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a weekly Saudi Aramco publicationOctober 21, 2015 vol. LXX, No. 40
OPEC basket
$
five-week price trend 2015
44.2047.23
Saudi Aramco by the numbers
barrels of oil were recovered in 2014 through the company's deployment of zero discharge technology at 432 well sites in the Kingdom.
415,000autism center one step closerWorking with partner Shuma Alamal, Saudi Aramco has brought the opening of the first multidisciplinary autism center for Saudi children in the Eastern Province one step closer. With the British-based Eagle House Group chosen to help establish and operate the Shamah Autism Center in Dammam, the center will be open to autistic Saudis between the ages of 3 and 8.
page 5 OCT 16OCT 9SEP 25 OCT 2SEP 18
a global call to action
Saudi Aramco joined nine other global oil and gas companies last week in demonstrating its commitment to the environment in supporting an agreement that would help curb greenhouse gas impacts worldwide. With fellow CEOs from other companies by his side, Amin H. Nasser noted that the declaration was another step in the company's long-standing history of environmental stewardship.
Saudi Aramco, energy companies back climate change agreementUnprecedented in the oil and gas industry, a
landmark declaration made in Paris last week by Saudi Aramco and nine other global oil and gas companies shows support for an effective climate change agreement ahead of a key United Nation's conference in December.
The agreement, which looks to boost cooperation in a number of areas and strengthen actions to reduce greenhouse gases, is part of the company's long-term commitment to matters of
the environment."Energy efficiency has been, and will continue
to be, a top priority in everything we do to both benefit the Kingdom and to maintain our position as the world's largest, most reliable oil and gas producer," said Amin H. Nasser, president and CEO.
The collaborative declaration coincided with the launch of the Oil and Gas Climate Initiative's report "More Energy, Lower Emissions,"
which highlights practical actions taken by the companies to improve greenhouse gas emissions management to reduce the industry's impact on climate change.
Among the actions included in the report are significant investments in natural gas, carbon capture and sequestration, and renewable energy, as well as low-greenhouse gas research and development.
see page 3
insidethis issue
As part of our commitment to shaping a greener energy future, the company recently sponsored the Society of Automotive Engineers’ 2015 Gasoline Compressing Ignition Engine Symposium in Capri, Italy.
a greener energy future
The corporate value of Integrity is often talked about, but for one employee, seeing it demonstrated by a group of employees showed the simple and true meaning of the word.
Integrity by word and deed
see page 2
ASC brings together industry experts to establish a standardized certification process for the completion of a rotating-equipment inspection certification exam.
certification exam added
see page 6
Manifa program looks to spread safe driving culture
see back page
Using speed monitoring devices, the voluntary Tracking Motor Vehicles for Healthy Habit and Learning (TMHHL) program looks to raise awareness and promote a better safe-driving culture in Manifa.
see page 4
see page 7
44.12 43.7946.06
moving desalination forward
October 21, 2015
2 company news
your voice
first hydroprocessing seminar focuses on challenges in producing clean transportation fuels
Ali A. Al-Saleh
Dhahran
Your Voice reflects the thoughts and opinions of the writer and not necessarily those of the publication.
explore new technologies and gain the knowledge required to overcome the challenges facing the refining business.
Three of the major licensing companies in hydroprocessing — Chevron Lummus Global, Shell Global Solutions, and Haldor Topsoe — presented the latest technologies and catalysts in this field and shared their best practices and lessons learned.
More than 70 delegates from P&CSD, the Research and Development Center, the Facilities Planning Department, the Technology management team, local Saudi Aramco refineries, and local joint venture refineries attended the seminar to share their knowledge, experience, and the operational challenges they are facing.
Menahi Al-Utaibi, acting manager of P&CSD, welcomed the licensing companies and delegates to the inaugural seminar and noted the major challenges that face the refining industry, as well as the importance of hydroprocessing technologies as a key to resolving those challenges. He emphasized the importance of innovations in this field to meet the rising demand of transportation fuel, the stringent environmental regulations for clean fuel, and changes in feedstock quality.
Al-Utaibi concluded by highlighting the commitment of P&CSD to continue providing a platform for knowledge sharing and interacting with major technology licensors to ensure smooth and optimized design and performance of Saudi Aramco facilities.
The seminar offered the delegates an opportunity to learn about the latest technologies, catalyst portfolios, revamp cases, and best practices from major licensing companies.
The technical presentations were followed by panel discussions, which were an effective platform to discuss the ongoing operational challenges and potential modifications in hydroprocessing units.
It was noon time one day this past summer when three young men had gone for lunch at the Hobby Farm in Dhahran. The lunch order wasn't too fancy, just a burger and drink for each, coming to a total cost of SR75.
A member of the trio handed a single note worth SR100 to the cashier and received back a bundle of money folded around itself as change. These young men quickly take their trays and headed straight to their table.
Enjoying the ambience of the place and the delicacy of their meals, they enjoyed
their lunch under a cold current of air inside the dining area. Then, just before departure, one customer pulled the riyals from his pocket and unfolded them.
He quickly counted SR75 and immediately thought this could not have been accurate as the money given back to him by the cashier should have been only SR25. He headed to the cashier and showed this to him, explaining that the cashier had mistakenly given back SR75 instead of SR25.
