DOHA – Qatar Petroleum (QP) has joined the global oil and gas technology facilitator ITF to collaborate on finding new solutions to boost oil and gas production in the Middle East. As a member of ITF, QP will work alongside other major energy players in the region and believes a united approach will help to drive forward new developments, supporting its plans for further exploration and production at onshore and offshore fields. The corporation joins other ITF members in the region including, Petroleum Development Oman (PDO), Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) as well as Houston-based Aramco Services Company, a subsidiary of Saudi Aramco. ITF has a base in Abu Dhabi and this year launched a Middle East cluster group to bring together oil and gas companies to collaboratively identify and tackle the specific technology challenges being faced in the region, such as water management, heavy oil, asset integrity, and enhanced oil recovery. QP is interested in ITF's approach both as an end user and as a technology developer. Nasser AL-Mohannadi, Research and Technology Manager of Qatar Petroleum, said: "Joining ITF is an important step in working together with other international and national oil and gas companies in the GCC region. The sharing of knowledge and collaborating on research and technology development will allow us to establish joint industry projects that directly target the needs of industry in the region." Ryan McPherson, ITF's regional director in the Middle East and Asia Pacific welcomed the new member. He said: "Qatar Petroleum is joining us as we are forging ahead in the Middle East, with our first call for proposals for this region issued on the subject of produced water, which was identified by members as a key priority. By acting as the honest broker between end users and technology developers, we can help members share the costs and risks associated with bringing new technology to market." A not-for-profit organization, ITF has 30 global oil and gas operator and service company members. Technology companies and academia are offered up to 100 percent funding and innovators retain full intellectual property rights. ITF is the only global funding program operating across continents. The organization has facilitated the launch of more than 180 joint industry projects (JIPs) from early stage projects through to field trials and commercialization and aims to secure a further £50 million for technologies by 2015. – SG
