Technology innovator is cyber certified.

NineTenths Company has officially joined ISASecure®, the globally recognised certification program that validates conformance to the ISA/IEC 62443 series of standards for industrial automation and control systems (IACS) cybersecurity.

NineTenths is a Saudi Arabia-based technology company specialising in advanced industrial solutions, including unmanned aerial systems (drones), robotics, infrastructure inspection, surveying, and operational technology (OT) cybersecurity. Serving industries including oil and gas, petrochemicals, energy, water and wastewater, manufacturing, and other critical infrastructure sectors, the company combines emerging technologies with engineering expertise to improve operational efficiency, security, and resilience. The company uses ISA/IEC 62443 as a framework supporting its OT cybersecurity services, with capabilities aligned to cybersecurity management systems, risk-based assessments, zones and conduits, industrial system security requirements, and secure product development practices.

“Serving government, public safety, construction, infrastructure, and energy sectors, our commitment to quality and safety is backed by internationally recognised certifications and manufacturer accreditations,” said Naif AlZahrani, NineTenths vice president of operation. “Our continued focus on OT cybersecurity from mission to maintenance ensures protection for the full OT security lifecycle. We look forward to being part of ISASecure as we continue to support organisations across Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) in adopting cutting-edge technologies aligned with Saudi Vision 2030.”

This new partnership with ISASecure will provide NineTenths with the opportunity to further strengthen its commitment to advancing operational technology (OT) cybersecurity across Saudi Arabia and the broader Gulf region. Building on its existing alignment with the internationally recognised ISA/IEC 62443 standards, ISASecure membership offers NineTenths opportunities to engage with global cybersecurity experts, industrial automation suppliers, and certification bodies while expanding its capabilities and enhancing operational resilience and cybersecurity readiness for clients.

“It is an honor to welcome NineTenths into the ISASecure program,” said Mark DeAngelo, ISASecure program manager. “We look forward to collaborating with NineTenths as we advance our mission of partnership, certification, and standards-based product development to help achieve a more secure world.”

---

@9tenthsco @ISA_Automation  @automation_com  #Cybersecurity #PAuto #Robotics #SaudiArabia

Manufacturing of sensors for detecting toxic and combustible gases in KSA.

A new 699 m² manufacturing facility is being established in Dammam (KSA) by Teledyne GFD and  partners Industrial Detection Solutions (IDS). This partnership will enable the local production of high-precision sensors for detecting toxic and combustible gases, helping to protect workers and assets at oil and gas production/drilling facilities, LNG/CNG plants, and refining and petrochemical sites. A grand opening ceremony on (insert date) will officially declare the plant open 19th June 2025.

Gas detection is an essential safety aspect throughout the oil and gas industry. With so much activity in the Middle East, Teledyne GFD wanted to bring the production of key gas detection solutions closer to their point of use. This strategy also aligns with the IKTVA (In-Kingdom Total Value Add) programme that promotes local manufacturing in KSA.

IKTVA is an initiative to increase economic diversification and create a sustainable ecosystem in KSA’s oil and gas industry. The programme aims to increase the use of in-Kingdom suppliers, expand local supply chain capabilities and capacities, and drive industry collaboration through supplier development.

By partnering with Industrial Detection Solutions, Teledyne GFD will help to meet the ambitions of the IKTVA via the local manufacture of popular products like its DM-700 toxic gas sensor, and FP-700 and IR-700 combustible gas sensors.

“Our new partnership with Industrial Detection Solutions ensures that manufacturing is closer to both customers and suppliers, enabling even faster delivery of class-leading gas detection products in support of more efficient supply chains,” says Thomas Moeller, VP Sales & Marketing at Teledyne GFD. “The proven solutions manufactured in KSA will better serve a vast regional industry that recognises the importance of a robust and prevalent safety culture. We are proud to be part of KSA’s remarkable ongoing journey of economic and industrial growth, and we look forward to a successful future together.”

The DM-700 is a non-intrusive ‘smart’ sensor that detects and monitors oxygen and toxic gases in the air using electrochemical sensor technology. The intelligent, plug-in, field-replaceable cell automatically recognises gas type and range. Teledyne GFD’s FP-700 is also a non-intrusive ‘smart’ sensor, this time for the detection and monitoring of combustible gases over the range of 0-100% LEL using catalytic bead sensor technology. The IR-700 is a similar solution for combustible hydrocarbon gases. It uses miniature non-dispersive infrared (NDIR) optical sensor technology to detect and monitor gases over the range of 0-100% LEL.

All of these gas detectors support maximum safety with an innovative design that virtually eliminates sensor failure due to water ingress, corrosion, vibration or transient spikes.

