A vow to strengthen collaboration on Upstream technology, innovation in Beijing

A delegation from the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) led by president Terry Palisch, recently paid an official visit to the Beijing Research Center (BRC) as part of their efforts to strengthen energy collaborations with key stakeholders in China’s upstream sector. 

Throughout the one-day visit, the delegates attended briefings providing an overview of the various aspects of the center, toured the computer and physical laboratories, and had a meeting with BRC director AbdulKareem M. Al Sofi to discuss ways for closer cooperation on upstream technology and innovation.

Al Sofi noted, “We established Upstream Sustainability last year to diversify our R&D portfolio. This new domain will explore R&D in alternate sequestration, decarbonization, CO2 and hydrogen underground storage, hydrogen generation, and water conservation and treatment.

“We believe these R&D efforts will help Aramco achieve its corporate sustainability targets, including the achievement of net zero Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions across our wholly owned operated assets by 2050. This could help deliver greater efficiency, lower emissions, and higher reliability products over decades, and as such secure a sustainable future for everyone,” he added. 

Al Sofi also mentioned that the BRC already supports the company’s efforts to advance key enabling technologies, like blue hydrogen, blue ammonia, and carbon capture and storage, which are critical to a sustainable future. Meanwhile, the center has recently emphasized innovation and technology to maintain Aramco’s Upstream leadership position as one of the lowest upstream carbon intensity producers in the world.

The lab tour session after the meeting offered the delegates an immersive insight to the advanced R&D initiatives the center has been pursuing. 

With support from Al Sofi and Palisch, the center will serve as a role model for further pragmatic cooperation between BRC and SPE, and as a platform for regular exchanges of the latest technologies. 

BRC was the only international energy company the SPE delegation visited during their four-day China tour. The delegation also visited the China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC), the China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation (Sinopec), and the China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC). 

Caption for top photo: AbdulKareem M. Al Sofi (center), director of the Beijing Research Center, joined the delegates from the Society of Petroleum Engineers after the tour of the center’s computer and physical laboratories.