Rushaid Group, a Dhahran-based Saudi company, and Zeeco of Tulsa, Oklahoma, US, signed a joint venture agreement on Tuesday to build an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) facility for flare technologies utilizing Saudi Aramco's patented High Pressure Air Assist System (HPAAS). The technology was developed by Saudi Aramco's engineer Mazen Mashour and supported by personnel from Saud Aramco's Project Management, Southern Area Oil Operations, and New Business Development. The technology will enable companies like Saudi Aramco to better operate in an environmentally sound and ecologically sustainable manner. Construction of the 10,500 square meters (113,021 square feet) complex to be located at the Al-Rushaid Oil Field Center in Dhahran will commence in July this year. It is expected to be fully operational in October 2009. The Al-Rushaid-Zeeco facility will be comprised of two units: a 8,500 square meters (91,493 square feet) combustion related equipment manufacturing, test and repair facility and a 2,000 square meters (21,527 square feet) R& D facility. Total cost of this joint project will be approximately $30 million. It will employ more than 100 people in phase I and be fully compliant with Saudization requirements. Designed specifically to support Saudi Aramco, SABIC, SEC, SWCC and other major industries within Saudi Arabia, the surrounding Arabian Gulf countries, and industrial complexes around the world, the Al-Rushaid-Zeeco complex will have the capability to address the service and repair needs of all flare products regardless of original manufacturer. Among its capabilities will be flare manufacturing, flare set packaging, parts manufacturing, a full range of flare improvement engineering and engineered services. Field service along with installation and commissioning will also be provided. A key component of the facility will be the region's first, most capable test bed using multiple gases to simulate flare gas compositions and will allow full scale testing of flare tips. It will also have the capability to perform extensive radiation, smoke monitoring, and emissions testing along with certified testing to API and international standards. Best of all it will allow end users to upgrade their existing flares using Saudi Aramco HPAAS technology. It is worth noting that this invention has been installed and tested at several Saudi Aramco facilities and has produced outstanding results including reduction of plant's shut down time by as much as 70 percent. Another unique feature of the Al-Rushaid-Zeeco development will be the Middle East's first combustion R&D center. The unit will have state-of-the-art testing facilities along with specialized laboratories. Khalid Al-Falih, executive vice president for Operations of Saudi Aramco was a guest of honor at the ceremony. He lauded the strategic initiative taken by Al-Rushaid Group and Zeeco in their commitment to promote the local economy. He congratulated Abdullah Al-Rushaid in his success and business achievements. He also welcomed Zeeco to the Saudi industrial community. “Saudi Aramco imperatives are producing energy to the world, preserving the environment, building on the industrial base and creating opportunities for Saudi nationals. Saudi Aramco is interested in the development of advanced combustion technologies in order to meet global energy demand while keeping the environment at the fore front,” Al-Falih said. “We would like to see advancement in technology developments and increase in industrial projects by the local business community which will pave the way for Saudi Arabia to become a technology exporter. The Kingdom is embarking on a substantial capital program to increase the oil production and associated industries, and I would urge the business community to take advantage of this enormous market” he added. Sheikh Abdullah Al-Rushaid, chairman, Al-Rushaid Group, said: “This joint venture is special because it will use locally developed patented technologies by Saudi Aramco invented by their talented engineers lead by Mr. Mazen Mashour. We will build a local facility to manufacture, develop and commercialize the Saudi Aramco patented eco-friendly technology of Smokeless Flares (HPAAS), locally and globally. Additionally the combined expertise of the two companies will lead to further strengthening of technology sharing, knowledge and innovation. This joint venture will bring both extraordinary capabilities and benefits to our customers in the petroleum-related industries, the chemical processing and power generation sectors.” Al-Rushaid added that technical training for the Saudi youth is a social and national obligation to which Al-Rushaid Group is committed. Darton Zink, president of Zeeco, Inc., said: “Our goal is to not only provide HPAAS flares within Kingdom of Saudi Arabia but to extend the reach of this advanced technology outside the borders of the Kingdom and provide this unique Saudi technical know-how to the rest of the world at large. The combination of Saudi Aramco's HPASS flare technology, A- Rushaid's business expertise and Zeeco's technology, global reach and organization is certainly a formula for success. It is our hope that all of the world will be able to breathe cleaner air as a result of these efforts and the strong partnership we are cementing tonight. This is a very proud day indeed for Saudi Aramco, Al-Rushaid, Zeeco and most of all, the people of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.” Al-Rushaid Group and Zeeco are currently working on a project to upgrade Southern Area Oil Operations Flare Systems, converting them into more environmentally friendly flares using HPAAS technology. The project is currently in progress and the upgrade is scheduled for completion by the end of 2009. __
