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Summer 2009

A periodical of Saudi Ara

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Travel Dimensi ns

A

t the picturesque fishing village of al-Qurm in north Muscat, Oman, it would appear, from this photo, that over-

fishing is likely a major problem, with a large number of boats casting their nets and lures into a very small pond.

However, appearances can be deceiving. In fact, this photograph, shot in the mid-afternoon light by Saudi Aramco

consulting engineer Graham R. Lobley was taken at low tide. In early evening, the fishermen went out to

sea after the water level rose, Lobley explained. He shot the picture

while relaxing at a clifftop hotel that offered panoramic views of the

city, the mountains beyond and a mangrove creek network that has

been designated as a national park. He used a Canon 400D camera

with a wide-angle lens, in both JPEG and RAW formats.

>> Submit unique or visually arrestingtravel photos to Dimensions magazineas high-resolution digital images (atleast 300 dots per inch). E-mail imagesless than 9 megabytes to [email protected].

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2 30

Back

Cover

2012

The Saudi Arabian Oil Company, also known as

Saudi Aramco, was established by Royal Decree

in November 1988 to succeed the original U.S.

concessionary company, Aramco. The Aramcoconcession dates back to 1933.

Beginning in 1973, under terms of an agreement

with the four Aramco shareholders, the Saudi

Government began acquiring an ownership

interest. By 1980, with retroactive financial effect

to 1976, the Governments beneficial interest

in Aramco increased to 100 percent when it paid

for substantially all of Aramcos assets.

Saudi Arabias Supreme Council for Petroleum and

Mineral Affairs determines policies and oversees

operations of the Kingdoms oil and gas industries.

Saudi Aramcos Board of Directors is chaired by

HE Ali I. Al-Naimi, Minister of Petroleum and

Mineral Resources.

Saudi Aramco Dimensions is published periodically

for the affiliates, customers and employees of the

Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Saudi Aramco).

Khalid A. Al-Falih

President and Chief Executive Officer

Khaled A. Al-Buraik

Vice President, Saudi Aramco Affairs

Emad M. Al-Dughaither

Manager (A), Public Relations Department

Editor:

Rick Snedeker

Contributing to this issue:

Graham R. Lobley, Margot Rawlings, Atheer Al-Sadah,

Larry Siegel, Douglas J. Horn, Mark Kennedy and

Rick Snedeker

Design:

Herring Design, Houston, Texas, U.S.A.

Printing:

Sarawat Designers and Printers, Jiddah, Saudi ArabiaAlleditorial correspondence should be addressed

The Editor, Saudi Aramco Dimensions

Public Relations Department,

Saudi Aramco Box 5000

Dhahran 31311

Saudi Arabia

ISSN 1319-0520

Copyright 2009 Aramco Services Company

SUMMER 2009

Printed on recycled paper

www.saudiaramco.com

2 Twin of Aramcos first plane takes off

12 Geologists are No. 1: These specialists really rock

20 Weather: Making peace with Mother Nature

30 News Dimensions: Al-Falih urges common sense

Inside Back Cover The Way We Were: Water is life

Back Cover Scrapbook: Joy of candy

Summer 200

Weather has always been a Saudi Aramco

concern, such as in 1947-48 when two companyvehicles got stuck in rain-caused mud on the

Dhahran-Ras Tanura road (above). See story

and photos starting on Page 20.

About the cover: As an enormous wall of dust approached Saudi Aramcos Udhailiyah community in Saudi Arabia

Eastern Province on March 10 this year, company engineer Doug Horn and his wife, Daphne Hope, rushed with thcamera equipment to a good vantage point to photograph the phenomenon. Horn, who works in Exploration an

Producing, said the looming dust storm reminded him of a giant sand-storm in the movie Return of the MummyHorn said it took 38 minutes for the swirling cloud of sand to engulf the entire community. Because unexpected

weather events can wreak havoc on Saudi Aramco operations and pose hazards to people, the company closely

tracks the weather and actively plans for emergency response.

About the back cover: Any time a child finds candy is a moment of joy and wonder. Saudi Aramco employee

Atheer Al-Sadah snapped a charming photograph of his niece in just such a moment, and the effect is wondrous

Inside

Back

Cover

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I called the number I

United States, and a

answered the phone. I told

trying to reach Jack Ady.

husband. May I ask

Mark Kennedy with

Aramco Public Relations

. Im calling from

Arabia.

was a moment of silence.

Goodness gracious, she

said. Let me get him. Hes just in the other room.

I heard the phone being jostled. Soon it was picked

up and a soft, gravelly voice came through the earpiece.

Hello, this is Jack.

I explained who I was and that I had heard he was

selling a 1929 Fairchild 71 airplane. I asked if he still

had the plane.

Yeah, I still have it. Its been sitting in my barn

for almost twenty years. I took it out for the first

Summer 2009 3

The

Last

FairchildTwin of historicAramco plane fliesinto wild blue yonder

BY MARK KENNEDY

Atleft:JackandAliceAdyatHa

rveyField

airfieldnexttotheirhomeinS

nohomish,

Washington,intheUnitedStat

es.

Aboveinset:JackAdys1929Fa

irchild71.

Saudi Arabia

There

Department

Saudi

This is

whos calling?

Hes my

her I was

woman

had for the

DHAHRANDHAHRAN

Saudi

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time in I dont know how long and cleaned it up a bit for

the picture you may have seen in the advertisement.

It was January, 2008. The weather in Dhahran was a

little cool, but beautiful. I knew it was near freezing and

wet where Jack Ady lived in Snohomish, Washington,

because I used to live not far from there. I would learn

later that Jack and his wife lived in a farm house on the

edge of Harvey Field, the local airstrip, which suited

Jacks passion for flying. I could picture Jack and his

wife all snug and warm in their house while rain

slashed against the windows.

I had been given the assignment of locating an exist-

ing Fairchild 71 like the one the company had special-

ly built and shipped to Egypt and then flown to Saudi

Arabia in 1934. The plane the companys first

was a critical tool for conducting aerial surveys of the

newly acquired concession area during the 1934-35

field season.Seventy-five years later, in 2008, only four 1929

Fairchild 71s were still registered with the Federal

Aviation Administration (FAA) in the U.S. Of those

four, only one was owned by a private individual

and I had him on the phone. Better yet, the plane

was still for sale.

Jack, do you mind if I ask you a few questions

about your airplane?

4 Saudi Aramco Dimensions

At left: The Fairchilds

crew in 1935, from left,Joe Mountain, pilot;

Dick Kerr, navigator/

geologist; and RussGerow, camera and

mechanic. Mountain and

Gerow arrived in the fallof 1934, at the start of

the second field season.

This photo was shot by

famed geologist MaxSteineke. Kerr later

become a full-time

Aramco employee.

Fairchild71SpecificationsGENERALType:5-8seatutilityaircraftManufacturer:FairchildAircraftCo.,Farmingdale,LongIsland,NewYork,UnitedStates

Date:1929NumberBuilt:90Cost:$18,900.00(Socalpaidaliquidationpriceof$6,500plusaccessories)

POWER PLANTPratt&WhitneyWasp420-horsepower,9-cylinder,air-cooledradialengine

D IMENS IONSLength:33feet,2inchesHeight:9feet,6inchesWingspan:50feet

WEIGHTS AND CAPACI TI ESEmptyWeight:2,732poundsUsefulLoad:2,768poundsMaximum

GrossWeight:5,500poundsFuelCapacity:148gallonsOilCapacity:12gallons

PERFORMANCEMaximumSpeed:134mphCruiseSpeed:108mphLandingSpeed:55mphRateofClimb:875fpmatsealevelServiceCeiling:15,000feetCruisingRadius(themaximumdistancethatanaircraftcantravelawayfromandbacktoitspointoforiginwithoutrefueling):325miles

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Summer 2009 5

Above: The Fairchild is

transported by boat, date and destinationunknown. Above right: Dammam Well No. 1

stands sentinel in the desert. Right: From left,

Charles Rocheville and Robert P. Bert Miller

pose in front of the Fairchild, their pet anddarling, 1934.

The beginning

In 2008, Saudi Aramco celebrated the

75th anniversary of the signing of the historic con-

cession agreement between Standard Oil Company

of California (Socal) and the Saudi Arabian government.

The signing of that agreement launched the formation of

the company and the discovery of massive crude oil

reserves previously unimaginable.

There were many ideas about how to mark the anniver-

sary of the concession signing. One thought that emergedfrom brainstorming sessions was to purchase an existing

1929 Fairchild 71 and completely restore it, providing the

company with an exact replica of the original that could

be put on display. It was my job to see if I could find one

that wasnt already part of a museum collection elsewhere.