The cashier shook his head in amazement and was stunned. He smiled with immense joy and deeply thanked the customer for
his honesty. This was a textbook example of integrity,
highlighting the fact that the torch of honesty and integrity is still alive and being fed with a burning desire that such actions are deeply valued.
These three young men are members of the Community Services Customer Care Center in the al-Mujamma' Building in Dhahran, and it shows that the new generation holds dearly in their heart — and in their everyday practice — a vital pillar of Saudi Aramco's corporate values: Integrity.
Integrity: it's more about what you do than what you say
‘Black and White’
Dhahran — The Process and Control Systems Department (P&CSD) hosted the first seminar about hydroprocessing at North Park Auditorium in Dhahran on Sept. 9 and 10. The theme of the seminar was "Hydroprocessing: Black and White,” which focused on the challenges facing hydroprocessing technologies in producing clean transportation fuels and upgrading residues.
Hydroprocessing is an essential refinery process including hydrocracking and hydrotreating units that use hydrogen and catalysts to treat and upgrade the refinery’s intermediate streams under controlled reaction conditions.
The objective of the seminar was to
Development of catalysts such as these plays a major role in the efforts to meet the rising challenges in hydroprocessing.
Highlighting the major challenges facing the refining industry and the importance of hydroprocessing technologies as a key to resolving those challenges, Menahi Al-Utaibi weclomed more than 70 licensing companies and delegates from various Saudi Aramco departments to the first hydroprocessing seminar in Dhahran. (Photo: Ahmed Al Thani/MPD)
3cover storythe arabian sun
Saudi Aramco, global oil and gas companies declare support for effective climate change agreement
During the landmark declaration made by Saudi Aramco and nine other major oil and gas companies, Amin H. Nasser emphasized that partnerships and collaboration are essential to addressing global challenges.
a global call to action
Paris — A landmark declaration was made in Paris on Oct. 16 by a group of oil and gas companies that account for 10% of the world’s energy supply and a fifth of all oil and gas production.
Unprecedented in the oil and gas industry, Saudi Aramco and nine other global oil and gas companies declared their support for an effective climate change agreement ahead of December’s United Nations conference on climate change.
Along with Saudi Aramco president and CEO Amin H. Nasser, the CEOs from Total, BP, BG Group, Eni, Repsol, Statoil, and Pemex launched the Oil and Gas Climate Initiative’s (OGCI) collaborative declaration that will boost cooperation in a number of areas and strengthen actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The initiative is also backed by Shell and Reliance Industries Ltd.
In conjunction with the declaration and a report by the OGCI titled “More Energy, Lower Emissions,” the CEOs participated in a multi-stakeholder discussion and a press conference.
a history of commitment“As our track record shows, Saudi Aramco
is committed to playing its part,” Nasser stated at a press conference attended by global business and environmental media. “Energy efficiency has been, and will continue to be, a top priority in everything we do to both benefit the Kingdom and to maintain our position as the world’s largest, most reliable oil and gas producer.”
Nasser stressed that partnerships and collaboration were essential to addressing global challenges, adding that Saudi Aramco was “proud to be a founding member of the OGCI, which helps to put the oil and gas industry at the forefront of solutions to climate change, demonstrating that a technology-driven, industry-enabled approach is the viable way forward.”
The CEOs’ collaborative declaration coincided with the launch of the OGCI report, which highlights practical actions taken by member companies to improve management of greenhouse gas emissions to reduce the impact the industry has on climate change. These actions include significant investments in natural gas, carbon capture and sequestrat ion, and renewable energy, as well as low-greenhouse gas research and development.
The OGCI is a CEO-led, voluntary oil and gas industry initiative that strives to catalyse practical action on climate change through the sharing of best practices and collaboration. It was established following discussions held during the January 2014 World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos, and it was officially launched at the
by Muazzin Mehrban
September 2014 UN Climate Summit. The event was an opportunity for the
company to highlight its long-standing commitment to environmental stewardship, energy management strategies, and i n ve s tmen t s i n ene rgy e f f i c i enc y technologies — key levers to help reduce the impact of climate change.
“What we are doing in all of these areas is truly making a difference, and I want to encourage all of our employees to play their part in continuing to maintain Saudi Aramco's position in environmental stewardship,” Nasser said.
Other CEOs present at the declaration and report launch event also underlined the importance of coming together to present a united front, citing OGCI as having the “critical mass” needed to improve the industry’s contributions to date on climate change, demonstrating the industry’s proactive response to bringing practical solutions to address the problem.
our policy, est. 1963Saudi Aramco’s environmental protection
policy was established in 1963 (which was about a decade before the UN’s first Conference on the Human Environment), and the company’s comprehensive Energy Management Program is designed to both promote energy efficiency at the national level and continuously improve the efficiency of company facilities by replacing older, lower efficiency power plants with new, higher technology and higher efficiency plants. This approach will help drive significant fuel savings in the utility sector. In addition, the company supports the Saudi Energy Efficiency Program, which
strives to improve the efficiency of energy use in residential and commercial settings, in addition to industry and transportation.
