Drilling Symposium a First for Saudi Aramco
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Author: Saudi Aramco News
Released 19 December 2007
AL-KHOBAR, December 17, 2007 -- With rising hydrocarbon prices and increased exploration and production activities by major oil companies, the atmosphere was right for Saudi Aramco’s First Drilling Symposium, which was held earlier this month at an al-Khobar hotel.
More than 500 representatives from drilling contractors, service companies, universities, research and development centers, and national and international oil companies came together under the theme “Drilling Technology, Pushing the Envelope” Dec. 1-2 to share their knowledge and ideas through presentations, posters and a panel discussion.
Abd Allah S. Al-Saif receives a token of appreciation from Saud S. Al-Otaibi, symposium chairman.
After a welcome from steering committee spokesman Dr. Jamal AlKhonaifer, symposium chairman Saud S. Al-Otaibi opened the gathering, saying the timing could not have been better, given the excitement in the drilling industry. “In the last few years, the drilling industry has made quantum leaps in the use of new technologies on many fronts, in the drilling rigs and in the types of wells drilled.
“What makes it more exciting,” he said, “is not only has the quality of work improved but also the quantity.” He said the world’s rig count has increased by more than 60 percent in the past five years and that Saudi Aramco’s rig activities have increased almost threefold in three years.
Among the keynote speakers was Saudi Aramco senior vice president Abd Allah S. Al-Saif. In a presentation titled “Saudi Aramco Responds to the Call to Deliver,” Al-Saif outlined the world’s energy outlook and some of the challenges in the global oil market.
“These days,” he said, “the oil industry is overwhelmed, to say the least, with issues such as prices, cost, peak oil, safety, environment, and security of supply and demand.”
He said that rising demand - along with a decreasing supply from other producers, geopolitical tension, misconceptions about resources, and environmental concerns - have led Saudi Aramco to intensify its effort to meet the global demand.
“By the end of 2009, we will have a sustainable capacity of 12 million barrels per day, compared to 10 million barrels per day in 2004,” he said after listing some details of those efforts.
Andrew Gould
In the longer term, Saudi Aramco’s goal is to increase the discovered resources and increase the recoverable portion of those resources. “The role of drilling and service companies is essential to accomplish these objectives,” he said, adding, “Our rig count has grown from less than 50 rigs in 2003 to about 130 rigs in 2007.”
Collaboration with academia, and drilling and service companies is an important part of the plan. Under a new approach to collaboration, the company is “identifying current needs and then collaborating with the service companies to develop appropriate tools to address these needs.”
Andrew Gould, chairman and CEO of Schlumberger, in his keynote speech
titled “Lowering Cost Through Drilling - The Ultimate Recovery Tool,” said, “Drilling is a profession that requires men and women of strong character. They demand clear instruction and clear communication. They are often called upon to make difficult and dangerous decisions with insufficient data in rapid time frames.”
Another speaker, Dr. Ali Ghalambor, American Petroleum Institute endowed professor and department head of petroleum engineering at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, talked about challenges from economical, safety and technical points of view.
Zuhair A. Hussain, executive director of Drilling and Workover, said the symposium was a great opportunity for employees to hear from regional and international leaders in the drilling industry.
The industry overcame many challenges in the past and will continue to “push the envelope,” especially in the use of new technologies to save time and money, he said.
Also featured at the symposium were 15 technical sessions and a panel discussion on HR challenges.
(Article by Karam Yateem)