English Edition (5 MB pdf) - Saudi Aramco

A Periodical of Saudi Aramco 

Fall 2012 

in the WILD 

Ecological survey of Shaybah 

reveals a biodiversity treasure

2 

IN THE WILD: Ecological 

survey of Shaybah reveals 

a biodiversity treasure 

The proposed reserve (at a minimum of 600 

square kilometers), is a joint project between the 

Shaybah Producing Department and Environmental 

Protection Department (EPD), which will return oryx, 

sand gazelles, and other desert animals and plants 

to their natural home. 

World’s largest 

seawater plant helps 

keep the oil flowing 

Capable of treating 14 million barrels per 

day of seawater, the process begins when raw 

seawater from the Arabian Gulf is drawn through 

an enclosed lagoon and funneled to QSWP. 

8 

departments 

Abbrev. 24 

WorldView Back Cover 

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 Aramco concession 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 Government’s beneficial interest in Aramco increased to 100 percent when it paid for 

substantially all of Aramco’s assets. 

Saudi Arabia’s Supreme Council for Petroleum and Mineral Affairs determines policies and 

oversees operations of the Kingdom’s oil and gas industries. Saudi Aramco’s Board of Directors is 

chaired by HE Ali I. Al-Naimi, Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources. 

Saudi Aramco’s Dimensions International 

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 

Khalid I. Abubshait 

Executive Director, Saudi Aramco Affairs 

Abdulla I. Al-Isa 

General Manager, Public Affairs 

Editor: 

William E. Bradshaw

14 

World-class — 

Saudi Aramco’s FrPD 

promotes, practices fire 

safety ‘round the clock 

The FrPD firefighters are required to undergo 

rigorous training at the internationally recognized 

Advanced Fire Training Center (AFTC) in Ju’aymah 

before they are given the responsibility of 

protecting Saudi Aramco facilities and its people. 

20 

Saudi Aramco plays 

role in transforming 

Jazan’s prospects 

The Jazan Refinery and Terminal 

Project is an important mega-project that 

Saudi Aramco has undertaken to fuel the 

economic development of the Jazan area. 

When operated, the refinery will be capable 

of processing heavy and medium crude oil. 

Contributing to this issue: 

Jamsheed Din and Eamonn Houston 

Design: 

Graphic Engine Design, Austin, Texas, U.S.A. 

Printing: 

Sarawat Designers and Printers, Jiddah, 

Saudi Arabia 

All editorial correspondence 

should be addressed to: 

The Editor, 

Saudi Aramco Dimensions International 

Public Relations Department, 

Saudi Aramco Box 5000 

Dhahran 31311 

Saudi Arabia 

ISSN 1319-0520 

Copyright © 2012 Aramco Services Company 

FALL 2012 

Printed on recycled paper 

www.saudiaramco.com 

About the cover: 

A recent ecological survey in the Shaybah 

area offers hope for rare desert animals, 

such as the oryx. 

Dimensions International 1

in the 

2 Dimensions International

The oryx, once on the verge 

of extinction, are among the 

rare desert animals found near 

Shaybah in the Rub’ al-Khali. 

Members of the Environmental 

Protection Department, Shaybah 

Producing Department and the 

ecological survey team discuss tactics. 

WILD 

Ecological 

survey of 

Shaybah 

reveals a 

biodiversity 

treasure 

BY JAMSHEED DIN 


n the dark of 

the night, deep in 

the Rub’ al-Khali 

(Empty Quarter), 

a sand fox searches 

for food. Unbeknown 

to the scavenger, 

his moves are 

being captured 

by strategically 

placed remote 

sensor cameras. 

A pair of sand foxes 

are caught on camera as 

they scavenge for food in 

Shaybah, deep in the night. 

The wild creature was just one of many species 

observed during a recent ecological survey 

in Shaybah, carried out by Saudi Aramco’s 

Environmental Protection Department (EPD). 

The survey, a first for Shaybah, was designed 

to help determine the biodiversity of the area, and 

was part of the groundwork for a wider plan to 

create a wildlife reserve. “The results were fabulous,” 

commented Dr. Ron Loughland, an environmental 

specialist with EPD. “We have recorded 

Sand Cat (Felix margarita) for the first time, which 

is a vulnerable species and is restricted to the Rub’ 

al-Khali only. There were also many sand foxes, 

possibly including the rare Vulpes zerda, which is 

adapted to high dunes.” 

Other mammals, birds, reptiles and invertebrates 

were also recorded in the survey. 

The survey revealed that the proposed reserve 


area is more than just barren sand dunes and sabkha (salt flat), 

and is set to impact the design concepts for the reserve. 

The animals were captured as they went about their business 

in the depths of the night. Remote sensoring cameras were strategically 

placed at locations the team suspected would be visited by 

various species — the creatures didn’t disappoint. 