Walk down the corridors of any Saudi Aramco office

building and you are bound to encounter a framed photo

of the companys Fairchild 71 hanging on one of the walls.

There was one in my building, in fact, and the times I

walked by it I couldnt help slowing as my eyes lingered

on the black-and-white image for a moment before passing

on. The photos tug at you. So I understood the desire to

bring it back somehow. And now that I was actively

searching for its twin, I wanted to know more about

the Fairchild 71.

Chasing a mirage

In a darkened editing room at the Saudi Aramco

Media Production Unit, Sean Reid, a company film

director and script writer, queued up the video he

was working on. He entered a few keystrokes on the com-

puter and the large Sony monitor lit up with 70 year-old

grainy, slightly staccato, black-and-white images of the

Saudi Arabian desert and the original Fairchild 71.

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The film seemed from another time

entirely, helped by the subtle, whirring clack-clack-clack-

clack sound of a reel-to-reel film projector that Sean had

added to the soundtrack.

Sean was creating a series of historical videos that

included archival footage of the Fairchild 71. As a pilot

himself, Sean had a personal appreciation for these old

bits of film. We sat and watched what he had assembled.

It was great stuff, giving the viewer a few tantalizing

glimpses into a time just far enough into the past that it

still seemed familiar, yet completely removed from

our own.

Making the scenes particularly haunting was that they

contained glimpses not only of the Fairchild but the leg-

endary men who flew it. There, on the screen, were Dick

Kerr, Joe Mountain and Russ Gerow, young men in their

30s who flew and maintained the plane and took several

thousand photographs from its special window, as they

walked the plane out of a makeshift hangar in Jubail

and prepared it for take-off. In another scene, the planemade a landing at the field camp of geologists Schuyler B.

Krug Henry and Arthur Brown, who, playing to the

camera, boyishly wrestled each other into the sand.

This footage offered a rare look at the plane and the

people as they were in 1935, so young and vital and ready

for adventure, which only increased the sense of the

inescapable void of time and space, and the knowledge

that they are now forever beyond our reach.

Inspired by the film, I visited the companys

Photography Unit, where I asked to see all the pictures of

the plane in the collection of historic still photos. Shots of

its fragile structure pitched against a backdrop of open,

dune-covered desert, tend to evoke a visceral sentimentali-

ty, a certain wistfulness for those early days of discovery.

But there were surprisingly few photos. When I asked if

there were any more, I was told that they had given me

everything they had. I looked at the dates of the photos.

They were all from 1934 and 1935. After 1935, the pho-

tographic record abruptly stops; there are no more pic-

tures of the Fairchild.

Hmmm.

I checked the company archives. There are documents

relating to the purchase of the plane. There are documents

requesting and receiving government approval to use the

Left: Camels were used totransport supplies to

remote field camps.

When the Fairchildarrived, below, it often

did double duty trans-

porting men and sup-

plies in and out of thedesert locations.

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Summer 2009 7

Above: This 1935 photo ofthe Fairchild and a Saudi

man performing sunset

prayers in the desert nearEl-Hafar was used as the

basis for the illustrated

cover, right, of the Standard

Oil Bulletin, published in

September 1936 (Image copy-

righted by Chevron Corp. and

used with permission.). This edi-tion of the Bulletin carried an

article on Standard Oil Co.s Saudi

Arabian oil exploration efforts.

plane for company busi-

ness in the concession

area. There are several

extensions of those

approvals. But there are

no documents concerning

the boxy, modestly

appointed planes final dis-position. Regarding what

ultimately became of the

Fairchild, the archives are

eerily silent.

It seemed odd that a company asset like the Fairchild

would, after 1935, just vanish from the record. I found it

strange because for a brief but crucial period between

1934 and 1935, the search for oil in the Kingdom of Saudi

Arabia was sped forward exponentially by

the use of that little workhorse of a plane. The specially

modified aircraft and its pilots, Kerr and Mountain,

were once central characters in the cast of early Aramco

pioneers that included other names that reach out from

the dust of Saudi Aramco history, names that possess a

timeless, almost mythic quality, such as: Max Steineke,

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Bert Miller, Krug Henry, Khamis bin Rimthan, J.W. Soak

Hoover and Tom Barger.

These were the right men at the right place at the right

time with the right stuff. They presided over pivotal moments

that helped propel the Kingdom into prosperity, modernity

and global influence. And without the Fairchild 71, it would

have taken many more years to decipher the geology of

the Eastern Province.

I spent a few more months looking into the matter. I

got in touch with the archivist at Chevron, who now

manages the old records of the California Arabian

Standard Oil Co. (Casoc), Aramcos second incarnation.

Nothing. I even contacted Nestor John Sander in the

United States. Sander, who at 94 is the oldest living for-

mer company employee, actually knew and worked with

Dick Kerr. Though still incredibly lucid, he had no knowl-

edge of what happened to the plane. Trying to find out

what happened to the companys Fairchild was beginning

to feel a bit like chasing a mirage.

their pet and darling

In his book Discovery!, about the early days of

Aramco, Wallace Stegner wrote that, by 1935,

Some of the fun had gone. The Fairchild, once their

pet and darling, was folded up and stuffed in a shed, no

longer needed. Its motor, packed in a crate labeled A-1,was shipped off to the United States for rebuilding, the

first thing ever exported from the al-Khobar pier.

This is confirmed in a company letter from Lloyd

Hamilton to Bill Lenahan, dated Nov. 23, 1935. It states,

I have just learned in a recent conference in San

Francisco it was decided on account of the already

advanced geological field season not to send a pilot to

Saudi Arabia at the present time. There is a probability,

however, that the plane will be used during the season of

1936/37. Meanwhile the plane is to be stored in a hangar

to reduce deterioration to a minimum.

But the Fairchild was never used again. And its fate

after 1935 is shrouded in mystery. Speculation about its

final days in the companys service ranges from deteriora-

tion in a Casoc reclamation yard to a few more

years of service for another company some-

where in Sudan. It seems certain that the plane

Left: Russ Gerow prepares to pull the Fairchild outof its hangar in Jubail. Below right: Improvising in

the field, a truck bed is used as a tool box and a

step ladder, providing Gerow access to the Fairchildsmotor for a bit of servicing. Below left: Gerows U.S.

mechanics licence in 1938.

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real adventure began.

Though it was a good plane, only 90 Fairchild 71s

were manufactured, making it rare enough that, today,

just finding one to potentially purchase for the compa-

ny proved quite difficult. Of course, being rare is what

makes the remaining

Fairchild 71s so special to collectors of antique

aircraft. But even back in 1934, there was the sense

that the companys Fairchild 71 was special. It was

just a simple plane, but it was more than that, too.It represented unlimited possibility.

And for those of us who today belong to the enter-

prise that is Saudi Aramco, we can see photographs

of the Fairchild 71 and be reminded of a time when

one person could make a difference, of a time when

there was still a sense of mystery and anticipation

about what the land might reveal which, after all

these years, is still the reason we get up and go

to work.

Tsal proportions. In 1934 and 1935, the Fairchild 71was a high-tech solution to the massive challenge of

the day photographing, surveying and exploring a

concession area covering 320,000 square miles.

The Concession Agreement was signed on May

29, 1933. Article 3 of the subsequent Letter

Agreement, was ultimately modified to allow the

use of a plane for aerial reconnaissance of the

concession area. By September, Socal had

entered into a contract with Continental Air Map

Co. to perform the work. The contract covered

the period from March 1934 to June 1935.

Dick Kerr, the Continental Air Map Co.s

general manager and representative to lead the

team in Saudi Arabia, chose

to purchase a 1929 Fairchild

71 for several reasons: it

was small and light; it was

reliable; its wings folded

back on top of the fuse-

lage, making it easy to

store and transport; it wasdesigned with aerial pho-

tography in mind by the

same person who invent-

ed the Fairchild K-4 aeri-

al camera that was

used in conjunction with

the plane.

Kerr had a pretty good idea of what

the job would require. He and his original co-pilot and

mechanic, Charles Rocheville, requested a few modifi-

cations to the planes original specs: special 24- by

18-inch balloon tires (inflated to 16 pounds per

square inch) for operating in deep sand; a larger fueltank that added an additional 175 miles to its cruis-

ing radius for a max of 500 (but reduced seating from

8 to 4); and a hatch in the floor of the fuselage for

taking vertical photographs, plus removable side win-

dows from which oblique photos could be taken.

