The collective work between ConocoPhillips and Qatar Science and Technology Park (QSTP) continues to contribute to the realisation of Qatar National Vision 2030, according to an official of the ConocoPhillips Global Water Sustainability Center.
“With our knowledge, expertise, and resources, this helps to strengthen Qatar’s human, economic, environment, and social developments, and beyond,” GWSC manager Dr. Samer Adham told reporters during a recent media tour of the centre headquartered at QSTP, a part of Qatar Foundation Research, Development, and Innovation (QF RDI).
Adham said ConocoPhillips is the world’s largest independent exploration and production company headquartered in Houston, Texas and operating in 17 countries. In Qatar, it is a partner of Qatargas in production of Train 6 with a capacity of 7.8mn tonnes per annum of
liquefied natural gas.
“Water is a strategic resource to Qatar, and it is of critical importance to the success of our operations at ConocoPhillips, and the overall oil and gas industry…QSTP presented an excellent opportunity for ConocoPhillips to establish the GWSC to be our centre of excellence for water-related technologies applied to oil and gas industry,” Adham explained.
Adham said the GWSC’s primary goal is to develop innovative solutions for the management of by-product water from the oil and gas operations. It also included, as part of GWSC, a Water Visitor Center mainly to educate school-age children the value of water and need for
conservation in Qatar.
“QSTP is a unique facility where multiple top-quality companies work under one roof to do research on local and global challenges, in addition to a cluster of visionary startups with definite economic ambitions,” he noted.
On the Center’s achievements, Adham said the GWSC has conducted more than 15 evaluations of innovative technologies related to oil and gas produced water management and seawater desalination. Two of these technologies are being applied at Qatargas for process water recycling and reuse.
Also, Adham noted that the GWSC is now regularly contacted to conduct advanced technical investigations and unique lab analyses that used to be performed abroad.
“Our specialised staff expertise is actively utilised to support local and international partners, including Qatargas and the wider ConocoPhillips global network, to date assisting in saving millions of dollars to operations by addressing flow assurance challenges and/or conducting capital projects assessments.
“The Water Visitor Centre is the centrepiece of our educational outreach, with more than 8,000 school-aged children already educated on the value of water and need for
conservation,” he stressed.
According to Adham, proximity to Qatar Foundation’s world-class universities and national research institutes has helped facilitate team-work.
“On top of that, we have a wide range of industry in Qatar, including the oil and gas operations that need innovative research and advanced technology. I strongly believe this environment fosters a culture of collaboration and innovation that ultimately benefits all the stakeholders,” he emphasised.
He added: “We have been able to leverage our investment funding to competitively secure multiple projects from Qatar National Research Fund by teaming with local universities, including Qatar University and Texas A&M to conduct applied research on advanced water technologies. “We were also able to organise and/or participate in various knowledge-sharing and networking activities, all of which in direct support to the QF RDI ecosystem.”

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