Staff Reporter
RasGas, which has a strong reputation for being at the forefront of technology initiatives in the LNG industry, is funding a research project with Texas A&M University at Qatar (TAMUQ) to investigate the wireless communication systems for drilling wells. An agreement in this regard was signed yesterday by RasGas managing director, Hamad Rashid al-Mohannadi and TAMUQ CEO and dean, Mark Weichold at a ceremony held at the new TAMUQ engineering building.
Senior officials from both parties including RasGas subsurface group manager and chairman of the RasGas University Advisory Committee Nafez Bseiso, a number of faculty and students were present.
The research project, led by Scott Miller (professor, electrical engineering, College Station campus of Texas A&M), will develop improved techniques for acoustical wireless down-hole communication systems.
Miller, along with TAMUQ electrical engineering faculty members Khalid Qaraqe and Slim Alouini, as well as Qatari students will work with engineers from industry to develop and implement state of the art systems.
As Qatar’s LNG industry gears up to meet a target of 77mn tonnes per annum (Mta) of LNG by 2012, accurate evaluation of producing wells is crucial.
The project will carefully study and characterise acoustical communication techniques and evaluate the propagation of acoustic waves in a pipe that is installed inside a well.
A prototype system will be designed based on the results of the propagation studies.
The project will also develop specification for RasGas specific well construction.
This research project is part of ongoing collaborations between TAMUQ and RasGas.
“Our researchers will be able to conduct a thorough and meaningful investigation and improve the oil and gas industry in Qatar in a significant way,” TAMUQ’s associate dean for research and graduate studies, James Holste said.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, al-Mohannadi observed that RasGas’ sponsorship of this project is yet another tangible step to further strengthening the co-operation between RasGas and Texas A&M.
“This is also a step towards strengthening the co-operation between Qatar industry and our educational institutions which will add significant value to Qatar’s future prosperity and growth,” he added.
The agreement comes as a result of the 2006 Memorandum of Understanding signed between TAMUQ and RasGas, including the terms of summer internship programmes, and the collaboration in research projects. |
