| Posted: August 15, 2010 | |
| Saudi Aramco's Research Center Pioneers Nanotechnology Research | |
| (Nanowerk News) The Research and Development Center (R&DC) is working on a new generation of materials that can address Saudi AramcoSaudi Aramco's production and operational challenges. | |
| We are pioneering research on advanced and nano-structured materials for specific oil and gas applications, said R&DC Upstream Program director Abdullah M. Al-Houtan. We want to develop materials that will enhance reliability and improve efficiency safely and cost-effectively. | |
| Al-Houtan said materials science has been an ongoing human endeavor for thousands of years. It has a long history under the name metallurgy, which is essentially material science for metals, he said. | |
| Most recently, material science has focused on nanomaterials and nanotechnology and how it can be used in new ways. | |
| Al-Houtan said R&DC's newly formed Advanced Materials Group is working on a variety of projects. | |
| We are looking at nano-structured nickel coatings combined with carbon nano-tubes to be used for erosion and corrosion protection, he said. This project will be developed in collaboration among R&DC, Dammam College for Girls, and King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals.We're also developing ionic liquids for separation applications in areas such as desulphurization, salt removal and nano-particle conductivity. | |
| Other projects include looking for membrane materials for gas separation, which is being pursued for the Natural Gas and Sulfur Utilization Project under the Downstream and Strategic R&D Program; and creating monitoring sensors to assess pipeline integrity, which is being led by one of the group's experts in fiber-optic sensor technology for the Northern Area Pipelines Department. | |
| Putting together a strong team that can handle advanced materials for Saudi AramcoSaudi Aramco Research is a key to success, said Al-Houtan. | |
| In fact, we have an excellent mix of both highly experienced and new Saudi post-graduate scientists. | |
| They include Turki A. Khaldi who earned a Ph.D. from Manchester University in the U.K.; Abdullah A. Shahrani, who also earned a Ph.D. from Manchester University; and Bandar A. Fadhel, who graduated from Monash University, Australia. Several others will join the group bringing additional experience, Al-Houtan said. As important as the intellectual capital are the laboratory assets to use it. | |
| We have state-of-the-art equipment that supports our research, Al-Houtan said. The equipment includes a plasma spray and solution-spray system, freeze drying for nano-powder production, scanning electron workstations, pulsed electroplating, jet and slurry erosion equipment, and a high-temperature system that can reach up to 1,600 degrees Celsius. Now that it's up and running, Al-Houtan sees big things ahead for the group. | |
| Successful as we have been in our first year,†he said, we will continue to expand and position ourselves as a nationally and internationally recognized research group dedicated to becoming the most effective advanced materials group in the oil and gas industry for both upstream and downstream arenas |
| Source: Saudi Press Agency |
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