Qatar Petroleum and Texas A&M Sign Research Agreement

Doha, May 2, 2010 – Qatar Petroleum and Texas A&M today signed a research agreement to develop technologies for enhancing well stimulation in Qatar’s oil reservoirs. The agreement was signed on behalf of QP by the Director of Oil & Gas Ventures, Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi and on behalf of Texas A&M by Dr. Mark H. Weichold, Texas A&M University at Qatar dean and CEO, at a signing ceremony at Texas A&M’s campus within Education City.

The research agreement is a two-year program with a total cost of about QR 4.3 million. QP considers this project as the beginning of what will be a long term research collaboration with Texas A&M .

“Qatar Foundation under the wise vision of His Highness the Emir and the leadership and direction of Her Highness Shieka Mozah Bint Nasser Al-Misnad Chairperson of QF has established a great center for outstanding education in Qatar Foundation campuses by bringing to Qatar, elite universities from around the world.  Furthermore, Her Highness has established an excellent culture of research within both Qatar Science and Technology Park (QSTP) and the universities,” said Mr. Al-Kaabi.

“H.E.  Abdullah bin Hamad Al-Attiyah, Deputy Premier, Minister of Energy & Industry , Chairman and Managing Director of QP has always directed and guided us in QP to utilize all the opportunities to  ensure joint collaboration in research with the universities in Qatar and QSTP. Recognizing the need to investigate enhanced ways of acid stimulation which is a continuous process of improvement, QP is taking a fundamental and a practical approach by establishing research cooperation with Texas A&M,” said Mr. Al-Kaabi.

Speaking on behalf of Texas A&M at Qatar, Dr. James C. Holste, associate dean for research and graduate studies, commented on the project’s importance to Qatar and its oil and gas industry, saying “Texas A&M at Qatar is delighted to collaborate with Qatar Petroleum on a project that will provide practical benefits to Qatar and its people. We expect that this is the first of many opportunities to work together to address practical challenges to the production and utilization of Qatar’s oil and gas resources. This project also will provide opportunities for our students to learn by experience to use research to develop better solutions to technical challenges.”

QP has a strategy to build its R&D cooperation with companies and universities. While the specific research work with Texas A&M is important in itself, a long term relationship is being built that will include recruitment and knowledge-building on a broad scale.

Acid stimulation is a way of treating reservoirs that improve the flow characteristics of thereservoir close to the production well. In carbonate reservoirs, such as the ones in Qatar, the acid stimulation removes formation damage and opens it up for improved oil flow into the well. Acid stimulation is a challenging technology and operation especially in horizontal wells, which most of the QP wells are.