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EXPEC ARC Meets with Advisers

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Author: Heather F. Bence
Released 4 September 2008

Stephen Holditch

COLLEGE STATION, Texas, September 03, 2008 --  The campus of Texas A&M University set the stage for the EXPEC Advanced Research Center (ARC) to present recent achievements to its International Advisory Council (IAC) and receive feedback and guidance from these academicians and petroleum industry leaders.

During its fourth biannual IAC meeting, held July 28, a five-member team of EXPEC ARC managers and technologists gathered to present strategic, organizational and research initiatives to the council. The advisers endorsed EXPEC ARC efforts on several fronts, including technology programs, a safety campaign, academic partnerships and human resources development.

Nafi Toksoz

Dr. Stephen Holditch, advisory council member and head of the Petroleum Engineering Department at Texas A&M, hosted the meeting and created the opportunity for the EXPEC ARC team to meet with faculty members.

“It was an excellent occasion to have the research center team and advisory council at College Station to discuss the remarkable initiatives and progress achieved by EXPEC ARC,” Holditch said.

Advisory council members also include:

Farouk El-Baz

• Nafi Toksoz, professor of geophysics and founder of the Earth Resources Laboratory at Massachusetts Institute of Technology;
• Farouk El-Baz, director of the Center for Remote Sensing at Boston University;
• Luciano Maiani, president of the Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Rome, and former president and director general of the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN); and
• Sidqi Abu-Khamsin, chairman of the Petroleum Engineering Department at King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM).

Luciano Maiani

Upon receiving technology updates from the presenters, the council members commended EXPEC ARC for its progress in cutting-edge research and development. The council also expressed satisfaction in the growth of collaborative partnerships, including the academic components of both KFUPM and King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), noting the potential to grow into strategic alliances.

A unique feature of this meeting was that the advisers made presentations on research topics and technology developments they deem valuable for EXPEC ARC to consider. Other topics of discussion covered upstream issues such as passive seismic monitoring, near surface research, exploration, unconventional resources, tight gas development, and external collaborative initiatives aimed at continuing the trend in developing new technologies and advancing technical expertise.

Sidqi Abu-Khamsin

“We all had most beneficial discussions and hope to develop our collaboration even further,” said Nabeel Al-Afaleg, acting manager of EXPEC ARC.

“Many key topics were addressed and potential opportunities are now under consideration. We highly value the relationship with our IAC members and benefit greatly from such external perspective and partnership.”

(Article by Heather F. Bence)