---

@interdsys1 @GasMarcom @mepaxIntPR #TeledyneGFD #PAuto #KSA

Collaboration on gas analysers.

Will support energy industries in the region with effective measurement of gas quality through the implementation of integrated analyzer solutions.

ABB has signed a framework agreement with Samsung Engineering in Saudi Arabia to collaborate in engineering and procurement activities in the Kingdom. With this agreement, ABB becomes a single-source vendor for gas analyzer system integration for Samsung in that country.

Together, the two companies plan to explore business opportunities and provide complete analytical solutions to the Saudi oil & gas market. Effective measurement of gas quality is key to safety and reliability, decreasing the environmental footprint and increasing profitability of the production process. ABB’s solutions support the most demanding applications.

“ABB is committed to helping customers in the energy transition. Between ABB and Samsung Engineering, we have an impressive portfolio that demonstrates technology expertise and technical capability. With this agreement, we are capable and ready to serve customers in Saudi Arabia,” said Javier Suárez Díez, Global System Integration Manager at ABB.

The analytical systems portfolio includes direct-read continuous gas analyzers, online gas analyzers using laser analytical techniques, rapid response process gas chromatographs and more. In addition to analytical systems, ABB provides gas analyzer system integration with fully customized analytical systems and solutions – from initial engineering through fabrication, testing, field start-up, and support.

ABB’s 10,000 square meter world-class integration facility for analytical systems, which the company is building in Dammam, will support the collaboration. The factory is expected to become a leader in the production of analytical systems in the region.

Both companies have worked together on several occasions, including on the Aramco Jafurah phase 1 project. With this agreement, they are ready to serve customers in Saudi Arabia.

---

@ABBgroupnews @ABBMeasurement @abb_automation @AdmiralPR @samsungeng_mena #PAuto #KSA

Industrial digitalization agreement.

Seeq Corporation* has reached an agreement with Saudi Aramco to further expand its operational analytics strategy as part of the company’s ongoing Digital Transformation program.

The agreement will provide Saudi Aramco engineers and subject matter experts with Seeq’s self-service analytics, predictive modeling data analytics, and visualization tools.

Examples of how Seeq software can be used at Aramco include:

• Automating error detection in multi-phase measurements • Catalyst deactivation rate prediction • Coking prediction • Corrosion rate analysis • Automated monitoring of Oilfield Advanced Process Control • Fleet-wide asset monitoring • Operationalizing predictive analytics models for sustainability insights

“Seeq is empowering our engineers and subject matter experts with easy-to-use analytics tools to truly democratize data science. We see this as a key element for scaling operational analytics across the organization,” said Walid A. Al-Naeem, Manager of Process & Control Systems Department, Saudi Aramco.

“We are pleased to partner with Crucial Solutions & Services (CSS) to collaborate on Aramco’s industrial digitalization initiatives,” added Lisa Graham, CEO of Seeq. “We will do this by leveraging big data, machine learning, and computer science innovations.”

“Seeq will help Saudi Aramco reach new levels of process efficiency, production optimization, and interdisciplinary collaboration,” comments Sulaiman Alzuhair, General Manager and Founder of CSS. “We look forward to working closely with Aramco and Seeq.” 

 * Seeq recently announced closure of a $50 million Series C funding round, led by global venture capital and private equity firm Insight Partners, including participation from existing investors Altira Group, Chevron Technology Ventures, Cisco Investments, and Aramco Ventures. The round brought Seeq’s total funding since inception in 2013 to approximately $115 million.

@SeeqCorporation @Aramco @mepaxIntPR #Pauto #Saudi_Arabia

Investing in calibration & training in Saudi Arabia.

Endress+Hauser has invested around  €3 million euros in a modern, state-of-the-art calibration and training center in the industrial city of Jubail, Saudi Arabia, thus strengthing direct contact with customers in the Middle East while supporting the country’s economic development.

Saudi Arabia wants to expand the private business sector and become less reliant on oil production, two key goals of the Vision 2030 program. “It was this vision that inspired us to create the new calibration and training center,” said Mohammed Abdellah, Managing Director of Endress+Hauser Saudi Arabia, during the inauguration ceremony. “With this new center, we are supporting the country to achieve these reforms and can also increase the local added value by offering local solutions.”

The training center features a classroom with interactive technology, an extensively equipped workshop and a field bus training lab. It offers practical, hands-on training programs designed to impart knowledge on measurement technologies and process control systems that are in demand by the hydrocarbon, power and water & wastewater industries. Young Saudi engineers and university graduates will be able to use the facility to acquire technical know-how in accordance with the latest international standards. Local technical resources can enhance their knowledge and stay competitive with the customized trainings offered in the center.