Yet the animals set most to benefit from the reserve were 

not captured on camera during the survey; they have been 

missing from the region for a number of years. That, however, 

is about to change. 

COMING HOME 

Famous for its unforgiving climate and red sand, the Kingdom’s 

Rub’ al-Khali is the stuff of legend. 

Arabian oryx and sand gazelles defied its unyielding environment 

and wandered in its vast emptiness for millennia, grazing 

on native desert plants that had also adapted to the harsh 

climate; however, in more modern times the oryx and sand 

gazelles have had their numbers decimated by hunters and 

poachers. 

In the 1970s the last oryx in the region were rescued and 

sent to San Diego in the United States for an intensive captive 

breeding program. This action effectively helped save the oryx 

from extinction, and over the years they were released back 

into their natural environment in ranges and reserves in the 

Arabian Peninsula. 

The proposed reserve, a joint project between the Shaybah 

Producing Department and EPD, is set to return oryx, sand gazelles, 

and other desert animals and plants to their natural home. “What 

we are looking at is establishing a wildlife sanctuary in the Rub’ al- 

Khali, which is based on ecological principles,” said Loughland. 

As the only operator in the Rub’ al-Khali, Saudi Aramco 

believes it has a responsibility to protect and sustain the ecological 

environment in the area. 

The proposed reserve, a joint project between the 

Shaybah Producing Department and EPD, is set to return 

oryx, sand gazelles, sand foxes and other desert animals 

and plants to their natural home in the Rub’ al-Khali. 

A small mesh fence is designed 

to force any small creature to the 

entrapment area. After entrapment, 

the creature is released unharmed. 


The oryx in the Arabian D esert. 

And in true Saudi Aramco style, meticulous planning for the 

reserve is already well under way. 

Members of the sanctuary project team have visited other 

reserves in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries to benchmark 

and learn valuable practical lessons. 

One of the major findings was that the reserve needs to be 

large in order to be sustainable and to support the wildlife. 

The size of the reserve, which will be based in Shaybah, is set 

to be a minimum of 600 square kilometers. The proposed site 

of the reserve will be fenced, allowing the animals to graze, free 

from the dangers posed by poachers and competition from roaming 

camels and goats. 

The harsh climate in the Rub’ al-Khali and its unique ecosystem 

mean that Saudi Aramco engineers have to ensure 

the reserve has all the right elements to help the animals and 

plants flourish once again. 

“It’s a hyper-arid area with little rainfall, therefore, it is 

a very fragile ecosystem, so the plants that live there are not 

really adapted to heavy grazing,” observed Loughland. 

“We want the animals to once again roam in their natural habitat, 

but there are a number of factors we have to consider — such 

as ensuring the animals have sufficient water during drought periods 

and that they have the right plants to graze on,” he added. 

The Oryx 

The oryx is an intriguing and enchanting animal. 

The white antelope is able to go for 

months without drinking any water, relying 

instead on drawing moisture only from grazing. 

Weighing only 70 kilograms, it is able to 

cover 100 kilometers in a day — making it one 

of the most versatile and efficient creatures on 

the planet. The oryx is naturally built to survive 

in the harsh conditions of the Arabian deserts 

it has made its home. Its white coat reflects the 

sun, reducing the burning heat of the Rub’ al- 

Khali to a minor inconvenience. 

Long associated with elegance, loyalty and 

toughness, the oryx has been the subject of 

much classical Arabic poetry, and is the animal 

associated with the legend of the unicorn. 

The oryx is just one of several animals that 

would be returned to their natural homes 

through a proposed joint project between the 

Shaybah Producing Department and EPD. 

The vast wilderness of Shaybah will be 

home to the proposed wildlife reserve. 


The oryx and sand gazelles that will make the planned 

reserve their home will be selected from existing reserves 

located across the Kingdom. 

But it’s not just the animals that are set to benefit from the 

reserve. A visitor center is also in the planning, 

making the exploits of the animals and the 

majestic surroundings of one of last remaining 

wildernesses on the planet accessible for all. 

“The sanctuary plan is unique. In Shaybah 

we have a huge oil field operation, and yet 

we are about to undertake a massive conservation 

effort. This is proof that oil 

exploration and environmental protection can exist hand in 

hand,” Loughland said. The project has commenced and is due 

to be completed in around three years’ time. 

Ron Loughland of EPD and Faraj Ashgar 

of Shaybah Producing Department share 

a few words during the recent baseline 

ecological survey in Shaybah. 

A visitor center is also 

being planned at the 

reserve, providing proof 

that oil exploration and 

environmental protection 

can exist hand in hand. 

These remote sensor cameras can catch 

the activities of animals, even at night. 

Saudi Aramco’s EPD recently completed 

the first ever ecological survey in Shaybah. 

The survey will serve as part of the groundwork 

for a wider plan that includes the creation 

of a wildlife reserve. 