Innovation and advanced technology are critical to Saudi Aramco’s strategy, and examples of energy efficiency practices and technologies include:
• Gas flaring: Saudi Aramco’s total flared gas is industry leading at less than 1%
• Zero discharge technology: In 2014, Saudi Aramco deployed zero discharge technology at 432 well sites to enhance oil and gas recovery, enabling the recovery of 7.6 billion standard cubic feet per day of gas and 415,000 barrels of oil
• Cleaner fuels and fuel efficiency: Saudi Aramco has a range of advanced Research and Development projects underway, including some with auto manufacturers, on fuel and engine efficiency. These are designed to increase the mileage efficiency of vehicles and to reduce pollutant emissions of future engines.
• Carbon capture and sequestration: In July 2015, Saudi Aramco launched Saudi Arabia’s first CO2 Enhanced Oil Recovery pilot project at the ‘Uthmaniyah field and Hawiyah facilities. The project will inject 800,000 tons of CO2 every year. In addition, the company has invested in technology startups, including Novomer, which develops catalysts capable of efficiently and profitably converting CO2 into valuable products such as polyurethanes.
• Renewab les : Saud i Aramco i s considering projects to generate 300 megawatts of wind and solar power to replace liquid fuels in power generation, and a wind power feasibility study is underway for bulk plants.
“What we are doing in all of these areas is truly making a difference, and I want to encourage all of our employees to play their part in continuing to maintain Saudi Aramco’s position in environmental stewardship.”
— Amin H. Nasser
”
October 21, 2015
4 company news
Aramco: working to enable sustainable mobility solutions company joins automotive engineers at GCI conference
Aramco was well represented at the technical sessions at the SAE 2015 Gasoline Compression Ignition Engine Symposium held in Capri, Italy. Gautam Kalghatgi, principal professional at the Saudi Aramco R&D Center presented on "Fuel Implications for Gasoline Compression Ignition Engines." See more photos on page 8.
The culmination of the two-day symposium was the lively panel discussion in which Amer A. Amer (second from left) took part.
Capri, Italy — Road transport alone contributes about a fifth of the European Union's total emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) — the main greenhouse gas — with various projections suggesting that in the coming decades the worldwide demand for transport fuels will significantly increase.
As part of our commitment to shaping a greener energy future, Aramco was proud to be the principal sponsor of the Society of Automotive Engineers’ (SAE) 2015 Gasoline Compression Ignition (GCI) Engine Symposium held in Capri, Italy. The event brought together engineers, researchers, car manufacturers, regulators, and fuel manufacturers to present the latest breakthroughs on engine and combustion technology, as well as provide a forum in which to work together to bring this sustainable transportation solution to life.
During the two-day event on Sept. 17 and 18, a pavilion was manned by members of the Saudi Aramco Research and Development Center (R&DC) who engaged with the many engineers and researchers present, providing them with information on the latest breakthroughs on engine and combustion research, as well as with our conference brochure detailing future transportation trends, and our work on GCI and other sustainable transportation developments.
We were also well represented in the technical sessions. Gautam Kalghatgi, principal professional at the Saudi Aramco R&D Center, presented “Fuel Implications for Gasoline Compression Ignition Engines.” Steve Przesmitzki, transportation analysis team leader at the Aramco Research Center-Detroit, also presented “Gasoline Compression Ignition Technology Enabling a Sustainable Mobility Solution” to a receptive audience. Both presentations stimulated discussion among attendees in the conference hall.
The symposium closed with “The Way Forward Panel Discussion” in which Amer Amer, chief technologist in the Fuel Technology Dvision of Saudi Aramco's R&DC, took part. The panel discussed the future challenges and solutions for GCI engine technology.
As well as being the principal sponsor of
by Edward White the GCI Engine Symposium, the first of its kind organized by the SAE, and an active participants in the symposium, we also held a pre-event networking dinner, indicative of our commitment to bringing the right people together, not just in our own laboratories but also on a global scale, to bring sustainable technology to life.
what is GCI technology?On the current fuel/engine technology
trajectory, there will be an increase in demand for diesel and jet fuel used in commercial transport compared to a much lower, if any, increase in gasoline demand. This is because there is a much greater scope for efficiency improvements in the passenger car sector, which is essentially powered by gasoline.
Such changes in the demand structure will require massive investments from the refining industry and also lead to a surplus of low-octane gasoline. Efficient engines that can run on such fuels need to be developed to ensure the sustainability of future transport systems.
GCI engines offer that opportunity. They are like today’s diesel engines but will run on low octane gasoline. Current diesel engines are efficient but expensive and complicated because they try to reduce NOx and soot emissions, which are of increasing concern, while using conventional diesel fuels which ignite very easily. Low-octane gasoline with high ignition delay makes low-NOx/low soot combustion much easier. Moreover, such fuels will need much less processing in the refinery compared to today’s diesel or gasoline fuel.
Summarized, the advantages of the GCI concept are:
• The engine will be at least as efficient and clean as current diesel engines but will be less complicated and therefore cheaper
• The optimum fuel will be less processed and therefore will require less energy to make compared to current gasoline or diesel fuels
• It provides a path to mitigate the global demand imbalance between heavier and lighter fuels that is otherwise projected.
our roleAs a leading global energy company with a
deep understanding of how fuels are refined,
we bring a unique perspective to how fuels and engines can be matched to create the fuels and engines of the future.