The 2,700-square-meter facility houses a modern calibration center, the only vendor-managed gravimetric calibration facility in the region, from which the company will offer manufacturer-independent calibration services for measurement instruments. Endress+Hauser also offers reliable on-site calibration, leading to cost savings and a reduction in production downtime. “For us, it’s important to be able to address our customers’ needs in a flexible manner and to ensure that they are optimally managed,” said Matthias Altendorf, CEO of the Endress+Hauser Group.

The new calibration and training center is part of the Group’s strategy. For almost two decades Endress+Hauser was represented in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia by a local representative, Anasia Industrial Agencies. To optimize customer support in the region, Endress+Hauser entered into a joint venture with Anasia in 2012, enabling the Group to be directly present and close to the customers in the region. Endress+Hauser Saudi Arabia currently has 50 employees. The goal of the new investment is to strengthen the Group’s presence in the important Saudi Arabian market, as well as across the entire Middle East.

@Endress_Hauser  #PAuto

Automation training centre for Saudi college.

Industry and workforce development officials in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) are celebrating the October opening of an ISA training centre at the Jubail Industrial College in the country’s Eastern province as a major step forward in positioning the region for ongoing economic growth and industrial innovation.

LtoR: Soloman Almadi, Ph.D., Senior Engineering Consultant at Saudi Aramco; Eid M. Al-Hajri, MD, Managing Director of Jubail Industrial College; Patrick Gouhin, ISA Executive Director and CEO; Abdullah Alkhalifah, Senior Engineering Consultant with Saudi Aramco’s Process and Control System Division and President of ISA in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA); and Khaled Abusalem, Senior Engineering Consultant with Saudi Aramco’s Technology Management Division.

The Jubail-ISA Training Centre brings ISA’s globally recognised automation and control instruction—as well as its certification review and certificate program courses—to Jubail Industrial City, the largest industrial city in the Middle East and home to one of the world’s most advanced industrial and engineering complexes.

“With the opening of the JIC-ISA training center, the college has achieved yet another milestone toward its mission of bringing standards-based automation training and skills instruction on modern industrial technology to the region,” states Eid M. Al-Hajri, MD, Managing Director of Jubail Industrial College. “By partnering with ISA to establish the center, we’re able to help engineers, technologists and technicians in the region improve their capabilities, skills and knowledge in the essential areas of instrumentation and control, and engineering and technology.”

A throng of KSA officials and industry leaders—including ISA Executive Director and CEO Patrick Gouhin—attended the center’s official opening on in early October 2016.

“The formal opening of the Jubail-ISA Training Center was immensely exciting and a landmark event for all of us at ISA,” Gouhin says. “We are privileged to collaborate with Jubail Industrial College to make ISA training easily accessible to the companies and workers in this economically vital region of the world.”

Many prominent representatives of Saudi Aramco, the KSA’s national petroleum and natural gas company, also attended the opening and highlighted the center’s importance in preparing more workers for the area’s growing number of high-tech jobs.

“With the continued growth that we have seen in this part of the world, automation and a skilled automation workforce are central to continued economic sustainability and advancement,” asserts Soloman Almadi, Ph.D., Senior Engineering Consultant at Saudi Aramco. “The opening of the Jubail-ISA Training Center plants the seeds for a powerhouse platform that will play a major role in our vision and future for industry.”

“Simply put, this is a dream come true,” expresses Abdullah Alkhalifah, Senior Engineering Consultant with Saudi Aramco’s Process and Control System Division. “Having access to world-class automation training and certification programs—right in the heart of Saudi Arabia’s major oil and gas hub—is a major milestone and something that industry in this part of the world have been waiting a long time for. This will undoubtedly lead to the development of a new generation of automation engineers and professionals who will be able to serve the Kingdom and help meet its long-term objectives.”

Khaled Abusalem, Senior Engineering Consultant with Saudi Aramco’s Technology Management Division, says the ISA training center has the potential to serve as an “uncubator for applied research and technology evaluation and as a Saudi Arabia center of excellence in systems automation.”

He added that ISA certification gives workers an additional edge in the marketplace because it bestows an even higher level of skills proficiency and qualification—increasingly important for manufacturers seeking to improve quality, efficiency, safety and security.

@IrJubailcollege #PAuto #ISAuto

Automation training in Saudi Arabia.