World’s largest 

seawater plant 

helps keep the oil flowing 



t’s common knowledge that your body needs water 

intake to stay fit and healthy; try going without drinking 

water for a while, and you’ll see just why. What’s less 

known, however, is that the Kingdom’s vast oil reservoirs 

also need water intake to prolong their longevity. In their 

own unique way, they, too, rely on water for optimal performance. 

For Saudi Aramco, keeping the nation’s oil fields 

in optimal condition is not simply an option — it’s a must. 

Part of this responsibility falls on the shoulders of the company’s Sea 

Water Injection Department (SWID), which operates the world’s 

largest seawater injection system. “Water injection for oil fields is 

critical,” said Mohammed Sowayigh, SWID manager. “Without 

water injection, oil production levels cannot be maintained and 

could be significantly impacted and drop. It’s a necessity,” he added. 

Although oil production would not immediately stop without water 

injection, the health of the oil field would be severely affected, causing 

a decline in the oil it produces over time. 

Injected seawater replaces the oil that is extracted from the reservoir. 

This offsets the pressure decrease in the field that is caused by 

oil production. It’s this decrease in pressure that affects how much 

oil the reservoir can produce. 

The hub and center piece of the seawater injection system is the 

More than 200 staff at the Qurayyah Sea Water Plant ensure treated water flows to the Kingdom’s oil fields. 


Qurayyah Sea Water Plant (QSWP). Inaugurated in 1978, the plant 

is capable of treating 14 million barrels per day (MMBPD) of seawater. 

That’s equivalent to more than 800 Olympic-size swimming 

pools, making it the largest plant of its kind in the world. 

The complex process of injecting seawater begins when raw seawater 

from the Arabian Gulf is drawn through an enclosed lagoon 

and funneled to QSWP. 

At this point, the drawn seawater is screened and chlorinated and 

lifted into two massive open concrete channels, known as Above 

Grade Canals (AGCs). The AGCs then serve as supply reservoirs for 

28 treatment modules. The modules contain sand filtration media 

that further separates the water from the solids and a system to 

remove the oxygen from the water. Six giant cross country pipelines 

then send this treated water to injection plants in ‘Uthmaniyah, Ain 

Dar, Shedgum, Khurais, Hawiyah and Haradh. 

“The whole operation consists of different parts,” said 

Sowayigh. “The water from Qurayyah is shipped through a piping 

network to intermediate stations in ‘Uthmaniyah and Ain Dar. 

From there, it goes to different water injection plants, and then 

its pressure is boosted and distributed to injection wells along the 

flanks of Ghawar and Khurais fields.” 

It’s an impressive operation that has taken great strides over the 

decades. In the late 1970s, the company’s seawater injection capabilities 

stood at 5.5 MMBPD at the Grass Root Sea Water Plant, which 

eventually became QSWP. 

Subsequent expansion projects, the most recent being in 2008, 

made QSWP capable of processing almost three times that amount. 

The success of SWID depends on smooth and reliable operations 

at the plant. Ayedh Al-Otaibi, superintendent at QSWP, believes the 

plant’s success is attributable to the hard work of its team. 

“It’s a strategic plant for the company because it supports the 

crude production of Ghawar and Khurais. There are more than 200 

Inaugurated in 1978, the plant is capable of treating 

14 million barrels per day of seawater. That’s 

equivalent to more than 800 Olympic-size swimming 

pools, making it the largest plant of its kind in the world. 

Shedgum is one of the fields that receive treated water from Qurayyah Sea Water Plant. 


Mohammed Sowayigh, 

manager of SWID. 

JUST HOW IS SEAWATER 

TREATED AND PUMPED 

Filtration and de-oxygenation are the key processes that physically 

and chemically remove fine solid particles and dissolved oxygen 

from the seawater. 

The water passes from the Above Grade Canals (AGCs) to each 

treatment module through a feed pump, then through four sand 

media filters on its way to a de-aerator tower. Filters remove fine particles 

with the aid of flocculating chemicals. Meanwhile, inside the 

14-tray de-aerator tower, dissolved oxygen is stripped to less than 10 

parts per billion via a nitrogen gas stripping process. A mild sulfurous 

scavenging chemical reaction aids this process. 

The water is drawn out from the de-aerator tower by the 

Column Bottom Pump that sends the water through 60-inch common 

headers located along the canal sides. Twelve head-shipping 

pumps act as the main drivers in transferring the treated seawater 

via giant 56-inch and 60-inch pipelines to the water injection 

plant (WIP) network. The cross country pipelines span 100 to 

300 km from the Qurayyah Sea Water Plant (QSWP) to water injection 

plants in ‘Uthmaniyah, Ain Dar, Shedgum, Khurais, Hawiyah 

and Haradh. Biocide chemicals are regularly injected into the system 

at QSWP to control microbial growth. The interior surfaces of 

internally uncoated pipelines are regularly scraped. 

