Schlumberger Middle East S.A., will inaugurate a new Research Center in Saudi Arabia in last week of March 2006. The new center, to be known as the Schlumberger Dhahran Research Center (SDRC), SDRC will house state-of-the-art facilities as well as a team of international scientists from all over the world to work on oil and gas industry research projects and collaborate with other research institutes in the GCC region. The center’s activities will focus on te1chnologies for worldwide deployment.
SDRC is one of six Schlumberger’s research facilities worldwide and is the first of its kind in the Middle East and Africa region. The decision to build it in the Middle East enables scientists to be closer to many of the world’s major producing areas in order to identify and respond to problems more rapidly. Saudi Arabia was specifically chosen not only for its proximity to reserves and production capacity, but also for the availability of Saudi Arabian experts and scientists capable of working on projects designed to facilitate focused technological solutions that address the challenges facing the industry.
“This investment recognized Saudi Arabia’s growing leadership in oil production to meet global energy demand. We believe the center will bring technology development closer to the oilfield” said Khalid Nouh, Vice President and General Manager, Schlumberger Middle East S.A.
The Center will be the first building in the King Abdullah Science Park at the King Fahad University of Petroleum and Minerals. It aims to promote future technology development through closer interaction between research scientists from Schlumberger and experts from KFUPM, SAUDI ARAMCO, and KACST as well as from a number of regional oil companies.
Khaled Nouh added, “Industry goals of identifying and evaluating oil and gas reservoirs, recovering oil and gas safely, efficiently, cost-effectively and without harming the environment can only be advanced by ongoing research into all aspects of exploration, drilling, completion and production processes.”
Schlumberger has remained committed to R&D through its 75-year history and maintains that commitment today through a global network of 6 research and 17 technology centers located in 12 countries.
Schlumberger Limited is the leading oilfield services company supplying technology, project management and information solutions that optimize performance for customers working in the international oil and gas industry. Founded in 1927, the company today employs over 58,000 people of more than 140 nationalities working in 80 countries.
Schlumberger has principal offices in New York, Paris and The Hague. Revenue was $11.48 billion in 2004. Schlumberger stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange, ticker symbol SLB, on the Euronext Paris, Euronext Amsterdam, London and the SWX Swiss stock exchanges.
