们的网络，并为商业化制定更明智的战略。Woodview技术有限公司将处理以下几点：-执行市场和知识产权分析，以帮助合作伙伴购买技术的许可协议的发展。-调查申请知识产权专利的机会。-调查将知识产权作为产品或服务提供的可行性。-制定市场策略路线，包括可承担的未来活动、风险等

1. TO UNDERTAKE MARKET RESEARCH TO MAKE INFORMED ASSESSMENTS OF THE PRODUCT & SERVICES This involves engaging with end-users within the known market sector of oil & gas: BP and Chevron have agreed to supply samples (reservoir cores) to test the performance of the new device against well characterised samples; M-I SWACO have already expressed interest and Saudi Aramco will be approached via existing contacts. The stakeholders will primarily be approached for assistance in developing and refining the IP in the following ways:- What are the needs of the end-users in terms of features and functionality and final analysis reporting of clay hydration and drilling fluid analysis? This will help us realise the full scope of a product/service that can be considered competitive in the market we intend to address.- What are their current methods for initial hydration tests of wellbore material and drilling fluid effectiveness? This information will allow us to identify the strengths and weaknesses of our existing IP.- Can they confirm that there is a market need for our IP? 2. TO RESEARCH COMPETITORS FOR BOTH TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT AND MARKETING STRATEGYThis research will involve: - A technological analysis on the available competitor products to determine key areas of scientific development which can be incorporated into our product designs. This will also expose the risks involved with building a more advanced product. - An investigation into the analysis techniques used to extract useful information from the data of the instruments. This will enable us to develop a standardised reporting format which will great increase efficiency and effectiveness of our IP. - Market strategy analysis which will shed light on competitor strength of brand, distribution strength, market reputation, breadth of product and technical support. This will allow us to develop the IP to a point where it can offer benefits over competing solutions. The starting point for the research is a competitor GRACE's instruments with which R. Patel (the researcher) and contacts in M-I SWACO have direct experience. Access to other competitor products will be made via BP and Chevron.3. TO INVESTIGATE OTHER POTENTIAL MARKETSAlthough the driving market use for our IP is oil & gas exploration, the measurements that can be made using our IP are applicable to a broader market. There has been interest from existing contacts in hydrogen storage company, Cella Energy looking to measure expansion of their materials in water at high pressure and temperature, as well as UCL Physics. Any discipline where expansion of a material is measured over time in contact with water and other fluid chemicals can be approached. We will explore existing contacts within the food and pharmaceutical materials industry, as we believe these are another market for out IP. It is therefore imperative that these relationships are built and maintained to optimise the position of our IP within the overall market.4. TO PERFORM ASSESSMENT OF MARKET OPPORTUNITY AND COMPETITORS TO BUILD COMMERCIALISATION STRATEGY & ROUTE TO MARKETThis work will be performed by external consultancy, Woodview Technology Limited, who have considerable expertise in technology development for the energy industry (see Letter of Support). Alongside our existing contacts with end-users, they will engage with their own, larger network of supply chain companies who might be potential customers of our IP. This will broaden our network and develop a better informed strategy for commercialisation. Woodview Technology Ltd will address the following points:- Perform a market and IP analysis to aid in the development of a licencing agreement for partners to buy into the technology.- Investigate opportunities for patenting the IP. - Investigate viability of providing IP as a product or service. - Develop a route to market strategy, involving liable future activities, risks, etc