Saudi Aramco is actively involved in fuel, engine and combustion research at all levels. Saudi Aramco established the Clean Combustion Research Center at KAUST in Thuwal, focusing on fundamental fuels and combustion research. The center provides world-class research facilities and brings world-renowned talent together to develop and propagate fundamental knowledge crucial for clean fuel combustion.
Saudi Aramco has also conducted fuels and engine research in Dhahran for many years. Recently, Aramco established a research center in Detroit dedicated to developing advanced fuels and engine technologies. The company also opened a fuel research center in Paris in 2013.
“The goal of our research into fuels is to create efficient, sustainable and affordable transport solutions for the future, and this means not just improving fuels and engines, but discovering the fuel of the future and matching it to the engine of the future,” Amer said. “Saudi Aramco — with its worldwide refining capabilities, as well as a fuels research program — is in an advantaged position to enable just that.”
Aramco promotes the development of sustainable transportation technologies that meet the demands of modern society: efficiency, affordability, and lower CO2. In this regard, GCI is just one technology that we are looking at that has significant potential. Aramco acts as a catalyst to enable the transition of this technology to the market.
Aramco: enabling collaboration“Introducing a new commercial transport
fuel for advanced GCI engines is a major challenge requiring a coordinated effort from a number of parties,” said Amer.
“As such, there is a need for automotive manufacturers to develop dedicated engines for oil companies and fuel retailers to invest in additional fuel manufacturing, transportation, and delivery systems, for regulators to develop new regulations and specifications, and for governments and legislators to establish incentives to make GCI possible. All these parties must collaborate to bring GCI technology to life.
“That’s what we are doing in our laboratories, in our collaborations with academic and scientific institutes and at events such as the GCI symposium, bringing all the right people, the best talent and the newest technology together to bring sustainable transport solutions to the market,” he said.
what’s next?Saudi Aramco will be working with
manufacturers, who are planning to produce demonstrator GCI engine vehicles in 2018. However, it is likely that market introduction will happen much later. In the meantime, we will continue to take a leading role in moving GCI and other advanced fuels and engine technologies toward the marketplace through our talented people at our fuel research centers around the world and through global collaboration with industry, regulatory and academic partners.
Steve Przesmitzki, transportation analysis team leader at the Aramco Research Center-Detroit, spoke on "Fuel Implications for Gasoline Compression Ignition Technology Enabling a Sustainable Mobility Solution."
the arabian sun
5company news
children’s abilities in collaboration with the team of specialists.
The center’s approach recognizes that every child has potential. A key focus of the staff will be preparing children for education in mainstream local schools, where this is appropriate. The center will work to build relationships with local schools and governance to achieve this goal.
a unique partnership The partnership between Shumua
Alamal and Eagle House Group is to bring international experience and evidence-based, best practices in the development of children with autism, as well as transfer expertise to the cadre of Saudi professionals training in the Kingdom.
Paul Conrathe, founder and director of the Eagle Group House, said he was honored to be selected to partner with Shumua Alamal. "Our goal is to provide the highest quality services and be an example of best practices that will lead the way in Saudi Arabia,” Conrathe stated.
Having worked in the field of autism for more than 20 years with thousands of families in the United Kingdom, Conrathe
Shamah Autism Center one step closer
Huda M. Al Ghoson, left, listens to Chris Huntley, head of Special Needs from Ebdaah, during a tour of the Shama Autism Center in Dammam. When opened in 2016, the facility will provide services for young autistic Saudis between the ages of 3 and 8. See more photos on page 8. (Photo: Musleh Khathami/MPD)
The Shamah Autism Center, established through a partnership between Saudi Aramco and Shumua Alamal, will have a maximum capacity of about 100 children. The British-based Eagle House Group will help set up and operate the center.
Dammam — Significant steps forward have brought the opening of the first multidisciplinary autism center for Saudi children in the Eastern Province even closer.
In September, Saudi Aramco’s partner, Shumua Alamal, selected the British-based Eagle House Group to help set up and operate the Shamah Autism Center. Based in Dammam, the center is set to open in early 2016 and will provide services for young autistic Saudis, ages 3 to 8 years, up to a maximum capacity of about 100 children.
"We are proud of Saudi Aramco's sponsorship of the efforts to care for and educate Saudi children with autism,” said Huda M. Al Ghoson, executive director of Human Resources at Saudi Aramco. “Saudi Aramco continues to build upon our long history of developing excellent services that serve the wider community, something that is not new to the company because it has always exerted considerable efforts in the development of society.”
During the visit, Al Ghoson praised the center, its equipment, and the therapeutic and educational program that will develop the children’s skills.
an innovative centerThe center will use best international
p rac t i ce s i n de l i v e r i ng e f f ec t i ve interventions. In particular, international research recommends early, evidence-based intervention as crucial in maximizing child development. The center will be staffed by a team of experts in the fields of teaching special education curriculums, speech and language, occupational and physical therapy, behavioral support, psychology, and social services. Once evaluated, children will be placed in the daily program for up to six months and then re-evaluated to assess their response and the impact of the program.