Building on its worldwide presence and mission of global collaboration, the International Society of Automation (ISA) today announced it has signed an agreement with Jubail Industrial College in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) that enables the college to sponsor, market and conduct a specified set of ISA training courses. 3 Sets of courses in agreement ISA technical skills training courses Mathematics for Instrumentation Technicians Introduction to Industrial Automation and Control Installing, Calibrating, and Maintaining Electronic Instruments Tuning Control Loops Troubleshooting Instrumentation and Control Systems Developing and Applying Standard Instrumentation and Control Documentation ISA certification review courses Certified Control Systems Technician® (CCST®) Level I Review Course Certified Automation Professional® (CAP®) Exam Review Course Control Systems Engineering (CSE) PE Exam Review Course ISA certificate program courses Safety Instrumented Systems: Design, Analysis, and Justification Advanced Safety Integrity Level (SIL) Selection Advanced Design and SIL Verification An Introduction to Safety Instrumented Systems Using the ANSI/ISA-62443 Standards to Secure Your Industrial Control System Jubail Industrial College is an engineering and business college that primarily serves the educational and training needs of Jubail Industrial City—the largest industrial city in the Middle East—and other industrial areas within the Eastern Province. “Jubail Industrial College plays a very important role in the success of Jubail Industrial City by furnishing the skilled workforce needed to meet the operating demands of one of the largest industrial and engineering complexes in the world,” says Patrick Gouhin, ISA Executive Director and CEO. “This agreement will make ISA training—proven throughout the world to improve the performance, efficiency, safety and security of advanced manufacturing—accessible to the companies and workers in this economically vital region.” Eid M. Al-Hajri, MD, the Acting Managing Director of Jubail Industrial College, says the agreement with ISA supports the college’s commitment to academic and training excellence and its mission to be the preferred choice for technology education in the KSA. “Demand is growing within Jubail Industrial City and the surrounding region for workers skilled in the automation and control technologies and techniques essential to modern manufacturing,” reports Dr. Al-Hajri. “ISA training programs are recognized globally for providing the practical, real-world automation and control skills workers need to compete for well-paying careers in industry and manufacturers need to operate safely, reliably and profitably.” @IrJubailcollege #PAuto #ISA

Sales cooperation agreement for Saudi Arabia.

Hashim Moraisel, Managing Director ANABEEB, and Stephan Neuburger, Managing Director Krohne Group, both signed the agreement in person, marking the official opening of the Krohne Partnership Sales Office, located in the industrial city of Jubail, Saudi Arabia.

Hashim Moraisel, CEO ANABEEB, & Stephan Neuburger, Managing Director Krohne Group

“With Krohne, we are extending ANABEEB’s one-stop-shop solution for our clients like Saudi Aramco and SABIC in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia” says Hashim Moraisel. “Krohne’s products and services are adding tremendous value to our clients in a field currently only partly covered by ANABEEB. Our local Sales & Manufacturing facilities in combination with Krohne’s High-End Customer Solutions will strengthen the ties between both companies this year and laying a foundation for many successful years to come.”

“With ANABEEB, we have a strong partner to serve the important market of Saudi Arabia” says Stephan Neuburger. “The new Partnership is an important step to become more visible in the Middle East. For Krohne it is of utmost importance that we understand the client’s application, only by being locally present we can understand their requirements and provide a competitive solution.We have been looking for a reliable and credible partner and believe to have found it in ANABEEB”.

Supported by the Krohne Middle East office in Dubai, which has been in place for more than a decade, the Jubail office will serve the Saudi Arabian market. The scope includes all Krohne products, solutions and services related to transport and storage of oil and gas products, e.g. pipeline monitoring, leak detection and localization, or liquid and gas metering systems. Also, processing applications in mining, e.g. metering of slurries with high solid content or solids storage, are covered from here.

• Krohne products are marketed in Ireland through DWN Instrumentation.

 @KROHNE_USA #PAuto #Saudi

Control system for combined cycle power plant!

Yokogawa  (Korea) has won an order from Samsung C&T Corporation to supply control systems for the Rabigh 2 combined cycle power plant, which is being built in Rabigh on Saudi Arabia's Red Sea coast. Plants of this type rely on both gas and steam turbines to generate electricity. The exhaust heat from a gas turbine is used to generate steam, which is sent to a steam turbine to generate additional electricity.

This power plant will have three 700 MW combined cycle power units with gas turbines, giving it a total capacity of 2,100 MW. The plant is being built for Al Mourjan For Electricity Production Company, whose shareholders are the Saudi Electricity Company (50%) and a consortium (50%) consisting of Samsung C&T Corporation and ACWA Power International, an independent power producer. The plant is scheduled to start operation in June 2017.

For this project, Yokogawa will deliver a CENTUM® VP integrated production control system for the monitoring and operation of all plant facilities, including the gas turbines, exhaust-heat-recovery boilers, and steam turbines, and for the control of the exhaust-heat-recovery boilers. The company will be responsible for engineering, and will also provide support for installation, commissioning, and operator training. This system is scheduled to be delivered by the middle of next year.

