Maersk Oil opens digital core laboratory in Doha

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Maersk Oil opens digital core laboratory in Doha

January 20, 2014 - 4:50:28 am

The Minister of Energy and Industry H E Dr Mohamed bin Saleh Al Sada (second right) accompanied by officials, touring the laboratory after inaugurating it yesterday.

DOHA: Maersk Oil opened a new Digital Core Laboratory at the Maersk Oil Research and Technology Centre (MORTC) in Doha yesterday.

The laboratory, the first of its kind in the Middle East, will support ongoing applied research efforts in the area of enhanced oil recovery, particularly in carbonate reservoirs such as Qatar’s Al Shaheen oilfield, which is one of the most complex in the world.

It is part of a 10-year, $100m investment by Maersk Oil in applied research in Qatar, focusing on improved and enhanced oil recovery and the marine environment.

The Minister of Energy and Industry H E Dr Mohamed bin Saleh Al Sada inaugurated the laboratory.

As part of the opening, a technology cooperation framework agreement was signed between MORTC and the Qatar Petroleum Research & Technology Centre, allowing QP to use the laboratory for individual or joint research activities.

“Qatar has made a commitment to be a leading centre for research and development, excellence, and innovation.

“Therefore, research facilities like this play an important role in fulfilling that goal.

“We hope that the laboratory and the research findings that it will generate would contribute to the development of Qatar’s energy industry,” said Al Sada.

By advancing understanding of the mineralogy of Al Shaheen reservoir rocks and the sub-surface chemistry and fluid flow relationship, the laboratory aims at enhancing oil recovery success rates.

Researchers at the laboratory use more than 13,000 X-ray images in a computed tomography (CT) scan to make a mathematical reconstruction of carbonate rock samples.

The pores of oil-bearing rocks are studied at a minute level, down to a diametre of 40 times less than that of a human hair.

When results are combined, a 3D image is produced that shows valuable petrophysical and flow-related information.

“Working closely with our partner QP, Maersk Oil has become specialists in understanding and applying the right technologies to maximise long-term production potential and unlock value from the complex Al Shaheen field,” said Jakob Thomasen, Maersk Oil’s Chief Executive Officer.

Abdulrahman Al Emadi, Head of MORTC, said: “The collaboration agreement builds on Maersk Oil’s close relationship over the past 20 years with QP, our partner at Al Shaheen, and opens up the laboratory for the greater good of Qatar.’

Dr Nasser Saqer Al Mohannadi, Manager of QP’s Research and Technology Centre, said: “We are delighted to sign the research collaboration agreement as this is an important step in further deepening and enhancing our relationship with Maersk Oil and its research team at the Qatar Science and Technology Park.”

The Peninsula