Industry

COOEC selects Wood's services for QatarEnergy project

Wood will optimise the complex pipeline network. (Image source: Wood)

Consulting, engineering and operations provider, Wood, has been contracted by China Offshore Oil Engineering Company (COOEC) for QatarEnergy’s Bul Hanine EPIC2 project offshore Qatar

The contract secures scope for delivery of a detailed design for QatarEnergy’s Bul Hanine EPIC2 project offshore Qatar.

The field is characterised by a complex pipeline network to which Wood will find an optimised approach for boosted production capacity and extended asset lifetime, drawing on extensive subsea engineering and flow assurance expertise.

Wood will undertake the design of 25 pipelines, including ensuring safe interaction where pipelines cross existing infrastructure and managing thermal expansion to protect long-term integrity, alongside crossing analysis for 15 umbilicals and two power cables.

Gerry Traynor, regional president - Middle East, Africa & Caspian, at Wood, said, “Wood has a strong track record in delivering offshore detailed design and in optimising installation solutions for complex subsea systems. By working collaboratively with COOEC, we are bringing together complementary strengths that will help accelerate QatarEnergy’s ambition to extend the field’s life, increase capacity and boost production from these critical, ageing assets.”

Wu Zhixing, Deputy Director of COOEC Engineering Company, said, “COOEC is glad to be QatarEnergy's trusted partner for the Bul Hanine EPIC2 Project. This is an important milestone which will build on our continual strong track record in the industry, strengthens our presence and commitment to support the energy landscape in the Middle East, and a testament of COOEC's capability in delivering a trusted EPIC solution for mega offshore projects.”

ADNOC deploys inspection robot at Taweelah plant

The robot is now carrying out routine inspections on site. (Image source: ADNOC)

ADNOC has successfully deployed Taurob’s heavy-duty inspector robot at its Taweelah Gas Compression Plant, where it will conduct autonomous inspections in hazardous environments without putting people at risk.

The robot acts as a first layer of surveillance to detect potential gas leaks, temperature anomalies and other operational hazards. Equipped with advanced sensing systems, including 3D LiDAR and 360-degree thermal imaging, it is built to operate in extreme conditions while reducing the need for human exposure to dangerous areas.

By integrating robotics into daily operations, ADNOC aims to strengthen early hazard detection and enhance decision-making for its engineering teams. The system supports continuous monitoring and provides real-time data to improve plant safety and reliability.

In parallel, ADNOC announced plans to advance its robotics programme through the development of a heavy-duty “operator” robot capable of not only visual inspection but also physical interaction with industrial equipment. The next-generation system, being developed under the ARGOS Joint Industry Project with partners including Equinor, TotalEnergies, and others, is expected to handle tasks such as valve operation and equipment manipulation in hazardous zones. It is designed for deployment in temperatures ranging from –20°C to 60°C and is targeted for operation by the end of 2026.

Dena Almansoori, ADNOC’s group chief technology and innovation officer, said robotics and artificial intelligence were central to the company’s long-term operational strategy.

She said, “Artificial and physical intelligence are transforming how we operate across our value chain. At Taweelah, autonomous robots are already active in live environments, supporting safer and more efficient operations. This innovation is enhancing safety, reducing emissions and strengthening performance in line with national AI and robotics strategies.”

The initiative forms part of ADNOC’s wider integration of AI, robotics and digital monitoring systems across its operations to reduce risk exposure and improve industrial safety performance.

ADNOC’s tools such as HSE Cockpit.ai, which has reduced safety incidents by 30%, provide real‑time visibility to help prevent incidents before they occur, while robots and drones carry out hazardous inspections, emissions monitoring and incident response across land, sea and air, including use cases such as red‑zone and confined‑space operations. Together, these capabilities embed safety into day‑to‑day execution and continue to expand the value ADNOC is delivering through advanced robotics and AI at scale.

Aggreko and Inowatti partner on Oman flare gas to power solutions

The two companies will collaborate on solutions that convert flared and stranded gas into power. Image source: Aggreko

Aggreko (Middle East) Limited and Czech energy technology company InoWatti a.s., signed an agreement at the Oman Petroleum & Energy Show (OPES) 2026 to collaborate on solutions that convert flared and stranded gas into power for high-density computing and other industrial uses.

The agreement outlines a joint framework for deploying modular gas‑to‑power systems at flare‑gas sites across Oman. Under the MoU, Aggreko will provide gas‑to‑power generation and engineered energy solutions, while InoWatti will manage commercial development, including site identification, operator engagement, and integration of mobile high‑density computing infrastructure.

Together, the partners will focus on flare‑gas environments where permanent infrastructure is not economically viable, including early‑stage production sites, remote fields, and locations with intermittent or low‑volume gas streams.

“This agreement strengthens our commitment to helping operators reduce flaring through practical, scalable energy solutions. By pairing Aggreko’s gas‑to‑power capabilities with InoWatti’s commercial and flexible computing infrastructure, we see a clear opportunity to turn previously wasted gas into productive power that supports operational performance and emissions reduction,” commented James Smith, business development manager, Projects & Gas, at Aggreko Middle East.

The partnership supports national objectives under Oman Vision 2040, which prioritises emissions reduction, improved resource efficiency, and the adoption of technologies that enhance operational sustainability in the oil and gas sector.