The plane was built at Fairchilds Kreider-Reisner

Aircraft Division at Hagerstown, Maryland. And on

Feb. 5, 1934, a dark blue and orange 1929 Fairchild

71 with U.S. Department of Commerce number

Above: The impressive Fairchild K-4 aeri-

al camera. Left: Several thousand photoswere taken from the Fairchild, whose

shadow crosses the desert floor in this

image shot fromthe plane.

Simpleplane,

high-techsolution

technology to explore for petroleum, manage reser-

ly sophisticated

Aramco uses high-

oday, Saudi

time to take it up for a quick test flight before the

hands of Kerr and Rocheville. They had just enough

emerged from the factory into the eager

NC13902, serial number 801,

voirs, operate facilities and execute projects of colos-

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was transported to Dhahran

when the companys geological

operations were moved there from Jubail. But for all any-one really knows, it could still be parked in its makeshift

hangar in Jubail.

What I ultimately discovered is that today nothing

remains of the Fairchild 71 except a handful of written

references, some photos and about five minutes of

archival footage. But what does remain is a strong sense

of nostalgia for that antique plane and the bygone era of

Aramcos golden age of exploration.

Value and meaningfor generations

I

spoke with Jack Ady several times about his

Fairchild. And although I could tell it was hard for

him to talk about selling his plane, Jack was a good

sport and answered all of my questions with humor and

enthusiasm. He felt good about the possibility that his

plane might be purchased and restored by a company for

which it would have value and meaning for generations

to come.

Jack told me that in his younger days, he was a pilot

and a sky diver. In 1964, he won the national sky diving

Above: Jack used hisFairchild as a skydiving

plane for a year before

he and Alice beganrestoring it.

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Summer 2009 11

championships, and he did it jumping out of a 1929

Fairchild 71. That was the day he fell in love with

that particular Fairchild. In 1973, the plane came up

for sale and Jack had to have it. So, he scraped

together the money and bought it.

Jack continued to use the Fairchild as a skydiving

plane and operated a little skydiving business with it

out of Harvey Field next to his house. A year later, he

quit the business, and he and his

Abdullah ibn Abd al-Aziz Al Saud, whose visit reprised a

historic 1939 visit to the Eastern Province by his father,

King Abd al-Aziz.

Quite a sight

On Jan. 1, a new year began. The companys

75th anniversary had successfully come and

gone. But I still thought about Jack and his

Fairchild 71. And I still thought about the mystery of the

companys Fairchild. It occurred to me that, whatever the

fate of Jack Adys rare plane, how we managed to find the

last available Fairchild would still make a good story.

The editor of this publication agreed, and I got the green

light to write a story and contact Jack to see if he had any

photos of the plane possibly gathering dust in his attic.

When I reached Jack by phone, he sounded uncharacteristi-

cally subdued.

Yeah, I got some pictures, he said. But I dont have

the Fairchild anymore.

You dont?

Nope. I had to sell it.

Jack, you dont sound too good, I said. Are you

doing okay?

Well, I dont know if I told you but I got the diabetes

pretty bad. I always

on my plane for a while, and he talked me into letting it go

for sixty thousand dollars.

I remembered that Jack had originally had a higher ask-

ing price, so I asked him about that.

Well, with this whole economic crisis, times are tough

around here. I felt lucky to get the sixty thousand. You

know what surprised me, though?

Whats that?The plane was in good enough shape that the guy

actually flew it out of here. It was quite a sight. Jack

paused. You know, in all the years I had it, I was always

the one to fly it. So that was the first time in 35 years that

I saw it in the air. I imagined him shaking his head slowly

as he said again, Yep. Quite a sight.

Left: Jack and Alice Ady ultimately sold their beloved

Fairchild 71 to an aircraft museum owner in Port Townsend,

Washington. But they still enjoy the company of fellowpilots at Harvey Field. Below: Jack and Alices Fairchild

after they completed the restoration work.

of arrangements. Well, there was this guy whod had his eye

needed to buy our cemetery plots and make all those kinds

we got. And I realized we

wife with all the bills

couldnt leave my

were to happen I

something bad

thinking that if

happened I got to

But,when that

right, he said.

Oh, its all

sorry to hear that.

Wow, Jack. Im

of my heart.

function in one-half

while back and I lost

some complications a

associated with it. But it went to my heart instead. I had

something, because of, you know, the circulation problems

thought it would go to my feet or

presence of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King

even more memorable by the

That event was made

event in May 2008.

ing a Grand Celebration

in other ways, includ-

to mark the milestone

eventually was decided

ning progressed, it

Anniversary plan-

Aramcos 75th

As Saudi

away in his barn.

and he packed it

the best of him

ment until age got

personal enjoy-

wife, Alice, set about

the plane for his own

restoring the plane to the best of their ability. Jack flew

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Oil is a near-magical resource and geoscientists arethe professionals who point to where the genie in thepetroleum bottle is likely buried under eons of rock.Once the genie is coaxed out of its bottle, it offers far

more than three wishes. Besides serving as the basis for

gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, naphtha and petrochemicals, a

wide assortment of other products derive from petroleum,

including fertilizers, pharmaceuticals, plastics, synthetic

rubbers and hundreds more basic building blocks of

consumer goods.

And Saudi Aramco is always searching for more.

Recently, the companys Research and Development

Center (R&DC) held an Idea Factory and asked

scientists to consider nontraditional uses for hydrocar-

bons, and they came up with a wealth of ideas from

developing carbon fibers to chemical compounds for medi-

cines. Indeed, because of oils exceedingly variable nature,

Saudi Aramcos hydrocarbon future appears very bright

and continues to evolve.

The foundation for this future is composed of technolo-

gies and processes that Saudi Aramco has developed over a

period of 75 years to make the most effective use of hydro-

carbons. Oil rigs on land and sea, vast pipelines, impressive

gas-oil separation plants (GOSPs), glittering refineries and

majestic tankers are all tangible examples of how we

produce, process and transport hydrocarbon products.

But the hydrocarbon business never stands still.

Cutting-edge technology is the prime mover in this

business, and Saudi Aramco is a leader. One cant stand


Geologys role in Saudi Aramcos75+ years of success

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in front of the OSPAS (Oil Supply Planning and

Scheduling) Departments enormous video wall and

not feel a sense of awe at how this operation

manages Saudi Aramcos business. Similarly,

Saudi Aramco research and development

continue to make impressive leaps with

nanotechnology, carbon management and even

biotechnology.

But there would be none of these operations or

Saudi Aramco, for that matter if intrepid rock

hunters hadnt used their skill and experience to

find likely places to drill for black gold. These

hunters, known originally as geologists, are

among the first heroes in Saudi Arabias discov-

ery of this rich resource that would have a pro-

found effect on the progress and prosperity of the

entire world. These individuals dedication and pow-

erful understanding of geological formations made it

Summer 2009 13

At top is a representation of a drillbit, used to drill wellholes through solid rock. Bottom: A microscopic view of a

reservoir rock, including solid grains and pore spaces, where

petroleum is trapped.

By Larry Siegel

possible for Saudi Aramco to discover and manage the

worlds largest reserves of oil.

And that story continues and will continue for

decades to come. Just a point to make for the

skeptics who believe the world is running out

of oil.

Recipe for oil and gashe actual petroleum and hydrocarbon story

begins a very long time ago; from as little as

hundred million years ago to more than

400 million years. For oil and gas to be created

is almost a matter of chance. Conditions must

be perfect with just the right combination of

T

At left: Vertical spires

reach skyward in a com-plex rock formation near

Madain Salih in western

Saudi Arabia. At right: Birds

rest on an offshore rock outcropin the Red Sea along the Kingdom's

western shoreline.

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organic matter, combined with the proper type of rock that

will contain the hydrocarbons. And then the temperature

window must be between 80 and 140 degrees centigrade

(176-284 degrees Fahrenheit).

Most fortunately for Saudi Arabia, the countrys primor-

dial landscape eons ago was perfectly designed to collect

vast amounts of organic materials, generally algae,

furnishing every-

thing necessary

for the recipe to

produce oil and

gas. Contrary to

popular belief, the

probability is that the remains of dinosaurs were not

among the ingredients of the oil-and- gas soup.

This harvesting of organic material took place when

Saudi Arabia was in a very different place and, in the

earlier stages, was part of one huge land mass known as

Gondwana. In fact, Saudi Arabia once occupied a place on

this planet where Antarctica is now and eventually

migrated to its current location. All the ingredients

were present: In addition to the massive amounts of

organic material, there were also the perfect geological

structures for the hydrocarbon traps, an impervious

seal and the heat needed to cook it all, capture and pre-

serve it. This is why geologists refer to where the organic

matter cooks for eons as The Kitchen.