Bui lding upon international best practices, the curriculum will be tailored to each child’s personality to help them grow and develop, as well as to meet the challenges and needs identified. The center also focuses on empowering families and helping them learn more about autism so that they can play a full role in improving and developing their
said his group focuses on three core values that will be applied at the Dammam facility, including:
• Aspiration. Whatever disability the child has, he or she has capabilities and potential. “They should be rehabilitated to live in society and be able to use their abilities and talents,” he said.
• Compassion. “We know perfectly well the feeling of parents of children with autism,” Conrathe explained. His schools in the U.K. are led by parents of children with autism.
• Partnerships. Working together with Shumua Alamal, Ebddah (the UAE-based special needs consultancy), Saudi Aramco, parents, and children to make a lasting difference in the lives of the children and their families.
“This cooperation between us and the Eagle House Group marks a new era for the autistic children in the Kingdom, as this institution has a long experience of caring for autistic children and the development of their abilities according to the latest scientific methods,” said Ahmad Al-Dobaikhi, director of Shumua Alamal.
“Saudi Aramco continues to build upon our long history of developing excellent services that serve the wider community, something that is not new to the company because it has always exerted considerable efforts in the development of society.”
— Huda M. Al Ghoson
”
by Nagy Awad
October 21, 2015
6 company news
Aramco leads collaboration to develop second equipment certification exam
JHAH introduces cutting-edge surgical technique
Houston — Following the successful launch of the first standardized certification test for fixed equipment inspectors, another milestone has been achieved with Aramco Services Co.’s (ASC) Quality Inspection Unit’s support: the completion of the rotating equipment inspection certification exam.
In 2012, the American Petroleum Institute (API) implemented a fixed equipment exam as the first phase of a comprehensive program to certify inspection personnel, an idea that came from the ASC Inspection Unit.
Phil Klefas, supervisor of the unit, brought together industry experts with an idea to establish a standardized certification process for inspectors who oversee the manufacturing of materials and equipment. But the process could not be developed using one broad exam — there was a need to create three distinct tests focusing on fixed, rotating, and electrical equipment.
“This exam and certification process is an important part of our ongoing strategy to enhance the skills of inspectors, as well as transfer knowledge to the Kingdom,” said Khalil Shafei, ASC manager of Technical Services.
Dhahran — Talent and technology have always been a strong combination in the operating rooms of Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare (JHAH). That combination is about to deliver new levels of patient safety and surgical precision as JHAH implements the da Vinci Xi Surgical System.
This advanced technology enhances the surgeon’s vision, hand control, and overall control — all while reducing the scale of the incision.
Supported and guided by Johns Hopkins Medicine, JHAH is preparing to activate the da Vinci system under the direction of Dr. Tareq M. Al-Tartir, JHAH subspecialist surgeon in the Urology Group. Al-Tartir has recently returned to JHAH after a two-year fellowship training with the da Vinci Xi at Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo, New York.
“Da Vinci gives me the ability to conduct
the newest exam: rotating equipment
The rotating equipment exam, which covers equipment such as pumps, compressors, turbines, gear boxes, and more, had been in development since 2013, and just like the preceding fixed equipment test, it took several meetings and countless hours to develop.
“When the fixed equipment exam was implemented, it served as a model for the rotating equipment exam,” said Klefas. “We have been working hard to develop a thorough study guide, test specifications, and final exam, which actually required a database of four times the amount of questions so that there will be a variance of questions on each exam.”
API is serving as the certifying authority of the exam and will continue to handle the promotional efforts of the overall certification program.
a collaborative effortP e r h a p s t h e m o s t i m p re s s i v e
achievement of the certification program is the commitment level it received from other high-profile companies and their subject matter experts. ASC has
collaborated with representatives from ExxonMobil, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, Shell, Hess Corporation, and Fluor, among others. Keflash, Rick Morton and Nick Cocchia, senior quality advisers, and Jeff McHone, quality advisor — all with the ASC Technical Services Department — served on the committee.
“Due to the success of the first phase of the program, these companies are taking inspection certification more serious than ever before,” explained K lefas . “A major benef i t to the industry is the standardization of basic requirements for inspection personnel along with verification of the inspector’s knowledge for specific equipment. This will enable Saudi Aramco and the other companies to accept this certification as demonstration that the inspector has a solid base understanding of the inspection techniques and requirements for the specific equipment. This will result in minimizing the time-consuming — and expensive — testing to qualify inspection personnel as currently practiced by Aramco offices throughout the enterprise.”
The program also creates a more defined career path for individuals interested in the inspection profession, and provides competent, certified, and responsible inspectors for fabricated equipment and materials in order to ensure the health and safety of the general public.
December launchThe rotating equipment exam will be
offered for the first time in December. Offered three times per year, it will require a significant amount of preparation for those who are not experienced inspectors. In fact, Klefas expects many inspectors will have to take a specialized training course to supplement the study guide before taking the exam.
So what’s next for the committee? “We’re working on the electrical certification exam now — that will be the final phase to pull all of this together,” said Klefas. “This is an effort we are really proud of and a project that exemplifies the forward-thinking spirt and ingenuity of Aramco.”
