Strategic Technology Planning in Science-Based Subsectors of Petroleum Industry: The Case Study of R&D Roadmapping for Geochemical Exploration Technologies

Strategic planning of technology in Iran's oil industry has a long history, however, the knowledge-based sectors of the oil industry, despite their different characteristics, have been less exposed to such experiences, and hence the study of the experience in one of the key sub-sectors of this industry, namely the exploration geochemical sector, can be innovative. This article seeks to answer three questions: Technological targets of Iran's oil industry in the field of exploration geochemistry with an emphasis on petroleum systems modeling? Technology priorities in this field in the next 10 years? And the right way to realize these priorities? Using the roadmapping as a tool, the technology tree of this sector was drawn and the technology priorities were identified and based on the criteria of attractiveness (including technical and commercial criteria) and capability, they were ranked. Also, in a ten-year schedule and in the form of nine research projects, the path to achieving these technologies was determined.