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The Shamakhi-Gobustan region onshore Azerbaijan will be developed by MOL Group and SOCAR as they signed a comprehensive production sharing agreement

The joint exploration project will be led by MOL Group as operator with a 65% stake while SOCAR retains 35% interest in the area.

This agreement, which was signed by MOL Group chairman and CEO, Zsolt Hernádi, and SOCAR president, Rovshan Najaf, solidifies the key terms that were proposed for the exploration in June during Baku Energy Week, and builds on previous successful cooperation.

“The final agreement of our latest cooperation with SOCAR marks another major step in our shared commitment to unlocking new potential and expanding our excellent collaboration in Azerbaijan’s upstream sector.

"The Shamakhi-Gobustan joint exploration project adds a great opportunity to our international upstream portfolio, and as the operator, we are proud to build on MOL Group’s extensive experience in exploration and production. Strong foundations have already been laid through the offshore ACG project in Azerbaijan, which is an important pillar of our international operations, playing a vital role in Central Europe’s energy security and providing us flexibility in crude oil sourcing and refining.

"I am very much looking forward to the next chapter of our cooperation in Azerbaijan with our esteemed partner SOCAR, which will further strengthen our region’s energy supply security,” said Hernádi.

The partners are currently planning to initiate a seismic survey early 2026, before drilling can begin shortly after. 

The energy industry’s greatest asset has always been its people; the engineers, technicians, and operators whose expertise keeps complex systems running safely and efficiently

Every innovation, every safety milestone, and every major project has relied on the expertise of the workforce behind it.

That foundation is now evolving. As pressure on existing assets rises and new types of energy infrastructure come online, the diversification of skills required from energy workers is rapidly increasing. Adding to this, is something pervading all operations -advanced technology, which has,moved from pilot projects to the operational core. From predictive maintenance and automated drilling to AI-driven safety monitoring and virtual reality safety simulations, digital tools are augmenting how work gets done and what’s expected of the people doing it.

But in this new landscapethe pressing point isn’t actually how technology will reshape energy, but how people will with these new tools at their fingertips. And perhaps nowhere is that question more urgent, or more promising, than in the Middle East, a region that stands out for both its ambition and its readiness. The question is, canit lead the way in building an energy workforce that’s not just tech-enabled, but tech-empowered?

From uncertainty to capability

If we zoom in on AI as an example of advanced technology, until recently, the conversation about the application of AI in energy was filled with uncertainty: what would it automate, what would it replace, and what would that mean for people and their jobs? That debate has moved on. The real question now is how people and technology can work effectively together.

Across refineries, rigs, and control rooms, AI and advanced tech is already embedded in daily operations from predictive maintenance to digital twins and smart safety systems. Now, as the energy sector continues down this road of augmented intelligence, success - in terms of safety, productivity, and competitiveness - will hinge on ensuring people are equipped to lead that transformation, not be left behind by it.

This requires confidence. The human workforce must be able to interpret, validate, and act on the data that technology delivers. Ultimately, success will not be defined by how much technology an organisation adopts, but by how well its people understand and apply it.

Why the Middle East is leading this shift

Few regions are better placed to lead this transformation. The Middle East’s energy workforce has long powered its global influence. Now its deep operational expertise coupled with the region’s push for digital transformation through rapid advances in AI, automation, and broader technology is creating a powerful convergence between people and technology.In fact, the UAE and Saudi Arabia both rank among the world’s top three AI superpowers, integrating AI into national economic and industry agendas.

So, where globally, studies, including the WEF’s Future of Jobs Report, predict that nearly a quarter of jobs will evolve significantly by 2027, with technology as a major influencer, in the Middle East, this projection is already happening.

Furthermore, a recent IDC study showed over 40% of UAE businesses already deploy AI in operations, while nearly two-thirds say their adoption pace has quickened over the past two years. Yet, the real challenge isn’t simply access to technology or even how quickly the industry can implement it because in an industry where operational risk is measured in lives and livelihoods, speed without preparation is not an option.

Closing the confidence gap

The focus must now turn to readiness, building the confidence, governance, and training frameworks to ensure that every worker, at every level, is both competent and comfortable harnessing new technologies safely and effectively. The latest ADNOC report, Powering Possible, made this clear, highlighting that workforce gaps are still one of the biggest barriers, and that bringing responsible AI into energy operations is essential for safety and confidence. The report also found that 78% of leaders see talent and training as major challenges when it comes to adopting and using AI.

Many forward-thinking energy companies and education partners are already helping to close this gap, to ensure that progress is not just accelerated, but sustained. Robust training systems and recognised skills frameworks are increasingly seen as essential in the energy sector. Staying ahead of AI requires a proactive stance, not a retrospective one. Across the region, workforce development organisations are embedding digital learning tools, from VR simulations to digital twins, into competency programmes, helping operators ensure their people are fully prepared for AI-enabled operations.

