In The Spotlight
Wood aims to strengthen local presence.
Wood reports record contract wins in Middle East
Wood has maintained record sales booking in the Middle East for two years straight as it reported more than US$1bn in contract wins across the region in 2025
This marks a 20% increase over awards in 2024, led by regions such as United Arab Emirates (UAE), Iraq, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman and Qatar.
The largest award bagged this year has been an engineering, procurement and construction management (EPCM) contract for the expansion of the ADNOC Gas Habshan facility. This comes with the scope for substantial upgrades, operational efficiency improvements, brownfield modifications and the installation of new facilities.
Other deals include project management and engineering services for PetroChina at the West Qurna 1 oilfield in southern Iraq, and project management consultancy (PMC) to TA’ZIZ for the development of the UAE’s first methanol production facility in Al Ruwais Industrial City, Abu Dhabi.
Multiple decarbonisation contracts for flare gas reduction and carbon efficiency project solutions has also been secured across the largest oil fields in Iraq.
"Our continued success in the Middle East shows the trust clients place in our teams and our ability to deliver complex projects at scale in support of national ambitions. In 2026, we’ll build on that momentum by strengthening our local presence and developing talent to drive sustainable growth," said Gerry Traynor, president of projects-Eastern Hemisphere.
"This year we’ve delivered critical solutions across the Middle East to improve asset reliability and cut emissions. In 2026, we’ll build on this success by expanding our operations and maintenance services in the region. Our focus is on proven approaches to asset management and modifications that improve efficiency and reduce downtime - practical steps that strengthen energy security and decarbonisation," said Ellis Renforth, president of operations for Europe, Middle East and Africa.
"Decarbonisation and digitalisation remain central to how we support clients in the Middle East. This year, we launched our specialist Middle East Energy Transition and Digital & AI Hubs to further support clients in accelerating emissions reduction while unlocking efficiencies through AI-driven solutions. This in-region advisory enables practical pathways to carbon reduction while supporting national visions for a sustainable energy future. Delivery has already spanned initiatives such as minerals procurement, hydrogen production facilities, and carbon capture and storage infrastructure," said Stuart Turl, vice president of Middle East Consulting.
Michael Monica, director global sales, marketing and customer care, GPT Industries with Shubhankar Mishra, regional sales manager, GPT Industries at ADIPEC 2025. (Image source: Alain Charles Publishing)
GPT Industries' Iso-Smart experiences success in the Middle East
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.”
Initial analysis has indicated an estimated reserves of 15-25 bn cu/ft of gas.
Dana Gas makes major discovery onshore Egypt
Middle East-based natural gas company, Dana Gas, has made a significant gas discovery following the drilling of the North El-Basant 1 exploratory well in Egypt’s onshore Nile Delta.
As the company conducted initial analysis, the well indicated the presence of an estimated reserves of 15-25 bn cu/ft of gas. This encourages production expectations to exceed 8 mn cu/ft per day once the well is connected to the national network.
The promising results come from the fourth of the 11 development and exploration wells under Dana's US$100mn investment programme to support domestic gas production, increase reserves and meet growing energy demand. This programme has been deseigned to boost long-term production, accumulating approximately 80 bn cu/ft in recoverable gas reserves for vast coverage.
The company is now preparing to spud the fifth well in the programme, the Daffodil exploration well, in January 2026.
On the other hand, three wells were recompleted earlier this year, adding 9 mn standard cu/ft per day of production. Drilling and recompletion programmes are adding approximately 30 mn standard cu/ft per day of new production.
Richard Hall, CEO, Dana Gas, said, “The latest drilling success reinforces the value of our investment programme in Egypt and highlights the significant remaining potential within the Nile Delta. The North El Basant-6 result builds on the momentum of our earlier wells and supports our efforts to increase domestic gas supply and reserves. By increasing local gas production, the programme will help reduce Egypt’s reliance on imported LNG and fuel oil and is expected to generate more than one billion dollars in savings for the national economy over time.
“Our agreement with EGAS has enabled us to secure additional acreage under improved fiscal terms and to accelerate this new phase of drilling activity. We appreciate the strong cooperation from EGAS and the Ministry, and we remain committed to delivering the majority of our planned programme next year. Regular and timely payments from our partners are crucial to sustaining our investment programme in Egypt.”
BOSIET training equips offshore workers with the necessary skills to work safety and effectively. (Image source: Adobe Stock)
The importance of BOSIET Training for offshore assignments
As offshore projects continue to expand in the Middle East, the demand for skilled personnel trained in safety protocols and emergency response grows. One critical aspect of this preparation is the BOSIET training, a certification that ensures new staff are adequately prepared for the demanding and hazardous nature of offshore assignments
In this article, we will explore why BOSIET training is essential for offshore workers in the Middle East and how it helps equip them with the necessary skills to work safely and effectively.
