Newly-established Omni Oil Tools FCZO is the result of a vision aimed at establishing the first leading edge product technology development, engineering and advanced manufacturing centre in the Middle East for drilling tools and well completion tools for the oil and gas industry.

A growing tendency to outsource specialised products is becoming more and more evident, says Mohammad Makhlouf, president and chief executive officer of Omni Oil Tools FZCO.

"We therefore believe that the time is optimal to penetrate the 'best product' domain and position a business to become a major provider of quality products to the entire industry in the next decade," he adds.

The uniqueness of this venture is in adding the engineering and design (and therefore technology development) ingredient to a quality manufacturing industry in the Middle East. No such venture exists in the Middle East at the moment, claims Omni.

As such, the value this venture adds to the existing industry is through supporting existing providers with local engineering design improvements and economical manufacturing, delivery, warehousing and logistical support to their operations in the Middle East and the surroundings.

On the basis of quality and design value, as well as on acquired manufacturing cost-efficiency, this centre's products would add value to the marketplace at global level.

Cost effectiveness would come primarily from the low-cost highly-skilled labour available in the UAE, as well as through operation in the Jebel Ali (or Mohammad Bin Rashid Technology Park - MRTP) free zone, which commits to zero taxation on income.

The founding management team includes two executive members. Adel Bassal and Mohammad Makhlouf.

Bassal has 24 years' experience in the industry, the last nine years of which were dedicated to the technology development, design, engineering and manufacturing of drilling stabiliser roller reamers (the initial product intended for development through this venture).

He is registered in the European patent office as 'inventor' as a result of his innovation in this field.

He is a vice president in the new venture and is the drive and manager of its technology development pursuits.

Mohammad Makhlouf has 15 years of experience in the oil and gas industry, working for Schlumberger. He was vice president for marketing in the Middle East and Asia for all Schlumberger product groups until December 2002.

He has a wide spectrum of international exposure in different capacities including operations, line management, marketing and product development on regional and global level.

Makhlouf is the chief executive officer in the new venture. In addition, the core executive founding team involves a vice president for finance, a manager for marketing and business development and a manager for systems and quality assurance.

This team possesses the level of contacts and knowledge of the regional oil and gas service and supply business that enables optimal value-adding product development at regional, and eventually global level.

The initial products the company is focused on are the reamer and drilling enhancement family of products including hole openers, fixed blade reamers, stabilising reamers and roller reamers, which are all enhancers to the performance of the drilling bottom hole assembly.

They include new proprietary designs produced by Bassal that improve currently operating designs in the marketplace.

Omni Oil Tools has already introduced several new designs to the marketplace characterised by the specifications outlined below. These are but some examples of the repertoire of products that Omni Oil Tools FZCO will be launching in the marketplace.

Dual hole opener: a first of its kind tool dealing with formation swelling while drilling, and hole irregularities while pulling out; provides safe drilling in irregular holes, BHA stability, self cleaning for PDC cutters and more.

IB Reamers: pioneering slim hole drilling applications (as small as 3 1/2 inches diameter) providing effective reaming despite hole size, better quality gauge hole, and more.

Roller Reamers: strong in body reamers with unique locking mechanism. With cutter elements effective down to 3/4 inch holes, they are available in a wide range of sizes.

The OMNI team is dedicated to bringing the value of these products to their customer base. The industry will be the ultimate valuator of their value proposition.