A workforce built for the AI era

As the energy transition accelerates, the Middle East region has a unique opportunity to lead in both technology and talent. Its ability to pair digital ambition with workforce empowerment could define how the global industry approaches this new wave of technology.

That means rethinking learning systems, certification models, and cultural expectations to create pathways where technology enhances human expertise rather than replaces it.

The Middle East is already on the right path to power the energy systems of the future and to shape what a truly tech-empowered workforce looks like. The region’s energy transformation may have added technology as a new fuel for progress, but it's true power still lies in the people who are properly prepared to use it. 

The writer of this article is Stephen Marcos Jones, chief executive officer, OPITO

Aramco, Honeywell and King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) are collaborating to scale up the development of Crude-to-Chemicals (CTC) technology in a bid to maximise the value of crude oil and reduce costs associated with CTC conversion 

The new CTC pathway will entail converting crude oil directly into light olefins and other high-demand chemicals, resulting in improved fuel efficiency, carbon utilisation, and process economics—allowing for more efficient and cost-effective production at scale.

The collaboration aligns with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 by helping to advance economic diversification, build national research and technology capabilities, and strengthen the Kingdom’s position in the global chemicals market, combining academia and industry expertise to accelerate technology development and national capabilities.

Dr. Ali A. Al-Meshari, Aramco senior vice president of technology oversight & coordination, said, “This collaboration with Honeywell UOP and KAUST furthers Aramco's efforts to drive innovation and shape the future of petrochemicals. By harnessing the power of cutting-edge technologies, we aim to enhance energy efficiency and unlock increased value from every barrel of crude. This novel Crude-to-Chemicals process is aligned with our vision of supporting the global transition towards cleaner, high-performance chemical production. Moreover, this initiative demonstrates our focus on contributing to the growth of a vibrant ecosystem, where the deployment of innovative technologies can create lasting value for our stakeholders, our communities, and the environment.”

Rajesh Gattupalli, Honeywell UOP president, added, “This agreement marks a defining moment in our strategic collaboration with Aramco and KAUST – and in the global evolution of Crude-to-Chemicals technology. With Honeywell UOP’s deep expertise in catalytic process design and commercial scale-up, we’re well positioned to drive this innovation forward.”

GPT Industries’ Iso-Smart remote pipeline monitoring device has attracted a high level of interest from operators in the Middle East since it was introduced to the region around a year ago

Iso-Smart is an all-in-one solution for checking Cathodic Protection (on and instant off potentials), Isolation, Bond currents, AC vs. DC on the line, and more from remote locations. The device can be mounted at any current test station along a pipeline, and incorporates True RMS technology to provide reliable real-time data, helping pipeline owners make informed decisions, address any issues or anomalies before they become critical and comply with pipeline integrity regulations. Combining GPT Industries’ decades of corrosion prevention expertise with the latest remote monitoring technology, it sets a new standard for a versatile, user-friendly remote asset integrity monitoring.

Iso-Smart communicates readings instantly to a secure dashboard, giving operators real-time visibility into asset performance. The platform also supports customisable alerts, automated reporting, and over-the-air firmware updates.

Speaking to Oil Review Middle East at ADIPEC, Michael Monica, director global sales, marketing and customer care at GPT Industries says that the company has successfully piloted Iso-Smart with end users in the region. The pilot is now validated and approved, the next step being to reach out to more end-users.

“The biggest differentiator with this device is that it is able to determine AC density on pipelines, something that is unique to Iso-Smart,” Monica points out. Pipelines exposed to alternating current (AC) from nearby power lines or railways face serious risks, including accelerated corrosion, compromised cathodic protection and safety hazards.

“Iso-Smart can distinguish direct current from alternating current, which is something operators need to be able to determine, and ensures your CP system is at the right level to protect the asset. The big advantage is that it allows you to remotely monitor the asset in real time from a dashboard, eliminating the need to take physical readings at the site. You can tell it you want it to measure, and how often.”

Monica emphasises the importance of Iso-Smart for compliance, noting its real-time monitoring capabilities and the ease of generating reports.

The latest version of Iso-Smart, launched a few months ago, incorporates significant new enhancements, based on end-user feedback, notably a more compact housing designed to fit seamlessly within standard three-inch test stations, making installation simpler, faster, and more practical for new and existing field operations.

Monica goes on to discuss the company’s takeover of Integrated Rectifier Technologies( IRT), a Canada-based manufacturer of transformer rectifiers and related products for the cathodic protection (CP) industry with a strong and established presence in the Middle East and globally.