Understanding the BOSIET training programme
BOSIET, which stands for Basic Offshore Safety Induction and Emergency Training, is an essential certification for anyone entering the offshore oil and gas industry. The program is designed to ensure that offshore workers are well-prepared to handle emergency situations while also familiarising them with the specific hazards associated with offshore operations. The training covers a wide range of safety protocols, including sea survival techniques, fire safety, first aid, and helicopter safety, to name just a few.
For workers heading to offshore sites in the Middle East, where extreme weather conditions and harsh environments are common, BOSIET training becomes even more crucial. The training provides individuals with the skills needed to survive in emergency scenarios, evacuate effectively, and understand the operational procedures to mitigate risks. Completing BOSIET training ensures that workers not only know how to operate safely but also how to react promptly and correctly in life-threatening situations.
Why BOSIET training is essential for offshore workers in the Middle East
The Middle East is home to some of the largest offshore oil and gas projects globally, including the Gulf countries, where large-scale offshore drilling and extraction operations are a significant part of the energy sector. The region presents unique challenges, such as extreme temperatures, difficult terrain, and complex offshore structures, that require a well-prepared and competent workforce.
When employees undergo BOSIET training, they gain knowledge of vital safety measures, emergency protocols, and survival techniques. In the Middle East, where offshore projects often operate in remote locations, workers need to be self-sufficient and confident in handling potential hazards. The training focuses on a variety of scenarios that might occur on offshore platforms, ensuring that workers are prepared for any emergency that may arise during their assignments. With BOSIET training, workers understand how to use safety equipment, manage evacuation drills, and respond to fires, chemical spills, and other emergencies.
The role of BOSIET training in promoting safety on offshore sites
Having a fully trained workforce significantly reduces the risk of accidents, injuries, and fatalities. In high-risk environments like offshore oil rigs, preventing accidents is key to maintaining productivity.
By ensuring that all staff have completed BOSIET training, employers demonstrate their commitment to safety while adhering to regulatory requirements. In fact, many offshore oil and gas companies in the Middle East require new staff to complete BOSIET certification before they can begin work on site. This ensures everyone on the platform is fully prepared for the risks they may encounter.
How to enroll in BOSIET training for offshore assignments
For individuals looking to pursue a career in offshore oil and gas, obtaining BOSIET training is the first step toward securing a role on an offshore platform. Training providers such as FMTC safety in the Middle East offer BOSIET courses, typically involving both classroom learning and hands-on exercises. These courses are designed to meet international standards and ensure workers receive comprehensive and globally recognised certification.
Conclusion
BOSIET training remains a most important step for anyone entering offshore work in the Middle East. It prepares workers to handle emergencies, understand operational risks and maintain safety in demanding offshore environments. With accredited providers such as FMTC Safety, workers receive hands on offshore challenges hence facing offshore operations confidently while effectively contributing successfully towards major energy projects across the region.
Oil and gas employment expanded in 2024. (Image source: Adobe Stock)
Oil and gas employment continues to rise
Oil and gas employment expanded globally in 2024, driven by LNG project developments, and the Middle East remains the centre of world oil and gas employment, according to the IEA’s newly-released World Energy Employment 2025 report
Oil and gas supply has recovered most of the jobs lost in 2020, as global production capacity continues to expand. However, a number of major oil companies announced job cuts in 2025, in the face of lower oil prices and revenues.
Oil and gas production and distribution employed 12.4 million people in 2024, up 210,000 y-o-y, according to the report. Around two-thirds were employed in oil with the remainder in natural gas. Natural gas employment was boosted by new LNG facilities and associated manufacturing of related equipment. Oil and gas jobs slightly decreased in advanced economies, with growth now almost exclusively concentrated in emerging markets and developing economies (EMDEs).
The Middle East remains the centre of oil and gas employment, accounting for more than 20% of the sector’s global workforce. Oil and gas jobs represent two-thirds of total energy employment in the region, compared to a global average of just 16%, highlighting the sector’s dominant role in the regional economy and labour market. In 2024, Middle Eastern companies increased their oil and gas capital investments by 10%, creating around 83,000 new jobs. Countries in the region have invested heavily in the training and development of their national oil and gas workforces.
LNG remains the driving force behind natural gas employment growth. Worldwide investments in the sector increased by 11% since 2023, led by North America and the Middle East, which together made up two-fifths of total spending.
Oil and gas companies are adopting a range of strategies to manage uncertainty surrounding the sector’s long-term outlook. Some IOCs are increasingly shifting funds toward improving the production rates of existing fields with automation, improved drilling techniques and artificial intelligence to reduce the labour intensity of their operations. At the same time, IOCs are also investing in clean energy and reallocating resources to diversify and attract young talent.
