Saudi Aramco and US oilfield services firm Baker Hughes announced on 8 December the start of construction of a plant in the King Salman Energy Park (Spark) between Damman and Al-Ahsa in Eastern Province to produce non-metallic products. Initially the plant will produce reinforced thermoplastic pipes for installation at onshore oil and gas fields. The companies say their Novel Non-Metallics Solutions Manufacturing (Novel) JV will develop and commercialize a range of non-metallic products for applications across the energy sector.
Signing an MoU for the plant, Aramco said it had deployed over 5,000km of non-metallic piping, with applications including infield flow lines and downhole production tubing (MEES, 5 July 2019). After the JV agreement was signed, Aramco said the plant will require an initial investment of “around $110mn” (MEES, 28 February). US firm Schlumberger was the first oil industry investor in Spark, opening a plant in February to manufacture downhole equipment and valves. (CONTINUED - 148 WORDS)