SAS, the leading provider of business intelligence and analytic software and services, has announced the launch of its global oil and gas business unit - a division dedicated to the advanced technology needs of the worldwide energy industry. The new unit aims to further leverage the booming oil and gas sector in the Middle East, which has seen tremendous growth in terms of oil wealth - reaching more than $30 trillion from 1995 to 2007, by delivering state-of-the-art business intelligence solutions. As regional companies continue to seek ways to strategically leverage their information assets while streamlining their operations, SAS offers decision-makers in the oil and gas industry effective services and solutions, which will assist in maximizing performance through more efficient operations. The global oil and gas business unit aims to provide support for oil and gas organizations operating within exploration and production, refineries/manufacturing, and downstream operations, amidst mounting concerns in managing growing information stores, minimizing downtime and enabling collaboration. Comprised of domain-savvy staff members who specialize in optimizing performance for upstream and downstream customers, the new business unit is fully equipped to help oil and gas customers maintain predictable business processes and a stable business model. “With energy demand surging worldwide, oil and gas companies face daunting challenges daily,” said Frank Mollerop, vice president, SAS global oil and gas business unit. “SAS has worked with oil and gas customers for more than 20 years, and we believe they are anxious to enhance global performance. This industry generates mountains of valuable data that, if analyzed and leveraged correctly, could make a significant difference in efficiency and profits. The time has never been better for SAS, as a trusted partner, to help assure that the world's energy supply is discovered, developed and delivered in the safest, most productive way possible.” Underlining the importance of technologically-driven business intelligence solutions specifically designed for the energy industry, the new division also specializes in aiding oil and gas customers and companies in the Middle East to manage new and existing reserves, maximize production capacity and prepare for talent shortfalls in the industry. At present, the division maintains an impressive line-up of global clients, which includes regional petroleum giants such as Adnoc, Saudi Aramco, Kuwait Oil Company (KOC), Norwegian company ConocoPhillips and Brazil-based Petrobras. Complementing the Global Oil and Gas Business Unit's role is the wide array of SAS solutions for the oil and gas sector, which includes the SAS Collaboration and Performance Management solution. Designed to provide a holistic view of critical operation data, SAS has gained popularity for its collaboration platform, which presents secure, accurate, consolidated knowledge that enables managers, work management groups and engineers to surface key issues, navigate hierarchical views of the data, and perform targeted analyses. In addition, SAS solutions also enables companies to quickly create a logical data model that integrates all relevant data from simulations, process, product and equipment-related systems at multiple assets, fields and locations. “The size of the oil and gas industry in the Middle East alone makes it a key focus region for SAS, and it is our strong belief that our solutions can bring tremendous benefits to oil companies and the regional oil and gas sector at large,” said Peter Venn, business development director: Oil & Gas, SAS - Middle East & Africa. __