The winning of this control system order can be attributed to Yokogawa's solid track record in providing control systems to the power industry, including over 100 systems for combined cycle power plants, and to the strong engineering capabilities of Yokogawa Electric Korea. An additional contributing factor was the company's excellent customer support network in Saudi Arabia.

Combined cycle power plants generate power more efficiently and emit fewer greenhouse gases than conventional thermal power plants that use only gas or steam turbines. Power utilities all over the world are planning to construct plants of this type at sites that have ready access to natural gas. Encouraged by its success in winning this order, Yokogawa plans to expand its control business in the power sector, including the combined cycle power plant segment.

World-leading oil & gas services company supports industrial controls cybersecurity certification programs!

Aramco Services Company, the North American-based services division of Saudi Aramco, the state oil company of Saudi Arabia, has joined the ISA Security Compliance Institute.

Established in 1950, Aramco Services Company (ASC) is the US-based subsidiary of Saudi Aramco, the state-owned oil company of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and a fully integrated, global petroleum and chemicals enterprise. ASC’s geographical area of responsibility extends throughout North America, with operations in the US and Canada, and selected activities in South America.

ASC conducts a wide range of services to help Saudi Aramco facilitate the safe and reliable delivery of energy to customers around the globe. Core services include identifying upstream and downstream technologies, best practices and potential technology partners for Saudi Aramco; working with suppliers and vendors to provide Saudi Aramco with goods and services; providing business management services to Saudi Aramco project teams operating in North America, and conducting quality inspections for materials and equipment procured for Saudi Aramco. The company also manages Saudi Aramco exhibits at energy-industry trade shows.

“Aramco Services Company has tremendous experience in the oil and gas industry.”  said Andre Ristaino, Managing Director, ISA Security Compliance Institute, “and we look forward to their support as the ISASecure certification scheme extends its coverage.”

Order for Saudi Arabia’s first supercritical thermal power plant.

Yokogawa has received an order from Hyundai Heavy Industries Co., Ltd. to supply control systems, safety instrumented systems, analysis systems, and other products for Stage-1 of the Jeddah South supercritical oil-fired thermal power plant project in Saudi Arabia.

Supercritical technology involves pressure and temperature being kept above the critical point as steam passes from the boiler to a steam turbine. This allows power to be generated more efficiently and reduces greenhouse gas emissions. Jeddah South will be Saudi Arabia’s first supercritical thermal power plant, and is being built by a state-owned enterprise, the Saudi Electricity Company, at a site south of the city of Jeddah, which is on Saudi Arabia’s western coast, facing the Red Sea. Stage-1 of this project involves the construction of four 723 MW units producing a total of 2892 MW. Unit 1 is scheduled to start operation in 2017.

For each of the four units, Yokogawa will supply a CENTUM(R) VP R5 integrated production control system for the control of the boiler and its auxiliary facilities, including all IEC61850-based electrical systems; a ProSafe(R)-RS safety instrumented system (SIS); an Exaquantum(TM) plant information management system (PIMS); and a plant operation training simulator. Also included in the contract are PK200 current-to-pneumatic converters; a liquid analysis system consisting of conductivity, pH, and residual chlorine analysers; and a duct gas analysis system consisting of oxygen, infrared gas, and TDLS200 tunable diode laser analysers.

The TDLS200 boasts a fast response time and is used in combustion processes. One such application is the continuous measurement of residual NH3 in the denitrification process, which removes NOx from the exhaust gas produced as a result of the combustion of fuels in a boiler. There is a rising need for such continuous measurement solutions as they help to reduce corrosion to plant equipment and also protect the environment by reducing the emission of large amounts of ozone depleting gases.

Based on the IEC61850 international standard defined by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), electrical systems throughout this plant, including more than 750 intelligent electronic devices (IEDs) as well as all statistical and tariff energy meters, need to be integrated with the CENTUM VP DCS. Yokogawa is thus providing an integrated operational platform for this very large power plant.

Yokogawa Saudi Arabia will be responsible for the engineering and commissioning of the production control systems, safety instrumented systems, and plant information management systems. Yokogawa Electric and Yokogawa Electric Korea Co., Ltd. will be responsible for the engineering and delivery of the current-to-pneumatic converters and the analysis systems.

Yokogawa has executed a number of large oil & gas and petrochemical projects and has provided more than 80 control systems for power plant and power plant utilities throughout the Middle East. Furthermore, the company has set down deep roots in the region through such initiatives as the establishment in 2006 of Yokogawa Saudi Arabia. Yokogawa believes that this strong track record was a key consideration in its selection for this project.