This strategic acquisition unites GPT’s expertise in flange isolation technology and remote asset monitoring with IRT’s long-standing reputation for reliable rectifier systems, further strengthening GPT’s role in helping operators mitigate corrosion and maintain asset integrity across energy and infrastructure sectors.

Integrating IRT’s rectifier technology with GPT’s Iso-Smart remote monitoring platform will accelerate the development of advanced remote asset integrity systems, providing operators with deeper visibility into CP performance, streamlined data collection and faster response to field issues.

“We’re really excited to be working with IRT,” says Monica. “This acquisition expands our strategy of protecting our customers’ assets in the area of cathodic protection.”

Despite advances in digital technology, many oil and gas sites across the Middle East still rely on manual entry for tank and vessel inspections, resulting in days of downtime, high scaffolding costs and risk to human life

What if you could change all that with drone technology?

Inspections drones such as the Elios 3 are revolutionising the world of confined space inspections, improving safety, reducing downtime and enhancing operational efficiency.

Join us for an exclusive live webinar hosted by Flyability in association with Oil Review Middle East on ‘Transforming oil and gas operations with the Elios 3 drone’ on Tuesday 2 September at 2pm GST. Industrial experts will explain how drones such as the Elios 3 are transforming confined space inspections, and how you can integrate this technology into your operations seamlessly.

Key highlights:

Drone integration: learn how to safety and effectively implement drones in confined space
Safety and training: understand essential safety protocols and training strategies for your team
ROI: discover how to measure and achieve a strong return on investment with drone technology
Real world use cases: hear from the engineers using drone tech in the field on the impact Elios 3 is having on in oil and gas inspections.

Speakers and host:

Fabio Fata – senior sales manager, Flyability (moderator)
Eralp Koltuk – inspection lead engineer, Tüpraş
Danijel Jovanovic – director of operations, ZainTECH

Take your operations to the next level! Don’t miss out on gaining valuable insights into how drones can make inspections safer, faster and smarter .

From making inspections in hazardous confined spaces much safer to streamlining the whole process and providing valuable real-time data, you will get to see exactly how the Elios 3 is changing the game.

Register for the free webinar here.

Government and industry responses to UN Environment Programme (UNEP) satellite methane alerts rose from 1% to 12% cent in the past year, and oil and gas methane emissions reporting has improved, but action needs to accelerate to achieve the Global Methane Pledge goal of curbing methane emissions 30% by 2030, according to a new UNEP report

Atmospheric methane continues to be the second biggest driver of climate change after carbon dioxide, responsible for about one-third of the planet’s warming, and real-world data is a critical tool to track and reduce methane emissions.

The fifth edition of the UN Environment Programme’s (UNEP) International Methane Emissions Observatory (IMEO) publication, An Eye on Methane: From measurement to momentum, finds that member oil and gas companies of IMEO’s Oil and Gas Methane Partnership 2.0 (OGMP 2.0) are set to track one-third of emissions from global production using real-world measurements. The OGMP 2.0 is the world’s global standard for methane emissions measurement and mitigation in the oil and gas sector. Over the past five years, OGMP 2.0 membership has more than doubled to 153 companies in the countries, covering 42% of global oil and gas production.

One-third of global oil and gas production reports, or will soon report, emissions at OGMP 2.0’s Gold Standard – meaning emissions are tracked with real-world measurements. This positions a large amount of the global industry to effectively measure – and thus mitigate – emissions. One of the companies achieving 'Gold Standard reporting' in 2024 for having effectively achieved the highest levels of data quality is Eni. OGMP 2.0’s 2025 report recognized Eni for its continued progress, including identifying and quantifying emissions across non-operated assets, as well as training and technical assistance on the LDAR (Leak Detection and Repair) approach to fugitive emissions. LDAR training sessions were organised with the support of UNEP and delivered to National Oil Company (NOC) personnel.

The report highlights that while government and company responses to alerts from IMEO’s Methane Alert and Response System (MARS) have grown tenfold over the previous year, nearly 90% remain unanswered, necessitating an increase in response rates. Through MARS, UNEP has sent over 3,500 alerts about major emissions events across 33 countries. These alerts are based on satellite monitoring and artificial intelligence-supported analysis. IMEO has documented 25 cases of mitigation action in ten countries since MARS was launched in 2022, including across six new countries during the past year.

“Reducing methane emissions can quickly bend the curve on global warming, buying more time for long-term decarbonisation efforts, so it is encouraging that data-driven tools are helping the oil and gas industry to report on their emissions and set ambitious mitigation targets,” said Inger Andersen, executive director of UNEP. “But to keep the Paris Agreement targets within reach, the important progress on reporting must translate into cuts to emissions. Every company should join the Oil and Gas Methane Partnership 2.0, and both governments and operators must respond to satellite alerts – then they must act to reduce emissions.”