It turns out that the ancient land that became Saudi

Arabia was a hydrocarbon chefs dream, with multiple

kitchens ideal for slow-cooking carbonate and shale

stew. After many millions of years, the timer went off and

the baked goods were ready. Voila! Hydrocarbons!

Just as a pound cake may take 30 minutes and a turkey

four or more hours, different hydrocarbon source rocks

are also subject to different cooking times and different

cooking temperatures, and geoscientists use the age and

the type of organisms buried in the source rock to get a

good picture of what type of hydrocarbon oil and/or

gas may have been generated and trapped. The trick

has always been how to find them.

Hydrocarbons and Saudi Arabia

By now, everyone knows the story of the discovery of

petroleum in Saudi Arabia. Those special people called

geologists had discovered oil in Egypt, Iran, Iraq and

Bahrain. In fact, it was by looking across to the Eastern

Province of Saudi Arabia from Bahrain in the early 1930s

that these geologists saw a geological structure very

similar to the one in Bahrain that was being drilled for


Geologist, geoscientist, geodesist The number of specialists working together to find

hydrocarbons has grown exponentially from the earli-

est days. Heres a list of key specialties.

Seismic Acquisition Specialist: Plans, controls

and runs a 2-D or 3-D seismic crew.

Seismic Processor: Uses mathematics and com-

puters to develop a time-related image of

the subsurface.

Seismic Interpreter:Analyzes pat-

terns in a seismic image and trans-

lates them into a 3-D model of the

subsurface.

Potential Field Specialist: Uses

gravity, magnetic and electric fields

to identify subsurface properties.

Well Log Analyst: Measures and interprets the

physical properties of rocks along the walls of a

borehole.

Petroleum Geologist:A generalist involved in allaspects of oil discovery and production.

Well Site Geologist: Studies rock cuttings from

wells to understand rock formations in order to

provide information on how to best drill the well.

Driller: In charge of the drilling operations. Must

constantly monitor the operation and be prepared

to counter any problems.

Application Support and Trainer: Specializes in

exploration software applications and trains others

how to use them.

Geoscience Software Developer: Produces

software that aids the search for hydrocarbons.

Surveyor: Determines terrestrial or three-dimen-

sional space position of points, distances and

angles to accurately map areas and position

well locations.

Cartographer: Reproducers of maps that represent

the Earth on flat surfaces.

Once geoscientists

locate prospective

areas, derricks suchas this one are

rigged up to drill for

hydrocarbons in thepotential reservoirs.

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underground pressure cooker the kitchen is that they

often tasted and sniffed their way through promising

landscapes. For example, if the dirt was crunchy, that

indicated quartz and the quantity present. By tasting

the rock, the geologist could often tell how sandy or sha-

ley it was, important indicators of both reservoir and seal

qualities. Likewise, by smelling the rock, the geologist

could often interpret the presence of hydrocarbons.

Everywhere geologists searched, they took precise notes

and made excellent maps of the area, delineating all

the unique rock formations. They collected rock

specimens and fossils. In the end, it was by

understanding how hydrocarbons were formed

and the presence of promising geological fea-

tures that gave the geologist a best guess

about where to drill. This was, and still is, the

riskiest part of the operation to find hydrocarbons.

Many, many dry wells were drilled. But enough

producing wells were discovered to make the explo-

ration worthwhile.

The hydrocarbon hunt todayhat a difference three quarters of a century

make. Exploration today makes use of a

whole host of experts

(see sidebar on the

different types of

professionals

At right, Ali I. Al-Naimi, Saudi Arabias minister of Petroleum and

Natural Resources and a professional geologist, shown at rightin the 1970s, earned a bachelor-of-science degree in geology

from Lehigh University, Pennsylvania, in the United States, and

a masters in geology from Stanford University, also in America.Al-Naimi was also Saudi Aramcos first Saudi president and CEO.

petroleum. Known as an anticline, it consists of

arch-shaped layers of rock that jut up from the

land in this case, very near the Arabian Gulf.

This classical structure forms ideal hydrocarbon

traps if it includes porous rocks that could con-

tain the oil. It seemed like a good bet to see if Saudi

Arabia would be a promising place to drill.

Of course, it was. It took Max Steinke and his

team tedious, backbreaking months to strike pay-

dirt. They drilled well after well with little suc-

cess until on the seventh try, what looked like

another bust at first, ultimately became

Prosperity Well the foundation of the

vast Saudi oil empire.

Steinke and his fellow geologists at the time

were hardy and adventurous. They faced harsh

obstacles that could be life-threatening. They worked

through blazing heat and blinding sand storms as they

explored nearly uninhabited areas. Their goal was to find

promising oil shows, reservoir rocks and anticlines, that

might indicate the presence of oil thousands of feet

underground.

Maybe one of the reasons geologists called the

Saudi Aramco has a long list of former geologistemployees who were instrumental in the company's

continuing success. Above: Standard Oil Co. of

California geologists on a pre-Aramco surveying trip in theKingdom in 1934: Felix Dreyfus, H.I. Burchfiel, Robert P. Miller,

R.C. Kerr and Chas Roscheville. At right: Other formercompany geologists.

W

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engaged in exploration). Todays geo-scientists have the

same goals as the earlier geologists and surveyors, which is

the accumulation and assessment of data. However, thats

where comparisons end. Today, the methods of collecting

data and analyzing it, and the strict process followed, are

light years ahead of the old ways.

There is still a requirement for the thorough under-

standing of how rocks are formed and deformed, but the

amount of information that can be obtained today would

be overwhelming to humans without high-speed comput-

ers and sophisticated programs, which are often developed

in-house in Saudi Aramco. In fact, geo-scientists must deal

with terabytes of data enormous volumes, in other

words to find the nuggets

of information that make for

a successful hunt (See sidebar

on todays sophisticated

methods of gathering data).

The next step in the hunt

for hydrocarbons is for profes-

sionals from different disci-

plines to share data and

defend opinions. This is a vital

process because, as a portfolio of prospects is developed,

there is a thorough risk assessment, and only prospects with

the highest potential go to the final step, which is drilling.

The ultimate technical authorities are a highly experi-

enced group known as the SPOT Team (see sidebar, To drill

or not to drill, Page 17). They diligently look at all of the

data and how it was arrived at by other professionals. If

they feel that the information is incomplete or off target,

they ask for more research and assessment to be done. Then

all the relevant information is combined and the potential

for discovery and the risks involved are concluded.

The purpose of this very intense assessment of input is

to lower the number of unprofitable wells. According Ali

Al-Hauwaj, manager of the Area Exploration Department,

today we have a better than 50/100 chance that anytime a

well is drilled, it will find oil or gas. That is a phenomenal

average compared to past efforts, and it even impresses

geoscientists today.

It is a combination of the expertise of our profession-

als and the fact that Saudi Arabia has enormous,

undiscovered resources.

The business of exploration

Until recently, Saudi Aramco explored specific operating

areas within Saudi Arabia. Today, exploration covers

the entire Kingdom and extends to the Arabian Gulf

and the Red Sea.

According to Al-Hauwaj, We are at the highest level of

exploration operation ever, covering more territory than ever.

It is interesting to note that some of the areas Saudi

Aramco is now exploring are vastly different geologically

from the traditional exploration areas in the Kingdom,


A Saudi Aramco employee

views microscopic rocks sam-

ples to gauge porosity, theamount of space available for

storing oil.

Above, a microscopic sliver of mineral chlorite, magnified by

an electron microscope, appears as giant layers of material.Microscopic minerals and fossils give geologists big clues to the

properties of potential oil reservoirs.

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Summer 2009 17

Explorations SPOT (Strategic Planning and OptimizationTeam) provides a final level of security for drilling proj-ects. How does the company decide where to drill for

new oil? Taking into account that each project may cost

more than 10 million dollars and take up to 10 years to be

productive, there is a lot of pressure to make the right deci-

sions. Thats one of the reasons why Exploration crunches a

remarkable amount of data from a wide variety of sophisticated

methods of searching for oil and gas.

Ultimately, turning data into useable information is up

to the various exploration teams that are assigned to dif-

ferent geographical areas in Saudi Arabia. Interpreters on

these teams find prospective drilling locations and put

together all of their findings and conclusions about the via-

bility of the site to test for oil and gas in economic volumes.

This is then assembled into a well proposal on why that specific

drilling location should be added to Explorations portfolio of prospects.

Enter SPOT. The team consists of five experienced

geo-scientists who each have more than two decades of

worldwide exploration experience. They include team

leaders Martin Dickens, Roger Price, Bill Stone, Marty

Robinson and Stig-Arne Kristoffersen.