The system receives regular preventative maintenance and quality 

control checks. At each WIP, high-pressure pumps (turbine driven) 

disperse treated seawater throughout the Ghawar and Khurais fields. 

More than 600 injection wells along the periphery of the oil fields 

channel seawater into the oil reservoirs. 

above (left to Right): CReDit tK; tKtKtKtKtKt 

Seawater goes through a complex filtration process 

before it is pumped to more than 600 wells. 


In the control room at Qurayyah, engineers are able 

to monitor the outflow of treated water. 

“Without water injection, 

oil production levels cannot 

be maintained and could be 

significantly impacted and 

drop. It’s a necessity.” 

employees in operations, maintenance, engineering and support. It’s 

a collective team that works in synergy to keep our production running,” 

Al-Otaibi said. 

The Kingdom’s oil fields are among the largest in the world. 

Keeping a steady supply of treated seawater flowing into these vast 

reservoirs through more than 600 wells is not without its challenges. 

“We have to maintain the water quality and achieve the objective 

of proper reservoir support,” noted Mohammed Al Ghamdi, general 

supervisor of the Sea Water Engineering division. 

“There are many specifications we have to meet, which is a challenging 

task. We have to check the pH of the water, check for suspended 

solids, bacteria and oxygen. If the water quality specifications 

are not met, then it would have an impact on the piping integrity and 

the reservoir,” he added. 

Other measurements also are taken to ensure the water quality 

is within acceptable levels before it is injected into the reservoir. 

Bactericide is injected into the piping system twice weekly to combat 

bacteria in the system. 

Engineers in SWID also inspect water pipelines and repair corrosion 

and coating failures. Injection of poor quality water could 

have devastating effects, causing the tiny pores in the reservoir to be 

blocked, which would limit the amount of water that can be injected 

into the well and therefore affect future oil recovery. 

And as Sowayigh explained, the Qurayyah plant is also crucial in 

preserving the Kingdom’s precious water aquifers. 

“If we didn’t process seawater, we would have to use some of the 

natural water aquifers like the Wasia aquifer, which has mild salinity, 

to inject water into the oil fields. The use of seawater means that we 

are able to preserve the nation’s natural water resources for potential 

use by future generations. This is important, especially considering the 

Kingdom’s arid environment.” 

this page: CReDit tK 

Operations at the Qurayyah Sea Water Plant can 

process millions of barrels of seawater each day. 


Saudi Aramco’s FrPD 


he organization has nearly 1,400 employees and 277 volunteers who are 

dispersed between 44 company fire stations across the length and breadth 

of the Kingdom. “The nature of Saudi Aramco’s business means that effective 

and highly trained firefighters are a necessity,” said Mozher Al-Qahtani, supervisor 

of the company’s Advanced Fire Training Center (AFTC). 


Our job is to make sure employees and their dependents 

are safe — that’s our top priority,” he added. 

The department, as we know it today, was officially 

established in 1981. Prior to this, all company 

fire stations reported to their assigned 

refineries and plants. 

The Fire Protection Department (FrPD) 

firefighters are required to undergo rigorous 

training before they are given 

the responsibility of protecting Saudi 

Aramco facilities and its people. 

The training is delivered at the internationally 

recognized Advanced Fire 

Training Center (AFTC) in Ju’aymah, 

which is supported by 14 other training 

grounds around the Kingdom. 

The center, built in 2005, boasts facilities 

unmatched by most fire departments 

around the globe. 

Left: The simulation of real fires means that 

safety procedures are followed strictly at the AFTC. 

Above: The AFTC building contains classrooms 

where firefighters take rigorous theoretical exams 

to complement their practical training. 

Right: Firefighters operate a foam master stream to 

confine and extinguish a training fire in process equipment. 


Above: The AFTC boasts structures that resemble 

a refinery and hydrocarbon plant and can 

simulate fires on any type of process unit. 

Left: Teamwork and technique are key to 

extinguishing fires under high pressu e. r 

Recruits are put through a difficult 

nine-month program that is accredited 

by Pro Board. This international recognition 

means the FrPD graduates are 

qualified to serve in any fire department 

in the world that uses the National 

Fire Protection Association’s (NFPA) 

Professional Qualification Standards — 

widely regarded as the best around. 

At the center, the stakes are high. Only 

those who pass the practical and theoretical 

exams will go on to become firefighters. 

“Our curriculum is internationally recognized, 

so only the best qualify,” said 

Al-Qahtani. “There are no second chances during 

an emergency — what’s at stake is the safety 

of Saudi Aramco’s facilities and its people. Our firefighters 

have to be the best.” 

One of those firefighters is 22-year-old Amer Garalti, a 

top-scoring graduate of AFTC. 


FrPD: Promoting fire safety Kingdomwide 

“Our job is 

to make sure 

employees and 

their dependents 

are safe — that’s 

our top priority.” 