Supercritical thermal power plants are highly efficient and produce fewer greenhouse gases than conventional power plants, and it is expected that more plants of this type will be constructed in Saudi Arabia and other countries. In anticipation of growing demand for its highly reliable products and services, Yokogawa will step up its efforts in the global power sector.

Control system for desalination plant in Saudi

Yokogawa has received an order from Petroleum, Chemicals & Mining Company (PCMC - a major EPC company in Saudi Arabia involved in the construction, engineering, and operation of plants in the oil, petrochemical, and gas industries) to supply the control system for the SWRO-4 Desalination Plant, which is being built in Jubail, Saudi Arabia by the Power & Water Utility Company for Jubail and Yanbu (Marafiq).

Jubail, located in the northern part of the Arabian Gulf, is one of the two major industrial cities in Saudi Arabia (the other is Yanbu on the Red Sea), and Marafiq provides electricity and water to both cities. The plant under construction, SWRO-4, will utilize reverse osmosis (RO) membranes to desalinate seawater, and will be able to produce 100,000 cubic meters of potable water per day. This is greater than the combined output of 77,000 cubic meters per day from the five desalination plants that Marafiq currently owns and operates in Jubail. Plants of this type rely on a technology that involves the application of pressure to seawater, thereby pushing it through a special membrane. Desalination occurs as the salt cannot pass through the membrane. The desalinated water from the new plant will be provided to the Jubail area.

Yokogawa is to deliver the CENTUM® VP integrated production control system and the Plant Resource Manager (PRM®) integrated device management package, the latter of which will be used for the monitoring and online diagnosis of the instrumentation devices in this plant. In addition, Yokogawa will deliver an operator training system to improve operator performance. Yokogawa Middle East & Africa is responsible for the entire project, including the engineering and commissioning of these products. Delivery is scheduled for 2014 and the plant will start operation at the end of September 2014.

In the Middle East, there is a serious water shortage due to rapid industrialization and population growth, especially in urban areas. To alleviate this problem, there are plans to construct many desalination plants. Desalination plants that use RO membranes are more efficient than those that rely on the evaporation of seawater, and so there is considerable demand for the construction of such plants throughout this region, as well as in other regions such as North America and Asia. Yokogawa aims to leverage this order to expand its control business with desalination plants and other segments of the water infrastructure market.

Human reliability in Middle East

Human reliability software company extends Middle East support

PAS has opened an operations office in Saudi Arabia, broadening and deepening its presence in the Middle East.

The Saudi Arabia expansion will enable PAS to meet growing demand in the region and serve key clients such as Saudi Aramco and SABIC. The Saudi Arabian office will further strengthen PAS’ regional capabilities that already includes offices in Bahrain and Doha, Qatar set up to service clients such as Qatargas, Qatar Petroleum, Kuwait Oil Company, Kuwait National Petroleum Company (KNOP), ADGAS, Petroleum Development of Oman, and many others.

“The expansion of our presence in the Middle East is a significant milestone. Many customers seek our expertise in minimizing human error by delivering critical process information in context to plant operators, engineers, and managers in the Middle East power generation and hydrocarbon industries. We’re helping plant personnel to make the right decision in time-sensitive situations, helping them to maintain a safe and productive operation.” said Bill Dennison, PAS Vice President of EMEA.

The additional Middle East office is part of the company’s broader plans to increase its presence worldwide. PAS has operations locations in the US, Canada, Australia, South Africa, Asia, UK and Europe.

Control systems for Saudi Arabia

Yokogawa Saudi Arabia has been selected as the process control system supplier for the Rabigh II project in which Saudi Aramco and Sumitomo Chemical have invested.

Yokogawa will supply its flagship products, the CENTUM VP production control system and the ProSafe-RS safety instrumented system for the Petrochemical Complex. This is an indication that Yokogawa’s business partners acknowledge its success in the Rabigh I project and have full confidence in Yokogawa’s capabilities. With phases I and II combined, this is the largest project for which Yokogawa has been selected in the Middle East.

Since the foundation of Yokogawa Saudi Arabia in 2006, Yokogawa has strengthened its engineering capabilities in the Kingdom through the course of several major projects. Yokogawa’s success in these projects has earned the customer’s confidence in its local project execution capabilities, leading to the decision for the Rabigh II project to be fully executed in Saudi Arabia, at the company facilities in Dhahran Techno-Valley. The execution of this project in the Kingdom follows Saudi Aramco and Sumitomo Chemical’s guidance on the maximisation of Saudi Arabian content.

Yokogawa Electric Corporation, following through on its commitment to its customers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, has doubled the size of its facilities in the Dhahran Techno-Valley. In addition to engineering and project execution capabilities, the new facility allows Yokogawa to manufacture specific elements of the control system and strengthen their research and development activities.

