Pact to be signed today for setting up centre for heavy oil recovery in Oman

Energy Tuesday 04/October/2016 21:25 PM
By: Times News Service
Pact to be signed today for setting up centre for heavy oil recovery in Oman

Muscat: Innovation Park Muscat (IPM) of the Research Council will sign today the first agreement to establish a research and development (RD) centre in the field of heavy oil recovery with Enhanced Oil Recover Company.
Dr. Abdul Baqi bin Ali Al Khabouri, Director of Scientific Precincts at the Research Council said that the agreement will be signed by His Highness Sayyid Shihab bin Tariq Al Said, Chairman of the Research Council. The agreement to be signed during the 3rd Annual Research Forum at Grand Millennium Muscat, aims at establishing the first research and development centre in the field of Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) outside US.
The proposed centre, which will be set up at the scientific park at IMP, will stretch on 3,000 square metres and will be provided with state-of-the-art technologies to meet needs of oil and gas sector and find solutions for the challenges faced by this sector in the Sultanate in particular and the region in general.
These challenges include recovery of heavy oil and reduce the water associated with oil production. Researchers will try to find alternative ideas that ensure optimum utilisation of the resources and make the best use of modern technologies in developing and implementing the suitable solutions that promote the sector and contribute to the growth of the national economy.
Dr. Al Khabouri added that energy and renewable energy especially in oil and gas sector is one of the four focus areas by IPM, which include as well water and environment, food, biotechnology and health. It is also one of the main pillars for enhancing the Sultanate’s economy.
He also pointed out that IPM aims at creating an integrated system for research and development in the focus areas to make the oil and gas sector more sustainable and competitive on the regional and international levels. The centre will promote innovation in the field and will avail different futuristic technologies.
It will also provide training and employment opportunities for Omanis with prestigious scientific qualifications. The agreement that will be signed mirrors the efforts made to ensure the success of IPM and attract local and foreign companies to set up research and development centres that promote and encourage innovation.
He hoped that another agreement will be signed with an international energy company before the end of this year.
He noted that the first stage of IPM started last year and it is expected to be completed by the end of 2017. IPM marketing campaign will seek to attract local and foreign companies to invest in RD sector prioritised by the society.
Abdullah Al Manthri, Chairman of Enhanced Oil Recover Company said that RD has always been one of the strategic priorities of the company.