Below: Trainees can practice putting out fires on 

the deck of a vessel. 

Saudi Aramco’s Fire Protection Department (FrPD) continues 

to provide the best in class service and promoting fire 

safety to employees and the public. In 2011, FrPD conducted 

the annual fire prevention week companywide, in which the 

involvement of company employees and their dependents 

reflected the great benefit this campaign continues to provide. 

FrPD has also participated in many company and public 

safety campaigns to promote fire safety whenever possible. 

12,500 attended fire prevention week activities companywide. 

In addition to the numerous workshops and training 

courses for employees and management, FrPD conducted a 

bi-monthly safety campaign throughout 2011 on the different 

risks and hazards associated with day to day activities that are 

the main causes of employee injuries and fatalities. 

FrPD have also pursued the mission of finalizing a mutual 

aid agreement with Civil Defense Authorities Kingdomwide 

through conducting 40 joint training and emergency drills 

with Civil Defense. This is in addition to FrPD’s continuation of 

receiving and providing the necessary assistance during real 

emergencies. 

Through the Government Schools’ outreach program, 

in coordination with Community Services Department and 

Government Affairs, FrPD has been able to educate children of 

different ages about the various fire-related hazards they may 

encounter and must be aware of. 


“I had no idea what the training would be like. It wasn’t like I 

had expected — the course is very competitive and there is a creative 

environment,” he said. 

Garalti’s instructors were impressed with his attitude and top 

marks, and he now assists in training at the AFTC, helping to 

guide aspiring recruits through the demanding program. 

“In order to pass you have to study hard and practice the 

skills you have learned, until you master the procedures. The 

course is very practical, so everything you learn is put into practice. 

AFTC has taken me from scratch and developed me into a 

professional firefighter,” commented Garalti. 

The centerpiece of the ATFC is the 5,000 square meter 

Integrated Process Unit, or IPU. The giant structure resembles a 

refinery and hydrocarbon plant, and can simulate fires on any 

type of process unit, both onshore and offshore. 

On the other side of the complex is the Integrated Structural 

“They know 

they have trusted 

firefighters who 

are trained to the 

highest levels.” 

Above: Firefighters apply foam 

to a leaking flange on an 

outdoor pump. 

Right: The 5,000 square meter 

Integrated Process Unit is the 

center piece of the AFTC. 


Complex (ISC) where recruits are trained to deal with interior 

structural fires, including shipboard fires and residential fires. 

The center also trains various Saudi Aramco organizations, 

such as the Marine and Offshore Departments, in firefighting 

techniques and procedures. 

The complex scenarios practiced at the AFTC mean that 

FrPD firefighters are equipped, both mentally and physically, to 

deal with any emergency situation. 

“The fact that our firefighters are trained to international 

standards is a great source of comfort to the rest of our colleagues 

across Saudi Aramco,” commented Al-Qahtani. 

“They know they have trusted firefighters who are trained to 

the highest levels,” he added. 

FrPD’s work, however, goes well beyond just responding to 

emergencies, with specialist teams developing public information 

and education programs. “We understand that prevention 

and education are equally important factors for keeping everyone 

safe,” said Al-Qahtani. 

“So we have several educational and outreach programs, 

which we use to promote our safety messages — our job is to 

keep Saudi Aramco and its people safe, and we do that through 

whichever way we can.” 

FrPD is ready 24-hours a day 

From the Yanbu’ refinery on the West Coast to the Shaybah 

complex deep in the Rub‘ al Khali (Empty Quarter), Saudi 

Aramco’s Fire Protection Department (FrPD) units are ready 

24-hours a day, every day, to deal with any emergency. 

With safety listed as a major company imperative, it’s no 

surprise that the FrPD is one of the largest and best equipped 

fire departments in the world, with more than 158 emergency 

vehicles at its disposal. 



Saudi Aramco 

plays role in transforming 

Jazan’s prospects 

BY EAMONN HOUSTON 

Some of the 50-strong Saudi Aramco delegation from all involved organizations 

took time out to pose at the desert site where the new Jazan refinery will be built. 


cutting-edge Saudi Aramco refinery and terminal megaproject 

will form the backbone of a new economic city 

that will transform the economic fortunes of the Red 

Sea Coastal province of Jazan, company experts have been told. 

The planned 400,000 barrels per day (bpd) capacity semiconversion 

refinery and terminal will be the flagship industrial 

complex in Jazan Economic City (JEC) and will target domestic 

and international energy demand. 

The Jazan Refinery Development team coordinated a site visit 

for more than 50 Saudi Aramco representatives from all involved 

organizations to survey the project site and discuss the latest 

update on the progress of the refinery and economic city projects. 

The team highlighted the added value of the project to Jazan 

area development and surrounding areas. It is anticipated that 

up to 5,000 direct and indirect local jobs will be created. In addition, 

there is substantial potential for job creation further down the 

product chain generated by investments in downstream secondary 

petrochemical markets using feedstock produced by the refinery. 