Their job is to review each interpreters recommenda-

tions on where to drill. This is not a judgmental exercise on

any individuals professional ability, says Martin. We are

merely assessing the probability of his or her prospect

successfully discovering a sufficient volume of new

hydrocarbons to replace and add hydrocarbons in line

with our business-plan goals. Our objective also is to

serve as facilitators dur-

ing the review. We often

make suggestions about

modifying or gathering

some additional data in

A microscope is a more

useful tool than a traditionalpickax and sextant in modern

geology. Technology is leading the

way to the future in hydrocarbon

exploration.

To drill or not to drill

Saudi Aramco searches for oil on

land and in the sea. This jack-up rig

can move from place to place in theArabian Gulf to drill for oil and gas

in the most promising places.

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order to improve the overall probability of success for the prospect.

Remember, our job is to discover new sources of oil and gas, so we

cant do our job if we reject prospects. We strive to review prospects

with an optimistic eye.

In fact, the primary job of SPOT is to ensure the company has as


much verified data as possible before the first well is drilled on a

prospect. Our job, says Martin, is to associate an unbiased level

of risk or probability of success to each prospect. We evaluate the

hydrocarbon system, look at the geological data and put a risk value

to each element of the prospect. Were looking for both the chance

of success of finding oil or gas and what the reservoir capacity

might be. Because we are not attached to any of the prospect-

generating divisions, we can risk all prospects without any pressure

or bias being involved. Additionally all of the statistical methodology

in risking a prospect is also designed to exclude bias, which is a

very important criterion.

After the data is reviewed, the prospect is added into

Explorations portfolio of prospects that contain both low and high

probability of success. To help them, the team uses an in-house-

developed software system called PAL (Prospects and Leads). PAL

takes each prospects data and ranks it in order of probability of

success and expected volumes of hydrocarbons. Computer simula-

tions are performed in PAL for each prospect in order to assign

potential discoverable hydrocarbon volumes, and the team provides

a report for each summarizing the risk elements with recommenda-

tions for management.

The PAL database is also linked to a Drill Scheduler

software developed by SPOT and ECC. This software

enables the drilling schedule portfolio to be planned by

directly accessing the PAL database for decision-mak-

ing. For example, when a current well has to be

replaced by another location, the software updates

expected discovered/risked volumes of oil or gas for that

year on the fly so that the effect of any alteration to the

planned schedule can be seen instantaneously. The Drill

Scheduler application is used for the daily well operations meeting

with senior management.

However, even with all the data, SPOT relies on personal experi-

ence and a broad view of some of the industrys stark realities. The

inescapable fact is that the risk is highest during the earliest stages

of exploration, says Marty. Therefore, a place like the offshore Red

Sea is high risk by definition since we havent begun to drill there

yet, while the risk is lower if we drill in an area that has been histor-

ically productive.

However, high risk may not be a bad thing. The prospects with

the highest level of risk may also have some of the largest reserves.

Our objective is to add up all the possibilities and work hard to focus

on the prospects with the highest potential to find reserves for the

company. The probability is that well drill some dry holes in the

beginning, but ultimately well be successful.

And a big reason for that success is that Saudi Aramco relies on

a combination of its peoples expertise and experience, combined

with the latest tools and a great deal of computing power to sift

through mountains of input.

Exploration goes hi-techEarly geoscientists relied on a few hand-held tools to

get the job done. Today there is a wide range of high-

tech data acquisition techniques that gather data for

the exploration of hydrocarbons.

Satellite imagery and air photos for surface

geology mapping.

Aero magnetic and gravity surveys and/or a surface

magnetic survey with a gravity survey for regional

basin and mega-structure mapping.

Ship-borne magnetic and gravity surveys for regional

basin and mega structure mapping in the offshore.

2D and 3D seismic surveys (the most important tool

for structural and reservoir mapping in the oil indus-

try). There are many types of seismic surveys in

different terrains such as marine, transitional andland (including deserts, swamps, forests and hills

areas). In land surveys, vibroseis (making

vibrations) is common in Saudi Arabia,

however dynamite is used in other parts

of the world. For a marine environment,

an air-gun serves best. Detailed imaging

requires high-density data.

4D seismic (time lapse) survey for

reservoir management and production

optimization.

Wireline logging for down-hole formation evaluationis extremely important after exploratory well drilling.

Type of logs: Gamma ray, neutron density, resistivity,

porosity, cement bond, caliper, FMI and pressure, to

name just a few.

Production test (DST-Drill Stem Test) for hydrocarbon

properties evaluation.

Conventional cores and sidewall core for analysis

and mineralogy study in core labs. They are subject-

ed to porosity and permeability analysis as well as

searching for fossils for dating and environment.

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Summer 2009 19

Al-Hauwaj said. In fact, exploring the Red Sea is just like

going to another country. It is a vastly different area for us

(see sidebar on Red Sea exploration).

Discoveries are continually being made. The company

have a target set each year for both oil and gas, said

Al-Hauwaj. And we always beat that target. In gas, we

often beat it by a factor of two. The company has also

been successful in adding the targeted oil reserves, and

in some cases exceeding our goals. The fact is that oil

continues to be found in quantity, but Saudi Aramco

remains conservative in its estimate of total reserves.

When asked if Saudi Aramco was nearing the end of

its profitable exploration, Hauwaj laughed. We are now

discovering new sources of oil and gas in areas where

weve been producing hydrocarbons for decades. We have

at least twenty, thirty or more years of exploration ahead

in the Kingdom.

Geologically, the western coastal region of Saudi Arabia, borderingthe Red Sea, is very different from the Eastern Province.The western region poses unique challenges, including ultra-

deep water (more than 2 kilometers deep in many places), hightemperatures and heat flow in the rocks, undersea volcanoes, newly

created oceanic basalts in some central portions of the Red Sea,

extremely complex geology, a thick salt sequence up to 7,000 feet

thick below the seafloor that acts like a lens which can severely

distort the seismic image, and a unique geologic style (extensional

tectonics). In addition, the Red Sea has more than 180,000 square

km. of area with almost no well control for the exploration team to

calibrate their interpretations.

The Red Sea Exploration Team was formed in 2006 and has

currently acquired over 22,000 km. of 2-D seismic data in the Red

Sea. The team has also acquired almost 200,000 sq. km. of airborne

The Red Sea: Saudi Aramcos new frontier

Below left: A Saudi Aramco vessel plies the waters of the Red

Sea, where the company is exploring for new undersea hydro-

carbon deposits. Below right: Toothy barracuda in the Red Sea,which is rich with sea life

gravity and magnetics data, and is also using a satellite seep study.

By recognizing the localities of these seeps and their repeatability

over time, explorationists can narrow down which are likely to be

from a geological source on the seafloor.Ultimately, the plan is to drill exploration wells in the Red Sea,

but there is much work to be done first. The premier technology to

be used is the acquisition of a rich or wide azimuth marine 3D

seismic survey over one or more prioritized areas of the Red Sea.

In conjunction with wide azimuth 3D data and satellite seep studies,

several new and cutting-edge technologies have either been initiated

or are being evaluated for possible use: seafloor heat flow studies,

seafloor piston core sampling for geochemical analysis, full tensor

gradiometry, and marine Electro-Magnetic methods are the primary

examples. In addition, the Area Exploration Department will acquire

seafloor bathymetry of the Saudi side of the Red Sea to help under-

stand the overall tectonic framework of the Red Sea area.

The Red Sea represents a truly high-risk and potentially high-

reward area to explore, and Saudi Aramco has committed major

resources to thoroughly evaluate this exciting and challenging part

of the Kingdom.

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Summer 2009 21

Its the day after the first heavywinter rains, and the world feelscleansed and fresh. The color hasreturned, the leaves aregreen and the roof tilesare terracotta once morein the familiar, seasonalrhythms of weather.

T

he desert flora will be erupting in its intermittent

splendor and the fragile ecology will survive

another cycle. It feels like a new beginning for usall. Right now, I worry that my children are dressed

warmly enough for the cold winds on

the school playground, and while Im

procrastinating about washing the

For Saudi Aramco, Mother Nature is a criticalproject-management concern

WRITTEN BY MARGOT RAWLINGS

A Saudi Aramco employee checks the

WeatherNowWeb site on the companys

intranet system. The site provides

Kingdom-wide weather reports and data.

8/14/2019 Dim Sum 09

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In the pursuit of operational excellence, Saudi Aramco

has developed a meteorological system that continuouslydelivers accurate weather and air-quality information

across the Kingdom in real-time.

Weather can cause all kinds of problems,

such as safety issues related to wind

(photo at left), and electrical power

transmission flaws caused by airborne

dust and sand (below).