Saudi agreement

Corporate Procurement Agreement reflects strong commitment to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia -

Yokogawa’s significantly reinforced presence in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is leading to close cooperation with Saudi Aramco.

On the 2nd October 2012, Yokogawa Saudi Arabia and Saudi Aramco signed a Corporate Procurement Agreement (CPA) that encompasses all the services Yokogawa provides to Saudi Aramco. This agreement is a testimony to Yokogawa’s strong presence in Saudi Arabia. The CPA with Saudi Aramco covers equipment supply, project management, engineering, spare parts, and maintenance services. It greatly simplifies the process by which Saudi Aramco purchases process automation equipment from Yokogawa. Yokogawa is the first automation vendor to sign such an agreement with Saudi Aramco.

Dhahran Techno-Valey

Following through on its commitment to its customers in the Kingdom, Yokogawa has doubled the size of its facilities in the Dhahran Techno-Valley. In addition to engineering and project execution capabilities, the expanded facilities allow Yokogawa to manufacture specific components of its control systems and to strengthen its research and development activities.

Under the Saudi government’s Nitaqat Program, Yokogawa is in the top Platinum Saudization tier, and will firmly remain at this level in the future. The current workforce of 300 at Yokogawa Saudi Arabia includes a large female engineering team. This team supports not only Saudi projects but also projects in other GCC countries.

“With the true and sincere support of the Saudi government, customers, and academia, Yokogawa Saudi Arabia has successfully executed many process automation projects in the region”, said Shuzo Kaihori, President and CEO of Yokogawa Electric Corporation.

Through these projects, Yokogawa has developed the capabilities of many Saudi engineers and technicians by deploying and fully involving them in every facet of project execution, and will remain in the Kingdom with a workforce that has the knowledge and expertise to support its installed base throughout its lifecycle.

Since April 2007, Yokogawa has been providing a one-year Graduate Engineer Training Program and shorter internship programs that are specially tailored to the needs of the Saudi job market, targeting recent graduates and students of Saudi universities and colleges such as King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals (KFUPM), Jubail Industrial College (JIC), and Yanbu Industrial College (YIC). So far nearly 130 Saudi trainees have benefited from these programs, which have included visits to Yokogawa global engineering centers in Japan, Singapore, and the Netherlands.

Mr. Kaihori appreciates the contributions made by the Saudi engineers, saying, “I am not exaggerating when I say that Yokogawa Saudi Arabia’s operation owes much of its success to the central role played by these Saudi personnel.”

Solinoid valves for KSA!

International System EST (ISE) has selected Emerson Industrial Automation to supply control cabinets for a utilities upgrade project at SABIC’s Petrokemya Arabian Petrochemical site in Al Jubail, (KSA). This significant order is for four large cabinets which will contain over 140 ASCO Numatics solenoid valves and a variety of other control equipment. The cabinets will be supplied fully assembled and certified – ready for installation.

“We chose Emerson for this important project because of their proven ability to engineer and manufacture cabinets such as these,” said Salem Al-Khaldi, President of International System EST. “They have the capabilities in-house to design and build these cabinets and deliver them to site fully certified. All we have to do is make one electrical connection and then connect the pneumatics at the bulkhead. This frees up our own engineering time through the design, engineering and installation phases of the project.”

“We are pleased that ISE and SABIC have recognised our abilities and awarded us this project,” said Mehmet Caner, Regional Manager for Emerson’s ASCO Numatics in the Middle East. “We have full capabilities in our regional headquarters in Dubai to support our customers in the supply of cabinets and panels such as this. We are able to carry out all the work, from engineering design through to assembly and Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT).”

The cabinets, the largest of which is 1.8m x 1.8m x 0.5m, will be ready for FAT within ten weeks of drawing approvals. They will be used to automate valves located on the demineralised water and water purification plants on the site

Saudi automation contract

ABB has won the Main Automation contract for Sadara Chemical Company (Sadara), a joint venture (under formation) between affiliates of Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Saudi Aramco) and The Dow Chemical Company (Dow).

Work is underway on establishing Sadara and the related integrated chemical complex in Jubail Industrial City, Saudi Arabia. When fully operational in 2015, the facility will be the largest plastics and chemicals production complex ever built in a single phase. All parties have agreed not to disclose the amount of the order.

ABB was selected as the project's Main Automation Contractor (MAC). The scope of supply includes process automation systems, safety systems, project management, project engineering, commissioning assistance, post-commissioning site support, as well as engineering, operator, and maintenance technician training.

“ABB's combination of leading-edge technology and extensive global and regional resources help it consistently execute large, complex projects like this one, so that our customers can operate successfully from the outset,” said Veli-Matti Reinikkala, head of ABB’s Process Automation Division. “Our competitiveness, long-term customer relationships and commitment to providing solutions achieving the highest levels of safety and efficiency were key factors in winning this order.”

