Offshore staff

ABERDEEN, UK – Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) has joined ITF, the UK-based technology facilitator for the global oil and gas industry.

Sultan Al-Shidhani, study center manager for the state-owned company, said: “Joining ITF provides us with the opportunity to address the technology challenges we are facing in a joined-up approach with other operators.

“Oil in Oman is becoming more challenging to develop with a rising number of EOR and sour (hydrogen sulfide) projects, so technology has a growing role to play. We believe that collaborating on joint industry projects will help to bring forward the technologies that can assist continued recovery.”

Other Middle East members of ITF include Kuwait Oil Co. (KOC) and Saudi Aramco. ITF is building a presence in the Middle East, and last year established an office in Abu Dhabi.

This year the association plans to launch a Gulf Cooperation Chapter this year with Middle East operators, focused mainly on setting and solving regional technology challenges.

ITF members share funding and risk if promoting new solutions through joint industry projects. Innovators are offered up to 100% funding to develop their technology and retain full intellectual property rights.

01/25/2012