Schlumberger Middle East SA will inaugurate a new research centre in March. The new centre, to be known as the Schlumberger Dhahran Research Center (SDRC), will house state-of-the-art facilities as well as a team of scientists from all over the world to work on oil and gas industry research projects and collaborate with other research institutes in the GCC region.
The centre's activities will focus on technologies for worldwide deployment. SDRC will become one of six Schlumberger research facilities worldwide and the first of its kind in the Middle East and Africa region.
The decision to build it in the Middle East enables scientists to be closer to many of the world's major producing areas in order to identify and respond to problems more rapidly.
Saudi Arabia was specifically chosen not only for its proximity to reserves and production capacity, but also for the availability of Saudi Arabian experts and scientists capable of working on projects designed to facilitate focused technological solutions that address the challenges facing the industry. "This investment recognises Saudi Arabia's growing leadership in oil production to meet global energy demand. We believe the centre will bring technology development closer to the oilfield," said Khalid Nouh, vice president and general manager, Schlumberger Middle East SA.
The centre will be the first building in the King Abdullah Science Park at the King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM).
SDRC aims to promote future technology development through closer interaction between research scientists from Schlumberger and experts from KFUPM, Saudi Aramco and King Abdul Aziz City for Science and Technology, as well as from a number of regional oil companies.
"Industry goals of identifying and evaluating oil and gas reservoirs, recovering oil and gas safely, efficiently, cost-effectively and without harming the environment can only be advanced by ongoing research into all aspects of exploration, drilling, completion and production processes," Nouh explained. Schlumberger has remained committed to R&D throughout its 75-year history and maintains that commitment today through a global network of six research and 17 technology centres located in 12 countries.