Saudi Aramco is a leader in oil exploration, production, refining, distribution, shipping, marketing and petrochemical manufacturing. Owned by the Saudi Arabian Government, it manages the world's largest proven oil reserves (260 billion barrels, nearly one quarter of the world’s total), and the world's fourth-largest gas reserves.

Dow is a leading science and technology company and the foremost supplier of specialty chemicals, advanced materials, agrosciences and plastics. Dow manufactures more than 5,000 products at 188 sites in 35 countries across the globe, and employs about 50,000 people.

IRIS for Saudi Arabia

Invensys Operations Management has signed a multi-million dollar contract to implement an integrated refinery information system (IRIS) for Saudi Aramco Total Refining & Petrochemical Company (SATORP).

Under the terms of the agreement, Invensys Operations Management, in a strategic alliance with Wipro Arabia Limited, will provide an integrated InFusion® enterprise control system solution encompassing total supply chain management; refinery planning and scheduling; operations management, including health, safety and environment management; quality control and assurance; and performance control and management. The company will also provide data validation and reconciliation, mass energy balance, utilities optimisation, electronic logbooks and control performance solutions to help SATORP achieve operational excellence. Wipro Arabia Limited is a joint venture between Wipro Limited, a leading global IT services provider based in India, and Dar Al Riyadh, a Saudi Arabia-based company with business expertise in engineering services, industrial products, systems integration and information technology.

“The Invensys system and the real-time operations management information will be a critical part of our plan to integrate fuels and petrochemical processes. It is the deep conversion technology we need to produce a high percentage of light products and value-added petrochemicals, and it facilitates our business strategy to hit the ground running,” said Mohammed Ruwaii, IT manager, SATORP.

A joint venture between Saudi Aramco and Total France, SATORP is constructing a state-of-the-art, 400,000 barrel-per-day refinery in Jubail, Saudi Arabia, that is expected to be operational before the end of 2013. The refinery will produce diesel, jet fuel and gasoline, as well as petrochemicals like paraxylene, aromatic benzene and propylene. The integrated refinery information system will manage the new refinery’s supply chain, planning and scheduling functions, as well as oversee its operations management, performance management and business process optimisation functions. 

“One key advantage of the InFusion enterprise control system is that it provides open integration, both horizontally and vertically—linking ERP, planning, operations and control systems—from Invensys and other suppliers alike,” said Franco Restelli, president, Invensys Operations Management, Middle East and North Africa. “Leveraging our deep domain knowledge and technical expertise, we look forward to working with SATORP to deliver a robust, scalable and easy-to-maintain system that will improve real-time decision making, analysis and performance control and management. We are pleased that SATORP is relying on Invensys and Wipro to help them become agile, competitive and profitable from the first day of operation.”

This success follows the multi-million dollar contract Invensys signed with SATORP in 2008 to deliver a comprehensive refinery-wide operations management solution, including its Foxboro® I/A Series® distributed control system and Triconex® emergency shutdown and alarm management systems, as well as fire and gas, compressor control, electrical control and asset management systems. The company has also provided its SimSci-Esscor® operator training simulator.

I & C for Saudi water installation

Electrical, control and instrumentation solutions to serve new pumping station for water transmission system

ABB has won an order worth about $15 million from Japanese pump manufacturer, Torishima Pump, to provide a turnkey electrical control and instrumentation solution for a new pumping station under construction in Saudi Arabia.

The system will be operated by the state-run Saline Water Conversion Corporation (SWCC), responsible for operating the country’s national desalination plants, a network of pumping stations, reservoirs and over 3,700 km of pipes to transport water in bulk from the plants to major consumption centers.

“ABB’s ability to provide an integrated power and automation solution based on the latest products and technologies coupled with our proven project management competence, strong local presence and extensive experience of executing large water transmission and pumping station projects underscores our expertise in the sector,” said Franz-Josef Mengede, head of ABB’s global power generation business, a part of the company’s Power Systems division. “We are pleased to support the country in the development of its power and water infrastructure to meet growing demand.”
ABB’s solution includes the electrical balance of plant, field instrumentation and the distributed control and communication systems for the pumping station, which will be located at the Al Baha end of the pipeline. ABB is responsible for the design, engineering, supply, installation, commissioning and training for the technologies being supplied.

When completed in 2013, the water transmission system will be capable of transferring 80,000 cubic meters of potable desalinated water per day along a 217 km pipeline between the cities of Al Taif and Al Baha, where it will be connected to the local water network for distribution throughout the province of Al Baha.