Upstream Research Honors High Achievers
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Author: Stephen L. Brundage (Saudi Aramco News)
Released 12 March 2008
DHAHRAN, March 11, 2008 -- Saudi Aramco’s EXPEC Advanced Research Center (EXPEC ARC) honored several employees for their unique contributions to the team recently in front of the International Advisory Committee and executive management, in an event dubbed the EXPEC ARC Awards Ceremony.
Michael A. Jervis receiving the Milestone Award from Khalid A. Al-Falih at the EXPEC ARC Awards Ceremony.
Executive vice president of Operations Khalid A. Al-Falih and Exploration and Producing business line head Amin H. Al-Nasser were there. Al-Falih commended the ARC team for creating a state-of-the-art research facility for Saudi Aramco.
“Those working at EXPEC ARC reflect the future growth and direction for upstream research within Saudi Aramco and contribute substantially to increasing oil resources, recovery and productivity in the future,” he said.
It had been a busy week for ARC staff, with many of them presenting updates on recent successes and current challenges to the International Advisory Committee.
Before the awards ceremony, geologist Stephen G. Franks was asked to share some of his recollections about 2007 and the beginnings of ARC.
“To me, 2007 was the year that those geologists, geophysicists, engineers, secretaries and support staff from many different groups scattered about the Aramco campus finally came together as a team with a pride of belonging,” he said. “It was the year when we all became part of something special that has just begun.”
Franks recalled the support of Saudi Aramco management in getting the center up and running. He told of The Weekly Information Exchange (TWIX) meetings that became a highlight of the work week for many.
Geologist Stephen G. Franks tells an EXPEC ARC gathering that people who share a common direction can achieve great things.
“Every Wednesday morning at 8 a.m., we’d all get together on the second floor of Building 137,” Franks said. Each week, a team member would introduce himself or herself, and talk about his or her activities and ideas.
“But underlying all of this was really just the idea that we were getting to know each other,” he said. “It was a great success!”
Management leveraged that success and followed with a monthly event dubbed MAD TWIX.
“Each team was challenged to come up with far-out, new ideas and give a five-minute presentation on it,” Franks said. “Afterward, we would vote on the best idea, and prizes would be awarded. ... All of this simple, sometimes silly stuff over time was accomplishing something remarkable even without our realizing it, I think. It was giving us a sense of family - a group identity.”
ARC members honored for their contributions included geophysicists Michael A. Jervis and Michael K. Broadhead; petroleum engineers Hazin H. Abass, Sunil L. Kokal and Abdallah M. Qahtani; geologist Ian M. Billing; and technicians Ali A. Zahrani and Salah H. Saleh.
At the conclusion of his speech, Franks shared the “Flying Geese paradigm” of dynamic comparative advantage introduced by Japanese economist Kaname Akamatsu. “A flock has a greater flying range in formation than a single bird would have on its own,” he said.
“The goose takes advantage of the lifting power of the bird in front. … People who share a common direction and sense of community can achieve great things that might be difficult or impossible to do alone. They can reach their goals more quickly and easily because they are traveling on the thrust of one another. There is a chance to lead and an opportunity to rest,” he explained.
“When I leave Saudi Aramco, and I’m sitting on a porch somewhere in a rocking chair, I can proudly look back to 2007 and tell my first grandchild - a boy born in 2007 - that I was at Saudi Aramco when ARC was born. I was in the freshman class.”
Award winners
- The Milestone Award - geophysicists Michael A. Jervis and Michael K. Broadhead.
- Effective Publication Award - Sunil L. Kokal.
- Best TWIX Presentation Award - Ian M. Billing.
- Mentorship Award - Hazim H. Abass.
- Creative Contribution Award - Abdulla Al-Qahtani.
- Most Productive Technician Award - Ali A. Zahrani and Saleh H. Saleh.
(Article by Stephen L. Brundage)