After the survey of the site, the team visited the JEC headquarters, 

which houses a scale model of the proposed city. 

Members of the team also visited the local industrial training 

institution, known as CADRE, which will draw from a large 

pool of available manpower in the region. 

Welcoming the Saudi Aramco team, Ali Taher Dabbagh, senior 

consultant with the JEC, said, “Mega-projects in remote regions 

are nothing new to Saudi Aramco, but this is the biggest complex 

to happen to the Jazan region, and with our partnership, we will 

be celebrating the startup of the new refinery.’’ 

The refinery and terminal will be part of JEC, 70 kilometers 

north of Jazan city in the southwestern province of Saudi 

Arabia. It will be one of the major planned economic hubs in 

the Kingdom over the next 20 years with a focus on major 

investments. The strategic location of the city on the Red Sea 

Coast — close to the new airport and the proposed rail link to 

Jiddah and connected to the region’s main highway — will give 

it “proper-class infrastructure and connectivity.” 

Abdulaziz Al-Qahtani from the Jazan Refinery Development 

Team noted that “The Jazan Refinery and Terminal Project is an 

important project that Saudi Aramco has undertaken to fuel the 

economic development of the Jazan area. When operated, the 

refinery will be capable of processing heavy and medium crudes 

to manufacture approximately 75,000 bpd of gasoline, 250,000 

bpd of ultra-low sulfur diesel, and 80,000 bpd of vacuum residual, 

which will be sent to an adjacent new power block. In addition, 

products at Jazan will also include liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), 

sulfur, asphalt, and more than 1 million tons per year of benzene 

and paraxylene.” He also added that the ongoing Front End 

Engineering Design (FEED) is anticipated to be completed by the 

third quarter this year to enable the refinery to start up by 2016. 

This visit was designed to ensure the readiness of involved 

Saudi Aramco organizations for the successful startup and 

operation of the Jazan Refinery and Terminal facilities. 

Today it’s mostly sand and rocks, but in the future, 

this site will feature a 400,000 barrel per day refinery. 


The Saudi Aramco delegation was greeted on the airport tarmac by representatives of the Jazan Economic 

City project. The project, with Saudi Aramco as an anchor tenant, will transform the region’s economy. 

A mega-project 

to help energize 

the Jazan region’s 

economy moves 

closer to reality. 

Fuad A. Asaad, foreman Marine Operation, 

Marine Operation WR Duba/Jazan, is pictured 

with a scale model of Jazan’s proposed new 

economic city providing the backdrop. 


abbrev. 

Saudi Aramco news in brief 

Gifted Students 

Program nurtures 

the Kingdom’s best 

DHAHRAN, Saudi Arabia — On July 

10, 104 boys participated in the Saudi 

Aramco Gifted Students Program closing 

ceremony. The following day, on July 11, 

the 40 female participants in the program 

had theirs. The attendees included 

the senior vice president of Industrial 

Relations, Abdul Aziz F. Al-Khayyal, 

executive director of Employee Relations 

and Training, Huda M. Al-Ghoson, and 

others. The program is sponsored by Saudi 

Aramco in cooperation with King Abdulaziz 

and his Companions Foundation for Giftedness 

and Creativity (Mawhiba). 

The program is balanced between education 

and life skills to assist gifted participants 

in their academic life. During the course of 

30 days, the students also had the opportunity 

to interact with fellow gifted students, 

teachers and distinguished guests to help 

enrich their experience, he added. 

This year students not only came from across 

Saudi Arabia, but also the Kingdom of Bahrain, 

showing that all countries believe in the great 

value of fostering the gifted, Al-Khayyal said. 

During the course of the program, 

students have their creative and 

problem-solving skills put to the test. 

The students also had the opportunity to 

go on field trips, which included Ras Tanura 

gas fields, Al-Yaum Newspaper headquarters 

and the National Museum in Riyadh. 

Vela, Bahri merger 

creates global 

shipping giant 

Saudi Aramco and the National Shipping 

Company of Saudi Arabia (Bahri) 

announced June 27 that they have 


signed a nonbinding memorandum of 

understanding (MOU) to pursue the 

merger of the fleets and operations 

of Bahri and Vela International Marine 

Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of 

Saudi Aramco. The proposed merger 

would create a large and more diversified 

national shipping company. 

The merger of ships, personnel and 

business systems from Vela and Bahri along 

with management responsibility for Saudi 

Aramco’s very large crude carrier (VLCC) 

transportation system will be implemented 

within the corporate structure of Bahri. 

