OREANDA-NEWS. March 26, 2014. Saudi Aramco won three awards at the recent Offshore Arabia conference held in Dubai.

The event, held under the patronage of HE Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, U.A.E. Vice President and Prime Minister, and ruler of Dubai, featured the theme “Regional Oil Spill Prevention and Regional Preparedness,” attracting an array of international experts.

During the conference, Saudi Aramco won top spot in the categories of Environmental Excellence in Environmental Technology for its Manifa project, Excellence in Environmental Technology for its Power Systems Renewable Technology, and Excellence in Environmental Applications went to the Marine Department.

The three-day conference, which was inaugurated by HE Dr. Rashid Ahmed Bin Fahad , Minister of Environment and Water of the U.A.E., is the biggest oil spill management event in the region.

Since its inception, it has succeeded in attracting leading experts and specialists in the oil and gas industry who share their experiences and ideas on ensuring sustainable energy while safeguarding the environment for future generations.

Innovative solutions
Bader Ghouth, manager of the Marine Department at Saudi Aramco, delivered a keynote speech at the opening of the conference in which he said that environmental issues “have never been more urgent on the agenda of the oil and gas industry,” referring to the major projects taking place in the region. However, the growth of the industry in the region imposes a “quest to reach innovative solutions to protect and support the environment,” Ghouth said.

An example of this is Saudi Aramco’s Manifa project and its construction of 27 artificial islands connected by 40 km of causeway. The site is not only the center of Manifa’s production facilities, but is also a habitat for marine life and even attracts birds.

Tireless quest for excellence
In an exclusive statement to the Saudi Aramco weeklies, Ghouth said: “The spirit that causes Saudi Aramco to pay great attention to the environment and to minimize the effects of its operations is excellence, as well as a sense of responsibility towards the environment with all its components. This confirms the leadership of the company, not just in words, but also through practical efforts to protect and preserve the environment.”

This year’s conference included research and lectures by oil and gas environmental experts that touched all the pressing issues related to the industry. Other topics also covered included oil spill prevention, contingency planning and emergency preparedness, knowledge sharing and lessons learned from previous offshore/onshore incidents, among others.

The conference was held under the auspices of the regional organization to maintain the cleanliness of the sea (RECSO), which is a nonprofit organization founded in 1972 as a cooperative in the petroleum industry that operates within the concept of “mutual cooperation.” It strives to protect the environment in the Gulf region from any possible contamination, as well as supporting technologies and modern renewable energy as part of its vision for the future.

Manifa a testimony to company’s careful eye toward environment
During the 2014 international Offshore Arabia Conference and Exhibition, Saudi Aramco’s Manifa field was honored with the 1st Place Environmental Award.

Saudi Aramco’s Manifa project — a grassroots development project with innovative solutions to protect the fragile shallow water environment of Manifa Bay — was recognized for its excellent environmental stewardship. The Environmental Awards provide an opportunity to honor companies that have contributed toward the protection, safety and betterment of the environment.

“The Manifa project is a testimony to Saudi Aramco’s careful integration of interdisciplinary approaches, from conception to completion,” said Naji Al-Umair, manager of Northern Area Production Engineering and Well Services Department. “It did not sacrifice its responsibility to protecting the environment as it delivered hydrocarbons to the end users.”

Manifa involved several green environment aspects, inclusive of broad-spectrum environment conservation and protection, air pollution controls and coastal/marine protection. The field’s coastal and ecologically sensitive location contains the habitats for fish, shrimp, coral reefs and endangered species, and it is a source of livelihood for local fishermen. For this reason, Manifa warranted a development solution that struck a balance between environmental stewardship, safety and operational excellence.

Power Systems’ work on Al-Midra solar plant a sustainability jewel
Saudi Aramco Power Systems Renewables Department received the 1st place Excellence in Environmental Projects and Products for its commitment to sustainable buildings and environmental stewardship, in particular its LEED accreditation for the Al-Midra Office Building solar plant.

“We at Saudi Aramco believe that efficient use of energy and sustainability will promote strong economic growth and industrialization in the Kingdom. We strive to transform our new or existing industrial facilities, office buildings and communities to be energy efficient and sustainable,” said Ahmad Al-Khowaiter, executive director of Power Systems. “LEED certification process is one of the ways to keep them on check; the 10.5MW North Park PV plant project’s socioeconomic and environmental contributions towards local sustainability are well recognized.”

The plant design and construction was initiated in 2010 and commissioned at the end of 2012. To maximize energy generation and performance, the PV plant is divided into two sub-plants.

In 2013, North Park PV plant generated 16,871MWh of electricity, which is equivalent to 29,350 BOE savings and 16 million tons of CO2 emissions. The peak instantaneous power was recorded at 9.43MW on June 6, 2013. Total plant availability was computed 95.62 percent. In 2013 — the plant’s first full year — performance was higher than initially estimated.