Inspection of rotating equipment such as this massive turbine for Sadara — a joint venture between Saudi Aramco and The Dow Chemical Company — is a key priority for the company. Recently, Aramco Services Co.'s Quality Inspection Unit helped complete a rotating-equipment inspection certification exam that focuses on preparing employees for just that task. See more photos on page 8.
more complex procedures because I am able to conduct surgeries while sitting in front of a control panel, viewing my work through 10-times magnification and high-definition monitors, and using endowrist technology that allows for precise tissue handling,” said Al-Tartir. “This is a tremendous addition to our surgical capabilities.”
The da Vinci Xi Surgical System allows a physician to perform procedures through smaller incisions, which to a patient means less pain, less risk of infection and faster recovery time. “Da Vinci adds to JHAH’s capabilities to perform minimally invasive surgeries,” said Dr. Said M. Hassan, staff physician and member of Dr. Al-Tartir’s surgical team.“The team has been participating in intensive training on the system for about three months, and by the end of 2015 we expect to perform our first operation using this amazing surgical tool.”
A surgeon uses the da Vinci Xi Surgical System, which simultaneously enhances the surgeon's vision, hand control, and overall control while reducing the scale of incision. See more photos on page 8.
by Anthony Schembri
the arabian sun
7company news
moving desalination efforts forward locally and globallyby Scott Baldauf
Dhahran — Here in the Kingdom, most of the water we drink is pumped from the sea and processed at desalination plants. Saudi Arabia has the largest desalination capacity in the world, and we at Saudi Aramco produce the energy that makes this energy-intensive process possible.
It’s no small wonder then that Saudi Aramco has taken the lead in trying to find innovative ways to enhance desalination — methods that utilize advancing technologies in renewable energy. Aligned with Saudi Aramco’s strategy for attracting new technologies to the Kingdom to support in-Kingdom job venture and job creation, the Saudi Aramco Entrepreneurship Center launched the first International Technological Innovation Competition to solicit innovative solutions in using renewable energy for Seawater Desalination in mid-2014.
According to Sami Khursani, managing director of Aramco Entrepreneurship, “The goal was to engage Saudi entrepreneurs in creating the kind of sustainable ecosystem for innovation that will make Saudi Arabia a global leader in technology-based entrepreneurship. Saudi Aramco’s leadership in this initiative is based on its strategic vision for fostering a culture of innovation to solve challenges in the Kingdom, and to create long-term business partnerships with those who have the shared vision and resources to help the Kingdom create jobs and diversify the economy.”
To meet this strategic goal, Saudi Aramco has teamed up with General Electric, the Saline Water Conversion Corporation, and key stakeholders such as King Abdullah City of Science and Technology (KACST), and King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), and these efforts are already starting to bear powerful results.
spurring innovationWinners of the award — representing
I ta ly, S ingapore, Saudi Arabia, the Netherlands, and the United States — were announced at the Saudi Water & Power Forum in Riyadh earlier this year. The new solutions couldn’t come at a better time. The region and the Kingdom is expected to invest about $50 billion in desalination technologies in the coming decades, while $100 billion is planned for solar energy deployment. Moving forward, this collaboration will not only benefit the company but society as a whole.
“Here in the Kingdom, we are one of the greatest users of this technology,” said Rashid Khan, a research consultant at the Aramco Entrepreneurship Center (currently at EXPEC ARC) who served as the lead professional on the international competition. “So it is important for us to
provide leadership in such a strategic area as desalination technology. By serving as a catalyst for innovation, through this competition and collaboration, we allow other companies in the Kingdom to access new ideas, develop new solutions, and drive future innovation.”
Some of the technologies that emerged from this contest are already being piloted, while others are actively in development. As a catalyst in the process, Saudi Aramco will continue to provide support to competition winners through collaboration with key stakeholders, such as the Saline Water Conversion Corporation (SWCC), KAUST, and KACST, in incubating promising technologies with high potential.
new technologies take holdWhile it takes time before innovation-
based proposals can translate into measurable effects, the following are a few high-level initiatives that have great potential to produce tangible impacts.
• One of the winners, “Adsorption Desalination,” which was jointly developed by KAUST and the National University of Singapore, is being tested by SWCC for possible in-Kingdom deployment. The process operates at a relatively low temperature, which can be met by solar collectors or from hot exhaust waste gases.
• Fol lowing the competit ion, GE, Saudi Aramco’s partner for the Global Desalination Competition, entered into an agreement to supply new technology to increase the efficiency of a desalination plant at the Yanbu’ 3 Refinery.
• Fol lowing the compet i t ion, an announcement was made by Abengoa Solar to build the world’s first large-scale desalination plant powered by solar in Saudi Arabia. Wa’ed members were in discussions with Abengoa Solar and KACST, highlighting the urgency of the topic a year before the announcement.
• Saudi Aramco’s leadership on this global competition was cited in more than 500 publications, creating huge goodwill and a positive image for the company.
where do we go from here?So, what does the future hold? Now
that the initiative has been completed, future development of energy efficient desalination will continue under the guidance of Wa’ed, Saudi Aramco Energy Ventures, SWCC, and other entrepreneurs in the Kingdom. As a catalyst in the process, Wa’ed continues, under the guidance of the Saudi Aramco Chief Technology Office and New Business Development, to provide support to competition winners through collaboration with key stakeholders, such as the SWCC, KAUST and KACST, in incubating promising technologies with high potential.