With 77 vessels in its fleet following 

the transaction — 32 VLCCs, 20 chemical 

tankers, five product tankers, four roll-on 

roll-offs (ROROs) and 16 vessels under 

construction — Bahri would become the 

fourth-largest owner of VLCCs globally, 

creating a platform for continued 

economic growth and human capital 

development in the Kingdom. It would 

Senior and corporate management from Saudi Aramco, Bahri 

and Vela International Marine Limited pose for a photo after a 

memorandum of understanding was signed between Vela and Bahri 

that will pave the way for a merger of the two shipping companies. 

also expand the ability of Saudi Aramco and 

the Kingdom to meet future maritime transport 

needs for its expanding downstream 

businesses while continuing to reliably and 

efficiently serve the current customers of 

both companies. 

UD campaign urges 

energy conservation 

DHAHRAN, Saudi Arabia — Looking to 

emphasize the importance of energy conservation, 

Saudi Aramco’s Utilities Department 

recently hosted a three-day campaign 

designed to educate employees, contractors 

and their families on how to minimize the 

energy they use. 

At the exhibition’s Saudi Aramco booth, visitors 

watched a video about the importance of 

energy conservation and how to do their part, 

as well as the importance of saving energy to 

preserve the Kingdom’s natural resources. 

The exhibition 

included government 

agencies, such as the 

Saudi Electricity Company (SEC), which 

provided information and tips on how to 

conserve energy, including how to interpret 

an electricity bill and reduce it. 

A solar car designed and built by students 

from King Fahd University of Petroleum 

and Minerals (KFUPM) attracted a 

number of visitors. With top speeds of up 

to 140 kph, the vehicle provided proof of 

advances in solar technology. 

The Utilities Department has hosted 

similar energy conservation campaigns 

throughout Saudi Aramco communities 

since 2006. 

Duba Bulk Plant hosts 

oil spill, security drill 

DUBA, Saudi Arabia — As part of Saudi 

Aramco’s efforts in enhancing safety 

and environmental protection, a major 

Oil Spill and International Ship and Port 

Facility Security Code (ISPS) Drill was successfully 

conducted June 4 and 5 at Duba 

Bulk Plant Terminal. 


The drill simulated response activities 

to a scenario involving small boats colliding 

with a tanker while approaching the 

berth at Duba Terminal, sparking a fire 

and damaging the ship’s rudders, causing 

it to drift and run aground on nearby 

coral reefs. In the simulation, crews had 

to respond to the eruption of a fire and 

an estimated 10,000 barrels of bunker 

fuel oil being spilled into the sea. 

Drill activities started with a radio 

call reporting small boats near the ship. 

Government agencies were notified and 

responded. Various activities followed for 

fire and oil spill response teams to mobilize. 

Drill activities continued the next day 

with a full scale major oil spill response 

operation. Major additional resources 

arrived from Jiddah, Yanbu‘ and Dammam. 

Activities continued throughout the day 

until Regional Oil Spill Response coordinator 

Muhammad A. Saber announced that 

the oil spill was under control. 

A group of youngsters listen intently to a talk 

about the importance of energy conservation 

while visiting al-Midra during the recent campaign. 

A critique meeting followed the drill where 

participants could share their experiences. 

Meanwhile, participants were happy that 

Saudi Aramco was able to demonstrate 

its readiness to mitigate risks and save its 

people, facilities and the environment. 

Environmental 

Protection Department 

celebrates World 

Environment Day 

DAMMAM, Saudi Arabia — Saudi Aramco’s 

Environmental Protection Department (EPD) 

recently hosted and recognized the 2012 

World Environment Day with an extraordinary 

exhibition and environmental awareness 

activities at Al-Othaim Mall, Dammam. 

“This is part of Saudi Aramco’s corporate 

citizenship strategy and the company is an 

unequivocal steward of the environment in 

which it does its business,” said event organizer 

Mohammed Al-Othman of EPD. 


Response teams inflate spill containment 

booms prior to deployment into the sea. 

Al-Othman said the four-day event 

(June 12-16) offered exceptional opportunities 

for attendees to learn more 

about environmental issues that “affect 

the very homes and communities in 

which we live, especially in the Eastern 

Province.” 

More than 90,000 people visited the 

exhibition, which was launched by Samir 

Al-Tubayyeb, vice president for Engineering 

Services. Al-Tubayyeb was accompanied 

by Osama Fageeha, acting manager 

of EPD, representatives from Dammam 

Mayoralty and other local government 

organizations that underwrote the event. 

Al-Tubayyeb reconfirmed Saudi 

Aramco’s strong support of environmental 

awareness and real issues put forth by the 

various presentations and discussions offered 

through the participating departments. 

The event offered edutainment fun and 

games wrapped up in an array of environmental 

messaging at various levels of understanding 

and targeting all age groups. 

Saudi Aramco, 

universities come 

together for the 

environment 

DHAHRAN, Saudi Arabia — Working to 

foster collaboration in the fields of environmental 

science and engineering, company 

officials and representatives from six local 

universities gathered recently in Dhahran 

for a one-day forum, “Saudi Aramco 

and University Partnership for Environmental 

Excellence.” 