8/14/2019 Dim Sum 09

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Summer 2009 23

resultant mud crust off my car, I remind myself how short-

lived this season will be and how soon we will once

more be immersed in the Peninsulas relentless, searing heat.

It doesnt matter where you live on Earth, no one and

nothing escapes the weather we just adjust to its differing

extremes. We all understand the effect of Saudi Arabias cli-

mate on us personally, but the weather plays a significant but

less self-evident role in most of Saudi Aramcos operations.

For example, high ambient air temperatures cause energy

loss during overhead power transmission. Pilots of both air-

craft and ships watch the wind to ensure smooth navigation

with optimal fuel use. Similarly, heavy-lift crane operations

are instantly suspended if the winds exceed threshold safety

values. During emergency drills, the wind direction must be

known to safely evacuate personnel. Indeed, wind direction is

constantly monitored throughout the company.

Saudi Aramco has been monitoring the weather since the

1930s. In those days, daily readings were taken manually and

written up in notebooks. The first automation came with the

introduction of a timer-based mechanical drum that tracked

temperature swings throughout the day. It wasnt until the

early 1980s that data gathering became semi-automated in

8/14/2019 Dim Sum 09

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response to the companys need to monitor its emissions

within the air-quality standards set by the Kingdoms

Presidency for Meteorology and Environment.

At that time, the data was recorded in stand-alone data

files, connected to an electronic data logger at each remote

station. These files needed to be physically gathered from the

field on floppy discs, driven back to Dhahran and manually

consolidated into spreadsheets for analysis.

The next advance was to use onsite modems and long-

distance phone calls to retrieve the data at regular intervals.

Although more convenient than site visits, this system was

prone to technical problems. During this era of semi-automated

consolidation of data for the annual environmental reports

took several months. Responding to ad hoc data requests

from facility planners, engineers and others was a significant

challenge due to the collation, quality assurance and refor-

matting required.

Modern-day assessment of the weather has come a long

way from the days of drum recorders and floppy discs. In

the pursuit of operational excellence, Saudi Aramco has

developed a meteorological system that continuously deliv-

ers accurate weather and air-quality information across the

Kingdom in real-time.

In a search for full automation, the Environmental

Protection Department (EPD) approached the e-Map Division

of Information Technology in 2002. The goal was to replace

the isolated data pockets with a single database and exploit

the on-demand data reporting capabilities of the Internet.

EPD sought to leverage the data to ease their annual report-

ing requirements, and also to allow easy access to other

organizations. For e-Map Division and Information Technology

(IT), the data was a vital part of several real-time emergency-

response applications that were being developed. The stage

for innovation was set.

Peter ORegan, an IT expert from e-Map Division, and

Daniel Beard, an environmental specialist from EPD, led

the project.

As Beard explains, Like all creative projects, this system

has evolved gradually to capitalize on improvements in the


Saudi Aramco specialists m

tor the weather to insure

and efficiency for compan

operations in the air and and on land.

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The prevailing wind direction is consistently northwest, andits form and force are largely influenced by global pressure

systems such as the Himalayan monsoon system centered

over the Asian subcontinent. For the most part, the location

of that wind system is semi-permanent, but it does move

around a little depending on what is happening with

the weather system to the north and

south of our location. A shift north

may draw in warm humid

warm air from the

south and if

the low-pressure system moves south,

we see drier northerly winds. But this fea-

ture of our climate is there year after year and is

closely aligned to global trends and known weath-

er systems. One of the unavoidable features of the

local climate is humidity. We all know what humidity

is, right? Well, actually, probably not. Humidity is

quite a difficult concept to grasp. We are all probably

familiar with the term usually used by television weather

presenters relative humidity so lets start there.

When we get up on a hot-and-sticky summers morning,

and the temperature is 90 Fahrenheit (F) and the relative

humidity is reported as 90 percent, we can feel the water

vapor in the air. So why when the temperature rises to 100F

and the reported relative humidity drops to 70 percent do

we not feel any less sticky? Well, because the rising tempera-

ture has increased the airs ability to support water vapor.

Therefore the rise in temperature has not reduced the

water vapor in the air; it has just expanded the airs ability to

support more. So we still feel that oppressive mist around us.

Oh, and we feel unpleasantly hot because we cool ourselvesby sweating, and when the airs water-vapor content is high

this system doesnt work as efficiently.

Relative humidity is a measure of how much water is in

the air versus how much water could be in the air at that

Summer 2009 25

DEW POINT HUMAN PERCEPTIONRELATIVE

HUMIDITY

75F+ Extremely uncomfortable, 62%oppressive

70-74F Very humid, quite 52%-60%uncomfortable

65-69F Somewhat uncomfortable for 44%-52%most people at upper limit

60 -64 F Ok for most, but everyone 37%-46%perceives humidity at upper

limit

55-59F Comfortable 31%-41%

50-54F Very comfortable 31%-37%

49F or lower Starting to feel a bit dry 30%to some

HUMID

ITY:

Hotandstickyisntthehalfofit

temperature. If no more water vaporcould be supported then relative

humidity will be 100 percent.

See, its complicated. Be patient.

Heres a more accurate way to asses

how nasty it might be outside on that

August morning.

The more accurate measure of

humidity is the dew point," which

takes into account the air temperature.

The dew point is the temperature the

air needs to be cooled to at that point

in time to achieve a relative humidity of

100%. At this point, the air cannot holdany more water in gas form. If the air were to be cooled even

more, water vapor would have to come out of the atmosphere

in the liquid form, usually as fog or rain.

The higher the dew point rises, the greater the amount of

moisture in the air. This directly effects how "comfortable" it

will feel outside. At a relative humidity of

100% the dew point temperature always equals the tempera-

ture. The greater the difference between temperature and

dew point, the lower the relative humidity.

Unlike relative humidity, if dew point increases it is only

because the amount of moisture in the air increases. If rela-

tive humidity changes it can be because of temperature

changes or moisture changes, or both

So how does dew point feel? On a 90F day the

following apply:

Adesert by definition receives less than 10 inches of rain eachyear. Here in Saudi Arabia, we tend to average around one totwo inches. Granted, some years we receive four inches, but inother years precipitation is negligible, and that situation hasnt altered

since records began.

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companys IT infrastructure and data networking. We tried

several technology approaches that worked fine initially but

encountered problems as more stations were added or server

configurations were changed. The system needed to be totally

scalable, redundant and self-monitoring to eliminate data loss

and ensure 24/7 availability. Working closely with experts

from several corporate IT organizations, we have achieved

this goal and created a very reliable and innovative system

that serves many operational and reporting needs.

Having devised

the system for reli-

ably collecting and

storing the data, the

next step was to leverage the data and make it accessible to

staff within EPD, the Air Quality and Meteorology Unit, and

across the company. The Web was the logical tool for on-

demand reporting. Although access to the air-quality data is

restricted, the weather data is fully accessible online through

Saudi Aramcos WeatherNow Web site. The first screen dis-

plays a choice of company sites either from a drop-down

menu or by clicking on a point on a map. The current weather

conditions at that site are displayed, and the screen refreshes

automatically every minute. The site is visited by 500 and

1,000 employees each day.

For those looking for a little more detail, the site also

allows the visitor to query and download the entire weather

In a land where rainfall is exceedingly

sparse, water is precious, as in thisagricultural irrigation system in the

Eastern Province city of Hofuf below.

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Summer 2009 27

THECO

RPORATE

EMERGENCY

RESPOND

ERTOOL

so there is no room for misunderstan-

ding. CERT is a very innovative system

that integrates many data sources and

systems into one intuitive graphical

interface. The searchable, dynamic

maps help emergency commanders to

quickly establish the facts of the situa-

tion and coordinate a tightly integrated

response, Helal explained.

Along with live weather and gas

sensor readings, CERT provides quick

links to information such as well-flow

information, including historical data,

and rig locations and movements cap-

tured every night. All critical valve and

pipeline information including Flowlines

and Trunklines is also readily available.

These data help to

remotely pinpoint possi-

ble causes for an event

and, therefore, helpdetermine appropriate

solutions.

An integral part of

CERT is a gas dispersion

model created by Aramcos Loss Prevention

Department. In the case of a well blow-out,

CERT generates exposure zones that graphi-

cally show how far the gas could travel in a

worst-case scenario and what could be directly

impacted. The map display helps to quickly

position road-blocks and safely evacuate per-

sonnel from the danger areas. The CERT display

is closely monitored on large plasma screens inmultiple Emergency Control Centers amid the

constant radio updates. The CERT map provides a common

operating picture during a stressful time.

