Memory Lane
Memory Lane: Contracting gains, big projects, and the coming of the ice cream man
The Berri Gas Plant completed its first total plant test and inspection on Sept. 24, 1982, following more than five years of continuous operation.
Here are a few headlines over the decades from The Arabian Sun and The Sun and Flare.
LOCAL CONTRACTING INCREASES, PRIVATE BUSINESSMEN BID FOR AND BUILD ARAMCO PROJECTS
During the past 12 months, the number of jobs performed for the company by Saudi contractors has steadily increased.
As opposed to 7,070 contractor employees engaged on various projects in September 1951, there were 13,686 at the close of September of this year (1952).
The amount of money paid to contractors has also increased sharply. It has in fact doubled for the third quarter of this year over that for the same period last year.
All of this is indicative of the increasing industrial development of Saudi Arabia that is taking place along with the development and expansion of oil industry operations.
GOOD HUMOR MAN
A new innovation has come to al-Khobar with the inauguration of The National Dairy and Ice Cream Company’s new, gaily decorated ice cream carts.
The National Dairy and Ice Cream Company of al-Khobar, went into production the first week in October and has branches in Rahimah, Qatif, Saihat, Dammam, Hofuf, and al-Khobar.
BERRI GAS PLANT UNDERGOES FIRST T&I
The Berri Gas Plant completed its first total plant test and inspection on Sept. 24 following more than five years of continuous operation.
The Berri Plant was the first of the gas plants commissioned as part of the Master Gas System, which now includes installations at Ju’aymah, Shedgum, ‘Uthmaniyah, and Yanbu’.
The purpose of the first total plant T&I was to inspect the towers and vessels internally for damage and corrosion, to carry out the maintenance work that could be done when the total plant was shut down, and to make tie-ins for planned plant expansions.
CUTTING EDGE X-RAY INSPECTION EQUIPMENT BEGINS FIELD OPERATIONS
A mobile linear accelerator system that can “see” through 35 centimeters (14 inches) of steel and 100 centimeters (40 inches) of concrete to diagnose facility or equipment problems in the field began field operations last week.
The unique system, housed in a compact, track-mounted operations center, underwent testing by the Inspection Department at Qatif GOSP No. 1, a mothballed gas-oil separator plant.
“The linear accelerator system is on the cutting-edge of technology,” says John O’Brien, technology coordinator for the Inspection Department in the Engineering Services Organization. “This is the first time anyone has attempted to package a totally portable linear accelerator system with real-time imaging in the field.”
CREATING A SHIPPING GIANT; VELA, BAHRI MERGER COMPLETED
Saudi Aramco and the National Shipping Company of Saudi Arabia (Bahri) signed a final agreement merging the fleets and operations of Bahri and Saudi Aramco’s subsidiary, Vela International Ltd., on Nov. 4, at a Riyadh area hotel. The merger will provide a major contribution to the national economy and serve as an example of cooperation between national companies.
Under this $1.3 billion agreement, Saudi Aramco would transfer its entire Vela fleet — 14 double-hull very large crude carriers (VLCCs), one VLCC used as a floating storage; five refined products carriers; all Vela's ship-based cadres and some of its land-based personnel; and a part of its operations systems — to Bahri, which would then have a 77 vessel fleet.
“I am not exaggerating when I say that this merger represents a living and practice example in which two of the Kingdom’s pioneering companies in commercial success and reputation for excellence in their areas of business join hands to earn the Kingdom a major economic benefit,” said Aramco president and CEO Khalid A. Al-Falih.