Environment & Energy | Tuesday 5 May, 2015 1:50 am |

Saudi Aramco’s largely young work force seeking new oil and gas sources around the country have been excelling in tough environments.
In the desert of Khurais at 11:30 p.m. recently, Saudi Aramco’s work teams drilled to depths of between 7,000 and 13,000 feet. It was a major challenge that they completed successfully.
Safety and efficiency are critical elements of every project undertaken by the company. There is also an emphasis on managing its equipment, which has been a key part of the company’s success for almost eight decades.

“The biggest challenge starts with drilling. We dig everywhere in the Kingdom, on land and in the sea, in the toughest fields,” said Abdul Hamid Al-Rasheed, the chief driller at Saudi Aramco. The teams have to deal with high temperatures, and pressurized gases, he said.

He said the company has been hiring many citizens. “The drilling and maintenance of the wells have seen a successful move toward complete Saudization. Aramco rigs have 95 percent Saudis, while it is 65 percent for the rigs belonging to contractors,” he said.
Speaking about the Manifa field, located offshore in the Arabian Gulf, Al-Rasheed said it was a “unique and extremely complex field” that required close cooperation between various project teams including environmental protection, to ensure successful extraction of the resources.

He said training was a major priority for Saudi Aramco. “There is a committee authorized to review policies, procedures and practices to ensure compliance with the highest standards in the industry. We at Saudi Aramco place great importance on this. There is also a special team for wells ready to deal with emergencies.”
With most operations carried out in remote areas, rig operators live away from their families for long periods. It is also difficult finding experienced rig operators.
Ahmed Al-Hoimli is one young Saudi who has been working for a while overseeing safety and care for drilling crews, including their food, transport, housing and entertainment.
“I have to be in the drilling area all the time to coordinate the operations in accordance with the drilling plan with service companies, engineers and other logistics services for the delivery of required material.

“Most operators are young people who have only a few years' experience. We have taken up this challenge by offering comprehensive training programs. A career in drilling for the Kingdom’s hydrocarbon resources is both challenging and full of opportunities for young Saudis.”
Newly qualified engineers at Saudi Aramco have to undergo a fieldwork program, which lasts from three to five years. It was created especially for the administration of drilling and maintenance of wells.” He said the company plans to set up a drilling academy to produce the world’s best drillers.