“InoWatti's expertise in flare gas monetisation, combined with Aggreko's world-class power generation expertise, creates a compelling proposition for oil and gas operators looking to eliminate flaring and unlock new revenue streams,” added Jakub Hlavenka, CEO at InoWatti a.s.

Gas flaring wastes natural gas that could be used for productive purposes, such as power generation, as well as contributing to climate change through the emission of CO2; at current levels, global flaring is estimated to result in about 400 million tons of CO2e emissions annually, according to the World Bank. The World Bank’s latest Global Gas Flaring Tracker reveals that global gas flaring volumes rose to 151 bcm in 2024 from 148 bcm in 2023, the highest level since 2007.

InoWatti’s mission is to eliminate routine gas flaring by converting wasted associated gas into a productive energy source, turning an environmental liability into a profitable asset for oil and gas operators. By deploying modular gas-to-power units directly at the flare site, InoWatti enables operators to generate new revenue streams, improve ESG performance, achieve regulatory compliance, and power co-located data centre operations.

Sophos highlights prevalence of identity breaches

Identity breaches are increasingly prevalent. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

The State of Identity Security 2026 survey by Sophos reveals that 71% of organisations reported at least one identity breach last year, with the energy sector particularly hard hit

The highest breach rates were found in energy, oil and gas, and other utility providers (80.3%), while the lowest breach rates occurred in organisations in IT, technology and telecoms (63.1%) and healthcare (63.4%).
State of Identity Security 2026 is a vendor-agnostic survey of 5,000 IT and cybersecurity leaders across 17 countries. Human error (43%) and poor non-human identity management have been identified as the root causes of most attacks. Weak NHI management, including API keys stored in code, static credentials, and orphaned service accounts, was cited in 41%.
AI agents can autonomously spin up subagents, each generating new credentials with broad, persistent access and inconsistent human oversight. Existing identity frameworks were not built for this, and organisations are already behind. Two thirds of the ransomware victims (67%) responding to this survey confirmed their ransomware incident stemmed from an identity
attack, establishing identity compromise as a primary delivery mechanism for ransomware.
“AI agents are being granted privileges faster than security teams can track them, and organisations that fail to get ahead of this will find it an increasingly costly gap to close,” stated Ross McKerchar, chief information security officer at Sophos. The financial consequences were actually steep as recovery cost reached US$1.64 million, with a median of US$750,000, and 73% of those affected faced costs of $250,000 or more.
The research further states that overall 10% of organisations reported an identity breach that impacted their business in the last year with the primary consequences being data theft (49%), ransomware (48%), and financial theft (47%). 14% of breached organisations could not even detect and stop their most significant identity attack before damage was done. Smaller firms were nearly twice as likely to fail at detection as mid-sized peers.
To reduce exposure to identity-related attacks, organisations should implement a multi-layered approach covering both human and non-human identities. Essential steps include enforcing Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) for all user accounts, applying least-privilege access principles, and disabling or removing inactive identities promptly.
For non-human identities specifically, organisations should inventory and classify all NHIs, replace long-lived credentials with short lived alternatives, and manage NHI credentials at scale.
As agentic AI accelerates NHI proliferation, deploying Identity Threat Detection and Response (ITDR) capabilities and adopting a Zero Trust security model are increasingly vital layers of defence.

ADNOC to accelerate West-East Pipeline Project

The pipeline will bring crude from the Habshan fields to the Port of Fujairah. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

His Highness Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, has instructed ADNOC to accelerate the West-East Pipeline Project, according to a report from the Abu Dhabi Media Office (ADMO)

The Crown Prince was chairing a meeting of the Executive Committee of the ADNOC Board of Directors, held at the company’s headquarters in Abu Dhabi.

The pipeline is currently under construction and is expected to become operational in 2027. It would transport crude from Abu Dhabi's Habshan fields to the Port of Fujairah, boosting the UAE’s ability to bypass the Strait of Hormuz, though which 20% of the world’s oil supply passes, and which is currently still being blockaded by Iran. The project is expected to double ADNOC’s export capacity via the Emirate of Fujairah, in response to global energy demand.

It comes following the UAE’s recent departure from OPEC, which will allow it greater production flexibility free from OPEC quotas as it looks to increase capacity to 5mn bpd by 2027 with further increases on the cards thereafter.

During the Executive Committee meeting, His Highness commended ADNOC for its resilience in maintaining safe operations, while continuing to supply energy to the local and international market, according to the ADMO report. ADNOC’s Habshan gas processing plant was badly damaged by Iranian drone attacks, and will not be fully repaired until next year, with 80% restoration by the end of 2026, according to ADNOC Gas. However, overall supply across the ADNOC Gas network has been substantially restored, allowing the company to continue meeting domestic customer demand through its broader infrastructure.

His Highness also noted ADNOC’s strong progress in delivering key growth projects, and its operational flexibility to responsibly increase production to meet market needs when export constraints allow.

The Executive Committee noted the progress made in developing the TA’ZIZ Phase 1 chemicals ecosystem in Al Ruwais Industrial City, Al Dhafra Region, highlighting its key role in creating new domestic value chains, according to the ADMO report. His Highness reiterated the important role of ADNOC’s In-Country Value (ICV) programme in driving growth and value creation opportunities for local businesses and manufacturers, and directed the company to prioritise Made in the Emirates products across its projects and operations.

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