Saudi Aramco’s participation in this initiative is based on its strategy to create
long-term business partnerships to help the Kingdom create jobs and diversify the economy. Khan noted that Saudi Aramco has also benefitted from the international competition in a number of tangible ways.
“By act ing as rev iewers for the competition, Saudi Aramco’s Renewable Energy Department, the Process and Control Systems Department, the Consulting Services Department, and the R&D Center all received valuable firsthand knowledge in desalination technology and renewable energy,” Khan said.
Saudi Aramco has also conducted a review, to evaluate cutting-edge solutions in renewable energy at Saudi Aramco’s own desalination plants.
“By serving as a catalyst for innovation, through this competition and collaboration, we al lowed local companies in the Kingdom to access new ideas, develop new solutions, and drive future innovation. The competition has also created global media attention for the company on an issue of profound importance, illustrating Saudi Aramco’s mission to lead by example in renewable energy,” said Khan.
An Adsorption Desalination Pilot Plant is one of the winning technologies that is being tested for in-Kingdom deployment.
October 21, 2015
8 company news
spotlight
A number of employees in the Information Technology organization were recently honored for 25 and 30 years of dedicated service to the company. The employees were honored at a lunch attended by the then-vice president of IT Abdulaziz A. Al Abdulkarim, who expressed his pleasure in the opportunity to recognize the employees and congratulated them. Among those being recognized were: (30 years) Ahmad Al Ghamdi; Ali S. Al-Suhaibani; Ali J. Al Ismail; Hussain A. Al-Khatem; Own Mohammed Al-Sahfy; Ahamd S. Al-Faraj; Chun P. Tung; Mohammed N. Al Shabeeb; Mohammed A. Bashraheel (retirement); Ma'an Al Mubarak (retirement); Mohammed A. Al Shaikh Nassin; and Ghaleb B. Al Dandan. (25 years) Abdullah M. Al Sulaimani; Mohammad A. Al Mutairi; Nawwaf O. Al-Odah; Khalil I. Al Harthi; Mohammed A. Al Muhanna; Mohammed A. Hajjar; Nader B. Al Otaibi; Abdullah A. Al Arfaj; Dennis E. De Leon; Mohammad M. Al Beeshi; Emad A. Al Humam; Elham I. Rashed; Nabil A. Bukair; Khalid H. Al Yami; and Abdullah H. Al Shammary. (Photo: Ding/MPD)
Dr. Tareq M. Al-Tartir poses with his team. Al-Tartir recently returned to Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare (JHAH) after a two-year fellowship training with the da Vinci Xi Surgical System at Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo, New York, in the United States. He will lead the effort to integrate the advanced technology into JHAH facilities here in the Kingdom.
pg 6
The staff from the Aramco Services Company's Technical Services Department played a leading role inthe development of the rotating equipment inspection certification exam. Pictured in the front row, from left, are Rick Morton and Phil Klemas. In the back row are Nick Cocchia and Jeff McHone.
pg 6
Road transport and its overall impact on carbon dioxide emissions was a key message at the Society of Automative Engineers’ 2015 Gasoline Compression Ignition Engine Symposium held last month in Capri, Italy. Aramco was proud to be the principal sponsor of the two-day event. The company team, pictured here at the event, were involved on many levels, including providing the engineers and researchers present with information on the latest breakthroughs on engine and combustion research, future transportation and our work on gasoline compression ignition and other sustainable transportation developments, as well as presenting at technical sessions and participating in a symposium.
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Among those participating in a recent signing ceremony setting the path forward for the eventual opening of the Shamah Autism Center are, from left, back row: Sulaiman A. Al-Douihi, Huda M. Al Ghoson, Abdulaziz Raqtan, and Abdullah Z. Otaibi. Sitting in the front, signing the agreement between Shumua Alamal and the Eagle Group House, are Ahmad Al-Dobaikhi and Paul Conrathe. (Photo: Musleh J. Khathami/MPD)
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the arabian sun
9company news
Ju'aymah — In light of the continuous efforts by Saudi Aramco to boost Saudization in the private sector by recruiting and training Saudi nationals to contribute in the development of the Kingdom, the Ju’aymah NGL Fractionation Department (NGLFD) recently conducted a Contractors Saudization Forum.
The objective of the forum was to encourage company contractors to hire Saudis, offer support to contractor efforts in achieving the Saudization targets, follow up on their progress in reaching these goals, and offer rewards to high achievers. Ju’aymah’s long- and mid-form contractors attended and participated in the forum.
Andrew Graham from Ju’aymah NGL Operation Compliance Group opened up the forum, delivering a safety moment that emphasized the importance of injury reporting.
Adel H. Al-Dossary, manager of Ju’aymah NGLFD, thanked attendees for accepting the invitation and kicked off the forum by commenting on the importance of safety reporting and following all safety polices. Also, he emphasized the importance of the partnership between Saudi Aramco and contractors toward increasing the number of Saudis employed in the private sector.