Visiting professors reciprocated and 

lauded the company’s position as an 

example of the company’s commitment 

towards improving the landscape on 

many different levels. 

“Saudi Aramco and University Partnership 

for Environmental Excellence is a 

win-win collaboration,” Dr. Ramzi Hejazi, 

senior environmental consultant in the 

EPD, said during his welcome address. 

Hejazi said that the company’s environmental 

research efforts on air and 

water quality, marine protection, solid 

and hazardous wastes, and remediation 


Samir Al-Tubayyeb, vice president for Engineering Services, 

reviews children’s literature intended to educate youths on the 

importance of conservation and environmental protection at a 

booth at Al-Othaim Mall in Dammam. 

of soil and groundwater, provide opportunities 

to partner with universities both 

in and outside of the Kingdom. He also 

noted that the types of research and 

technologies the company is seeking 

are those that will support its operations, 

genius in nature and will result in 

protecting the environment 

in the most 

cost-effective way. 

One of the key objectives of the forum 

was fostering collaboration among the 

Kingdom’s universities so that instead of 

competing for research, they collaborate 

and complement each other’s efforts. 

Participants from Saudi Aramco and six in-Kingdom universities pose for a photo during 

the Saudi Aramco and University Partnership for Environmental Excellence forum. 

Powering ahead 

downstream: 

Company proceeds 

on Rabigh Phase II 

The company’s foray downstream continues 

unabated. On May 25, Saudi Aramco 

and Sumitomo Chemical Co. announced 

plans to proceed with the Rabigh Phase 

II project, which will expand an existing 


world-class petrochemical complex on 

the West Coast of the Kingdom. 

Rabigh II will complement the Rabigh 

I petroleum refining and petrochemical 

production complex, currently owned 

by Rabigh Refining and Petrochemical 

Company (Petro Rabigh). Petro 

Rabigh is a joint stock company initially 

founded by Saudi Aramco and Sumitomo 

Chemical Co. 

An integral part of Saudi Aramco’s 

refining-petrochemical integration 

strategy, Rabigh II’s development will 

include a new aromatics complex and 

an expanded facility to process 30 

million standard cubic feet per day 

of ethane and about 3 million tons 

per year of naphtha as feedstock to 

produce a variety of high value-added 

petrochemical products. The total project 

investment is currently projected to 

reach about $7 billion. 

Rabigh II’s main products will be ethylene 

propylene rubber, thermoplastic polyolefin, 

methyl methacrylate monomer, polymethyl 

methacrylate, low density polyethylene/ 

ethylene vinyl acetate, paraxylene/benzene, 

cumene and phenol/acetone. Additionally, 

Saudi Aramco and Sumitomo Chemical Co. 

will continue to implement other product 

lines such as acrylics, super absorbent polymers 

and nylon 6 products to realize further 

project optimization. 


gas plants receive 

prestigious safety 

award 

Saudi Aramco Gas and NGL Fractionation 

Plants received the Gas Processors Association 

(GPA) President’s Award for Safety 

Abdullah M. Al-Ghamdi, left, receives the Gas Processors Association (GPA) 

President’s Award for Safety Improvement for 2011 from the GPA’s Michael Heim. 

Improvement for 2011. 

Saudi Aramco gas plants achieved a 73 

percent reduction in their total recordable 

incident rates in 2011 as compared 

to the previous three-year average. The 

total recordable incident rate in 2011 was 

0.066 compared to the previous threeyear 

average of 0.244. 

Also, the company’s gas plants did not 

experience any Occupational Safety and 

Health Administration (OSHA) reportable 

incidents in 2011. 

This award is designed to recognize 

companies for improving safety performance 

and demonstrating continuous 

improvement in the reduction of the 

number of recordable accidents. 

The award was received by Abdullah M. 

Al-Ghamdi, general manager of Northern 

Area Gas Operations (NAGO) on behalf of 

the company during the Gas Processing 

Association convention in New Orleans, 

Louisiana, in the United States on April 16.


Public Relations Department 

East Administration Building, Room 2240, 

C-2 

Dhahran 31311, Saudi Arabia 

worldview 

The dunes off 

old Abqaiq 

Road 

Raji Tabshi took this photo 

last December a few 

kilometers away from the 

old Abqaiq Road. Raji said 

that he visited the spot 

twice and marked it on 

his GPS in hopes to shoot 

it on a good day. After 

checking the weather report, 

he revisited the location 

before sunset on Dec. 9 

and found the conditions 

perfect. Raji, whose hobby 

is landscape photography, 

used his Canon 5D Mark II 

with a Canon 24-70L lens 

to capture the image, which 

was not processed or altered 

with Photoshop. Raji, who 

works as a Planning Engineer 

in the Facilities Planning 

Department, has been with 

the company for 14 years.

English Edition (5 MB pdf) - Saudi Aramco

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?