Friday 26 / July / 2024
Muscat: OQ Exploration and Production and OQ Salalah, both OQ Group companies, garnered four Opal Awards for Best Practice 2023. The awards ceremony, a landmark event in the energy industry, was held under the auspices of Engineer Salim bin Nasser Al Aufi, Minister of Energy and Minerals.
In this edition of the awards, OQ Exploration and Production was honoured for two of its projects. The oil and gas processing unit at Bisat-C field in Block 60, won first place in the 'Made in Oman for In-Country Value' category, while the Construction Assurance Safety Programme Evaluation Review (CASPER) received the second OPAL Award in the Health, Safety, Security & Environment (HSSE) category. Additionally, OQ Salalah's innovative efforts have been recognised, with the Pressure Safety Valve Calibration Application (Smart PSV) receiving an award in the 'Research and Development' category and the Organic Solar Cell (OSC) project being acclaimed in the 'Energy Transition' category, showcasing OQ's commitment to sustainability and innovation in the energy sector.
Bisat-C Oil and Gas Processing Unit
Considered a flagship project in the exploration and production sector, the Bisat-C Oil and Gas Processing Unit significantly contributed to maximising In-Country Value (ICV), while reinforcing OQ as a major developer of oil fields in Oman. The project’s ICV contribution amounted to approximately OMR 22.2 million, accounting for 30% of its total project value. Additionally, OQ Exploration & Production has allocated around OMR 3.9 million to Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) and local contractors within this project, while the expenditure on products manufactured domestically for this project stands at about OMR 7.8 million. Furthermore, the project has been instrumental in fostering employment opportunities for Omani youth, achieving a 30% Omanisation rate in its first year. This figure is ambitiously planned to escalate to 70% by the end of the fourth year of operation, showcasing a strong commitment to local talent development and employment.
CASPER Programme
The Construction Assurance Safety Programme Evaluation Review (CASPER), a groundbreaking innovation in the field of health and safety, is the first of its kind in Oman. Developed by the dedicated employees of OQ Group, this system is a testament to the company's commitment to leveraging digital technologies and modern methods in the energy sector. CASPER is strategically implemented in oil fields and facilities to effectively predict and preempt hazards.
This proactive approach plays a crucial role in reducing accidents and foreseeing risks, thereby enabling the implementation of necessary measures to prevent incidents that could lead to harm to individuals, property and the environment. Additionally, CASPER is instrumental in enhancing health and safety systems for construction companies operating in the energy sector. It achieves this by issuing monthly performance indicators and rigorously assessing contractor compliance with the prevailing standards and regulations, ensuring a safer and more efficient working environment.
PSV Calibration Application (Smart PSV)
The Pressure Safety Valve Calibration Application (Smart PSV) is an innovative new application designed to safeguard energy, oil, and gas facilities from the dangers associated with pressure relief valve (PSV) explosions and operational resource wastage. This smart system streamlines the maintenance and calibration processes of PSVs and automatically generates engineering reports. By doing so, it significantly reduces the risk of human errors that can lead to severe environmental, financial, and health issues in many oil and energy sector facilities worldwide. Developed internally by Engineer Ahmed Al Kathiri, with support from the company’s environmental and engineering specialists, the PSV calibration application represents a major step forward in operational safety. All of its programming codes have been developed in accordance with the international standards set by the American Petroleum Institute (API), ensuring the highest levels of quality and safety in protecting vital energy infrastructure.
Organic Solar Cell
The Organic Solar Cell project is a pioneering initiative in the realm of renewable energy, featuring a sophisticated design with two layers of conductive glass. Between these layers, a special material functions to absorb sunlight and convert it into electrons, while another material facilitates the delivery of the generated electricity. This innovative technology is a significant step forward in the energy transition towards renewable sources. It offers a promising solution for reducing electricity costs and is versatile enough for various applications. For instance, it can be used in the production of windows for the construction of environmentally friendly cities, and in the manufacturing of electronics among numerous other applications. This versatility and efficiency make organic solar cells a valuable asset in the pursuit of sustainable and cost-effective energy solutions.