CERT is far more than a computer application. It shows

what can be achieved when organizational boundaries are

discarded, and we all focus purely on a shared cause safety.

We have made a unique and truly corporate tool that is used

across all producing facilities and control centers. It was built

entirely in-house using the combined talent of young pro-

grammers and the experience of operations staff. Best of all,

CERT leverages existing IT hardware and software licenses,

plus the hard work and high-quality data from many organiza-

tions. And at the core of it all are those towering weatherstations, says Peter ORegan, e-Map Divisions Geographical

Information Systems (GIS) expert and the architect of CERT.

In an emergency, every second countsand complex decisions are made underpressure. Decision makers need facts: what is damaged,and what is still at risk? Do we have people working or living

downwind? What is the safest approach route for emergency

services? Where are the safest sites for our field command or

patient triage?

During industrial emergencies such as gas leaks or fires,the wind direction and speed is closely monitored to avoid

exposure to spreading fire or lethal gases such as H2S. The

wind direction must be monitored in real-time to manage the

ongoing situation.

Traditionally, when we were alerted to an emergency,

someone would step out of the control room, look at a wind

sock, make a judgment about wind direction and speed and

report back. It led to inevitable inconsistencies and some

errors. This

approach posed

significant risks for

emergency services,

explains Abdulla N. Helal, North Ghawar Producing Department

Manager.

Seeking to improve this situation, NGPD partnered with

the e-Map Division of ITs Corporate Applications Department

and the Corporate Emergency Responder Tool (CERT) was

born. This highly secure, Web-based application provides

decision makers with a zoomable satellite image overlaid

with digital maps created by Saudi Aramcos own SurveyingServices Division. The digital map displays the roads, build-

ings, utilities, and the thousands of oil and gas wells of Saudi

Aramcos reservoirs, as well as live data streaming from the

weather stations and gas sensors is dynamically displayed

over the base map giving it tactical value.

The data from the weather stations is automatically inter-

preted and delivered directly to the control room computer

screens. Its presented both graphically and in written words,

The Web-based Corporate Emergency

Responder Tool allows commanders to

quickly assess emergency situations.

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history for most company locations. With a single mouse

click, this data can be directly exported to Exel for graphing

and trend analysis.

Information Technology continues to work closely with

EPD and all Producing organizations to create a comprehen-

sive real-time weather network. Instead of scattered, stand-

alone weather stations within the Plants, we now have a rich,

corporate database that feeds many critical applications

every minute, 24 hours a day. This was all achieved by tap-

ping into existing in-house expertise and leveraging the exist-

ing technology infrastructure. It is an ideal outcome, said

Khalid A. Al-Arfaj, the Administrator of ITs e-Map Division

So whether Saudi Aramco employees or dependents are

evaluating the safest location for a new facility; arranging a

crane lift; or planning the best time to plant roses at home,

visit http://weathernow.

Below, a rain drainage system along the East-West Pipeline in

1992. At right, an aerial view of the Manifa oil field project inthe Arabian Gulf, where weather can impact work safety.

Below right, a Saudi Aramco jet takes off in remote Shaybah,

where the searing Empty Quarter heat can affect lift.

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Summer 2009 29

Saudi Aramcos immediate past president and CEO,Abdallah S. Jum'ah, once said, Environmentalaccountability today stands as one of the most impor-tant measures by which a company is regarded. If an organiza-

tion is not active in safeguarding the Earth's natural resources,

its best efforts in all other business areas are diminished.

Indeed, the very perception of corporate attitudes toward envi-

ronmental protection carries significant weight in the public's

trust of that company.

In 1981, the Kingdom entrusted the Presidency of

Meteorology and Environment (PME) with control of pollu-

tion and protection of the environment in Saudi Arabia.

Through the General Environmental Law and its Rules for

Implementation, PME aims to, among other things, preserve,

protect and develop the environment and safeguard it from

pollution, as well as protect public health from activities and

acts that harm the environment.

In recent decades, the nations industrial expansion and

population growth has increased pressure on the environment.

As the nations largest industry, Saudi Aramco has always been

very aware of its responsibility to maintain the highest environ-mental standards.

The companys Environmental Protection Department (EPD)

is charged with the task of monitoring air quality, reporting on

compliance and advising facility management on ways to clean

up their operations. The original weather stations in the Air

Quality and Meteorology Monitoring Network (AMMNET)

were erected by EPD to assist in that task. Each station records

parameters such as sulfur dioxide, inhalable particulates, ozone,

nitrogen oxide, carbon monoxide and hydrogen sulfide.

Facility emissions are monitored at their source using stack

testing and continuous emission and process-control monitoring.

Sophisticated numerical air-dispersion techniques supported by

At left, an air-quality monitoringdevice. Below, Saudi Aramco

employees check company

weather equipment and log the

information in comprehensivereports.

COMPL

IANCEMONITORING,

trendanalysisand

designdatadata from AMMNET enable EPD

to estimate ground-level concen-

trations of pollutants at various

distances from a potential emissions

source even before a facility is built or

modified. Such predictive modelling is

used to determine the type of facility

controls needed to comply with appli-

cable air-quality standards.From time to time, a facility may

breach the air-quality standards, but its

picked up immediately and reported.

We work with plant management to find

solutions to the problem, and as a result

the company has developed many

innovative technologies to clean up its

operations, explains Earl K. Fosdik,

environmental projects manager.

But not all emissions can be pin-

pointed to a single source, and solu-

tions are not always clear-cut. For

these substances, EPD monitors for

shifting trends. One such substance is

ozone. Although ozone in the upper

atmosphere protects the planet from

damaging ultraviolet rays, at ground

level it is an unwanted pollutant that

can affect human and plant health.

AMMNET and EPD have also pro-

vided another service to the company

design data. The design of the Shaybah heating, ventilation

and air conditioning system is an example. The vendor origi-

nally expected that air temperatures onsite would regularly

reach 60 degrees. Our monitoring at the time showed that50 degrees was a more accurate average. Consequently, the

design was downscaled, and this saved the company millions of

dollars, explains Daniel Baird, supervisor of Industrial Relations

Respiratory Care Unit.

Air-quality compliance monitoring, trend analysis and design

data were the initial uses for the AMMNET system. But it was

inevitable that the rest of the company would realize the value

of using the data collected from the weather towers, and

demand unsurprisingly increased rapidly.

Although the air-quality data remains confi-

dential, the weather data is now freely

available, reducing the cumbersome and

time-consuming request process originallyrequired through EPD. Dan Baird is pleased

to see the data more widely used. Promoting

the data was always a double-edged sword

because we simply didnt have the resources

to dedicate to a whole lot of requests. Now

that we have WeatherNow, anyone can get

the weather data they need for their decision

making, and we are freed up to concentrate

on our core responsibilities.

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Though Khurais is the largest single crude-oil incre-

ment ever commissioned, at 1.2 million bpd, it is only

part of the story, Al-Falih said. In the next decade, the

company will account for more than half the grassroots

crude-oil production capacity brought online worldwideand, between now and 2015, one of every three barrels

of firm commitments to new refinery capacity.

Major investments such as

these allow us to play a central

role in helping to meet the

worlds demand for energy

and constitute what I consider

taking charge by taking

responsibility, Al-Falih told

the audience of more than

400, including 22 SAMDS

participants.

Turning to economic chal-

lenges and the energy and

environmental debate, Al-Falih

told energy policy experts and

government officials at CSIS

that a collaborative, pragmatic

approach was needed for

long-term, global energy

security and environmental

stewardship.

One of the most significant

lessons from this economic

crisis, Al-Falih said, is the

reminder that the world has

become highly integrated and

mutually dependent. In the

energy industry, that means that the strategies and

actions of even a single major supplier or consumer have

widespread implications.

The economic cost to the world will be considerable

if the industry is not well-prepared for future growth in

consumption: We all know that potential supply-demand

imbalances have the potential to trigger another cycle of

steep price rises and debilitating market volatility. That, in

turn, would spell trouble for the green shoots of a nascent

economic recovery, Al-Falih said.

AL-FALIH: PRAGMATISM ANDCOOPERATION KEYS TOSECURITY

By Louis J. Aboud

WASHINGTON, D.C. Saudi Aramco presidentand CEO Khalid A. Al-Falih spoke May 5-6 toaudiences in Washington, D.C.,

about the need for corporate

responsibility in this time of

economic uncertainty, and the

wisdom of collaborative and

pragmatic approaches to energy

security and the environment.

He also emphasized Saudi

Aramcos role in meeting U.S.

and global energy demand.