Al-Dossary also thanked the contractors who have employed Saudis.
yesterday and todayMuqdad Bin Hussain from the Ju’aymah
NGL Contracts admin group delivered a presentation titled “Saudization in Saudi Arabia,” which opened with the history of Saudization and workforce composition, and
Saudization: successes, strategies, and challengesthen moved on to some of the challenges Saudization brings. One of the most important points in the presentation addressed how to keep Saudis employed with benefits, work environment, development, and career path all being solutions to the issue.
Faris Al-Abbas of the Business Partners Saudizat ion Department de l ivered a presentation titled “Contractors Saudization” and highlighted the department’s mission of increasing the Saudization percentage. Al-Abbas also highlighted Saudi Aramco’s strategy of increasing the contractors’ Saudization rates and the opening of centers to train Saudis working with contractors.
Abdullah Al-Sayed, executive director of Arabian FAL, delivered a presentation titled “Success Stories and the Difficulties in Complying with Saudization,” which covered his business's Saudization strategy, training, contractor package, social support, and job security. The presentation was concluded with a recognition of two Saudi electricians who have completed seven years with Arabian Fal in Ju’aymah NGL.
Following the presentation, participants had an open discussion on not only challenges and best practices toward Saudization, but also other potential solutions to improving rates throughout the Kingdom.
Muqdad Bin Hussain of the Ju'aymah NGL Contracts group shares a brief history of Saudization in the Kingdom. He was one of several experts to speak at the recent Contractors Saudization Forum in Ju'aymah
Strategy, training, contractor packages, social support, and job security are all integral elements in creating a sustainable Saudization program, according to Abdullah Al-Sayed of Arabian FAL. (Photos: Rayan Al Ghamdi/MPD)
AN OFFSHORE FIRST: A new era in offshore well servicing was inaugurated in the summer of 1981 when two “iron islands,” or jack-up barges, the Carl Fleming and the John Brabham, arrived to serve the Northern Area Oil Operations offshore oil fields in Safaniyah. At 64 meters long, the three steel legs of the barges could be sunk into the seabed, enabling them to stand in water too deep for any previous well-servicing platforms. The new barges had 325 square meters of deck area and could house 40 men for 14 days while withstanding rough weather.
(Photo: M.J. Isaac/Archives)
accomplishments
arabian 10the arabian sun
The Arabian Sun is a week-ly publication issued free of charge by the Public Relations Department for Saudi Aramco employees.
Publishing Director: Haitham K. JehairanEditors: Jamsheed Din, Todd WilliamsEditorial staff: Eamonn Houston, Scott Baldauf, Jeff McCoshen and Rawan Nasser.
Correspondence may be addressed to the editor, R-87, Dhahran Heights, Building 9156 (D Wing)Articles may be reproduced provid-ed The Arabian Sun is credited.
Room 87, Dhahran Heights, Building 9156, D Wing, Dhahran, Saudi ArabiaTelephone, (013) 876-0374 Email: [email protected]: 1319-156X
from the shores of BermudaWith the serene sound of waves lapping at the rocks, Brett Boyd captured this image of the south shore of Bermuda while on a vacation after his son graduated this past May from high school in Florida. Boyd, who lives and works in Dhahran, used a Canon EOS Rebel T3 to take the photograph. The facilities planning specialist works in the Automation and Power Division of the Facilities Planning Department and has been with the company for 5 ½ years.
Manifa program looks to spread safe driving culture
see page 6
talent and technologyThe new da Vinci Xi Surgical System will deliver new levels of patient safety and surgical precision at Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare.
MPD young employees check the instructions on a speed monitoring device during a town hall meeting in Manifa. The devices have been an integral part of the new TMHHL program in the Manifa area.
Manifa — In its ongoing efforts to achieve and sustain a safety culture, the Manifa Producing Department has established and launched a novel way of encouraging safe driving practices by introducing the Tracking Motor Vehicles for Healthy Habit and Learning (TMHHL) program.
The new on- and off-the-job safety behav io ra l enhancement p rog ram is designed to raise awareness and promote a better safety driving culture.
A comprehensive four-phase system, the program utilizes a speed-monitoring device on private vehicles and is completely voluntary.
The first phase started in Manifa with the participation of 129 Manifa employees, and it quickly moved to the second phase of implementation targeting Manifa contractors’ employees.
The majority of the Manifa workforce is young, and TMHHL was established with that in mind. “Manifa employees are our most valuable assets and they are our ambassadors of safe driving and our role models to the community and country,” said Azeb M. Al-Qahtani, manager of the Manifa Producing Department. “Safe driving is our culture at Manifa.”
The program was established by the department to encourage employees, contractors, and community to make safe driving behavior a habit. Several approaches were taken in this regard. Educational information that covers general vehicle safety and off-the-job traffic safety is communicated to the employees on a monthly basis. Speed monitoring devices have been distributed, and symbolic rewards
by Mohamed Lyzzaik
have been distributed to the safest drivers as incentives to the employees who have voluntarily participated in this program.
The third phase of TMHHL targets family. This sparked an increased interest in the program as many employees have enrolled their sons, personal drivers, and even friends in the community, which is the goal of the fourth phase of the program.
Community
Family & Friends
Contractors
Employees
