Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) hosted a delegation from the State Council of the Sultanate of Oman on an official visit to two of its leading energy-saving projects in the South of its concession area.
The group was led by Dr Suad Mohamed Ali Sulaiman Al Lawati, vice chairperson, State Council, and included around 30 members of the council. The party also included officials from the Diwan of Royal Court and Ministry of Defence, Sultanate of Oman. The guests were accompanied by a senior PDO management team led by Sultan Al Shidhani, petroleum engineering manager, oil south.
The fact-finding mission toured Miraah, one of the largest solar energy ventures globally, which PDO is building with partners GlassPoint Solar to produce steam for thermal-enhanced oil recovery by harnessing the power of the sun through a huge glasshouse complex to heat water.
The delegation also visited the award-winning Nimr Reed Beds project, the largest industrial constructed wetland system in the world. The project, which PDO is running with partner Bauer Nimr, has enabled the company to treat massive volumes of Nimr oilfield produced water efficiently and effectively.
By avoiding the conventional, energy-intensive disposal method of pumping water into deep aquifers under high pressure, the scheme is forecast to save around 24 billion cubic feet of gas over 10 years – making a 98% saving.
During the full-day official engagement, the guests also toured the Marmul central control room and the hi-tech collaborative work environment centre, which featured a live broadcast from the field with the coastal staff.