His visit coincided with the

Saudi Aramco Management

Development Seminar

(SAMDS), held in Washington

each year. Al-Falih addressed a

dinner May 5 in honor of the

SAMDS participants at the

National Portrait Gallerys

Kogod Auditorium, part of the

Smithsonian Institution.

He also met with govern-

ment officials, energy analysts

and industry and media repre-

sentatives at the Center for

Strategic and International

Studies (CSIS) on May 6 for a

discussion on energy and the environment.

At the Portrait Gallery, Al-Falih emphasized the theme

of responsibility and said the global petroleum industry

must be responsible to its many stakeholders. For Saudi

Aramco, he said, that means ensuring that Saudi Aramco

remains the most reliable supplier of energy to the world.

Al-Falih detailed the companys current oil and gas

expansion program, noting that in just a few weeks,

with the completion of the Khurais oil field program, it

would reach a crude-oil production capacity of 12 mil-

lion barrels per day (bpd).


News Dimensi ns

Saudi Aramco president and CEO Khalid A. Al-Falihspeaks at the National Portrait Gallery at Washington,

D.C. Al-Falih noted that in just a few weeks, with the

completion of the Khurais oil field program, the companywould reach a crude-oil production capacity of 12 million

barrels per day.

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SAUDI ARAMCO BOARDOKS 2010-2014 PLAN

HOUSTON, TEXAS The annual spring meeting

of Saudi Aramcos Board of Directors was held

April 30-May 1 in Houston, Texas, presided over by

chairman H.E. Ali I. Al-Naimi, Minister of Petroleum

and Mineral Resources.

The Board approved the companys proposed 2010-

2014 Business Plan to continue its investments along

the entire petroleum value chain, both in-Kingdom and

in key overseas markets.

During the meeting, the board received an assessment

of international oil and energy markets, progress and

status reports on the companys many projects, and

projections for the global economy in the short- and

long-term.

The changing dynamics in the global economy and

petroleum markets posed new challenges, and the board

urged employees to rise to the challenges that lie ahead.

The companys pragmatic approach to implementing

its strategies and

conducting its

operations against

the backdrop of a

challenging econom-

ic environment

was highlighted by

Khalid A. Al-Falih,

president and CEO.

Despite the current

slowdown in global

economic activity, Al-Falih said, the companys

emphasis will remain on investing for the long-term and

maintaining its leading role as the worlds most

reliable supplier of energy.

We continue to invest because we take a long-term

view and are not swayed by the volatility of short-term

market conditions, Al-Falih added. We have a huge

responsibility to our stakeholders throughout the

Kingdom and around the globe, and we will continue

to meet our commitments to them.

We continue to invest

because we take a

long-term view and are

not swayed by thevolatility of short-term

market conditions,

KHALID A. AL-FALIH,

PRESIDENT AND CEO

GOOD AS NEW

Below: Saudi Aramcos Riyadh Refinery and related contractor

personnel recently conducted a mega test and inspection ofthe refinery complex. There were no lost-time injuries in the

T&I, which took 39 days and involved 1,000 regular employees,

5,000 contractor employees and 800 pieces of equipment.

Safety was the main focus of the planning team.

Above: Riyadh Refinery and contractor personnel participatedin safety meetings during the T&I, reflecting the major

emphasis given to safety in the project.

Summer 2009 31

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planted to date it has become an environmental success.

It is also popular with volunteers.

I saw the ones we planted years before, and I can tell

the difference; theyve grown, said 15-year-old Abdullah

Abdulaziz Al-Thawadi, an orphan who frequently partic-ipates. I will be coming again next year.

Mangroves are known to stabilize the shoreline, espe-

cially during storms, and provide nursing grounds for

commercial fish and shrimp.

MATERIALS SUPPLY HONORED

LONDON Saudi Aramco received two honorsMay 12 the prestigious Procurement LeaderAward and the Innovation Award from the Procure-ment Leaders Network during a ceremony at the historic

Banqueting House.

Esam A. Mousli, Saudi Aramcos vice president of

Materials Supply, accepted the awards on behalf of

the company.

The Procurement Award went to Mousli in recognition

of his achievements in managing a supply-chain organiza-

tion with a total procurement value of more than $30 bil-

lion in 2008 while leading a series of strategic initiatives

designed to transform Materials Supply from a service

provider to a manager of best-in-class supply-chain services.The Innovation Award recognized one of Materials

Supplys key strategic initiatives: the Electronic Contract-

ing Network (ECN). Phase II of the Contract Room

concept has transformed the way the company procures

its contracts, significantly reducing lead

time by supplying one hub for procure-

ment information and re-engineering

60 business procedures.

It was the first time the Procurement

Leaders Network opened its awards to

companies outside Europe. The awards

recognize the best and most innovative

procurement and supply-chain projects

among the worlds top companies during

the previous 12 months. Saudi Aramco

had initiatives short-listed in five of eight

award categories.

News Dimensi ns

VOLUNTEERS RESTOREMANGROVE SWAMP

TARUT BAY More than 500 volunteers, including

150 orphans from local schools, joined president

and CEO Khalid A. Al-Falih and executive management

on April 9 to plant around 10,000 mangroves for a

campaign that literally brought volunteers back to

their roots.

This is the third time Ive come, said 16-year-old

Khaled, son of company employee Abdullah Al-Marry,

who came with his family. We planted 15 seedlings this

year and we had a lot of fun.

The Save the Mangroves campaign first started as

an awareness drive in the 1970s, when the mangrove

population of the Arabian Gulf had gone down due to

pollution, landfills, dredging and the increased demand

for wood. By 1990, the campaign included efforts to

bring back the former staple of the Arabian Gulf

coastline.

During the first campaign, 100 seedlings were

planted at Abu Ali Bay, said Abdullah A. Al-Qarni,

long-time supporter of the annual campaigns. They

were left for a while, and after 10 years they had become

1,000 plants they reproduced on their own.

This experience demonstrated that the salt-tolerant

mangroves could be introduced to areas where they did

not previously exist and with 50,000 mangroves

Volunteers dig holes for planting mangrove seedlings on theArabian Gulf shoreline.

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The awards are judged by a panel of nine judges, all

senior procurement and supply-chain leaders.

ECO-FRIENDLY PIPING

Saudi Aramco project teams from the Oil and Gas

Upstream Pipelines Division (O&GUPD) and the

Offshore Projects Division (OPD) working at Berri and

Abu Ali Island recently accomplished two environmentally

significant feats.

The first was the completion of Saudi Aramcos longest

underground pipeline sections installed using Horizontal

Directional Drilling (HDD) methods. The 3,200-meter

sections of 24-inch crude pipeline and 30-inch water-injection pipeline were installed as deep as 32 meters

beneath the seabed between Abu Ali Island and the end of

Berri Causeway, using state-of-the-art drilling equipment.

The other major accomplishment was the first use by

Saudi Aramco of HDD technology in the installation of a

Esam A. Mousli accepts the Procurement Leader Award from

representatives of the Procurement Leaders Network at a cer-emony in London.

At right: From left are Thaha Abdul Salam, contractor, rigsupport; Yasser Ahmed, Project Management safety adviser;

Salah Zahrah, Project Management site superintendent; Gerd

Nuihs, contractor driller; Ali K. Al-Uthaibi, Project Manage-ment project engineer; Ziad Gazzoul, drilling supervisor; and

Veneer Capunitan, contractor supervisor. Bottom Right: The

horizontal drilling machine is guided from the steering cabin,while casing is being pushed underground during a horizon-

tal directional drilling operation. Bottom left: Contractor and

Saudi Aramco personnel, including Project Management

project engineer Abdulaziz Al-Hulail and site superintendentBarry Simm, step up to the trench after the pulling of pipe

is completed.

pipeline running from the shoreline into the sea. The

30-inch water-injection pipeline contained an under-

ground section that stretched from the edge of Abu Ali

Island to an exit point more than 1,500 meters into the

Berri offshore oil field.HDD has a significant advantage over conventional

practices in that it avoids the environmental impact asso-

ciated with dredging offshore. That was an important

factor at Berri and Abu Ali Island because of the sensitive

nature of the local marine environment, where several

endangered species of coral are found.

HDD also had the added cost advantage over dredging

at Berri due to shallow local seabed conditions. Extensive

access dredging would have been required just to reach

the pipeline dredging zone.

HDD is a sophisticated engineering technique thatenables the laying ofunderground sections of pipeline

without the need to trench or dredge the pipe route. The

first stage of the process involves drilling a pilot hole

between two ground entry points. Electronic position-

ing/steering instrumentation is used to guide the drill head

along the specified path.

Once the pilot hole is completed, a series of reaming

passes are made using progressively larger tools to expand

the hol

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