Addressing skills gaps
The report warns of skills shortages and gaps, with applied technical roles such as electricians, pipefitters, line workers and plant operators in short supply. An ageing workforce is compounding the problem. At the same time, the supply of newly qualified workers is not keeping pace with the sector’s needs. To prevent the skills gap from widening further by 2030, the number of new qualified entrants into the energy sector globally would need to rise by 40% requiring an additional US$2.6 billion per year of investment globally, according to the IEA.
Targeted retraining and reskilling could help workers transfer from fossil fuel employment into other parts of the energy system that are growing, with 50% of fossil fuel workers said they would prioritise staying within the energy sector if seeking alternative employment.
The report notes that energy firms lag other sectors in artificial intelligence capabilities, with concentrations of AI-skilled workers about 40% lower than in technology, finance, education, and media. And while investment in AI skills and capabilities is rising in the energy sector, current use cases do not significantly reduce demand for applied technical workers in construction, operations, and maintenance, which are mostly manual roles dominated by tasks that AI is not currently well suited to replace.
“Energy has been one of the strongest and most consistent engines of job creation in the global economy during a period marked by significant uncertainties,” said IEA executive director Fatih Birol. “But this momentum cannot be taken for granted. The world’s ability to build the energy infrastructure it needs depends on having enough skilled workers in place. Governments, industry and training institutions must come together to close the labour and skills gap. Left unaddressed, these shortages could slow progress, raise costs and weaken energy security.”
The companies will explore capital investments to upgrade and diversify production. (Image source: Adobe Stock)
ExxonMobil, Aramco and Samref look at upgrading Samref refinery
ExxonMobil, Aramco and Samref have signed an agreement to look at a significant upgrade of the Samref refinery, in Yanbu, and the possibility of expanding it into an integrated petrochemical complex
The refinery currently has the capacity to process more than 400,000 barrels of crude oil per day, producing a diverse range of energy products including propane, automotive diesel oil, marine heavy fuel oil, and sulphur. The companies will explore capital investments to upgrade and diversify production, including high-quality distillates that result in lower emissions and high-performance chemicals, as well as ways to improve the refinery’s energy efficiency and reduce emissions from operations through an integrated emissions-reduction strategy.
The companies will commence a preliminary front-end engineering and design phase for the proposed project, which would aim to maximise operational advantages, enhance Samref’s competitiveness and help to meet growing demand for high-quality petrochemical products in the Kingdom.
Samref is a joint venture between Aramco and Mobil Yanbu Refining Company Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Exxon Mobil Corporation.
Mohammed Y. Al Qahtani, Aramco Downstream president, said, “This next phase of Samref marks a step in our long-term strategic collaboration with ExxonMobil. Designed to increase the conversion of crude oil and petroleum liquids into high-value chemicals, this project reinforces our commitment to advancing Downstream value creation and our liquids-to-chemicals strategy. It will also position Samref as a key driver in the growth of the Kingdom’s petrochemical sector.”
Jack Williams, Exxon Mobil Corporation senior vice president, added, “We value our partnership with Aramco and our long history in Saudi Arabia. We look forward to evaluating this project, which aligns with our strategy to focus on investments that allow us to grow high-value products that meet society’s evolving energy needs and contribute to a lower-emission future.”
The partnership marks a significant quantum applications development.
Aramco, Pasqal advance quantum computing in Saudi Arabia's energy sector
An integrated energy and chemicals company, Aramco, in partnership with neutral-atom quantum computing firm, Pasqal, deployed Saudi Arabia’s first quantum computer for industrial applications
Installed at Aramco's data centre in Dhahran, this marks a significant quantum applications development in multiple sectors in the region, including energy, materials, and industrial.
While aiding Aramco's operational efficiency strategies, the development gives Pascal's quantum exploration solutions a wider reach.
Ahmad O. Al-Khowaiter, Aramco EVP of Technology & Innovation, said, “Aramco is an established technology leader, which continues to innovate through the development and deployment of advanced digital solutions that have tangible benefits. We are deploying AI and other technologies at scale to further enhance our operations, maximize efficiency and unlock value across our business. Our partnership with Pasqal is a natural progression and we are thrilled to pioneer next-generation quantum capabilities, harnessing significant opportunities presented by this new frontier in computing.”
Loïc Henriet, Pasqal CEO, said, "This is a historic milestone with Aramco. The deployment of our most powerful quantum computer yet is a piece of history and a landmark for the Middle East’s quantum future. Pasqal continues its expansion, delivering practical quantum power to industry."
Pasqal’s system installed at Aramco’s data center can control 200 qubits arranged in programmable two-dimensional arrays, offering a platform suitable for exploring advanced quantum algorithms and real-world use cases relevant to industrial operations.
Offshore Technology Conference (OTC 2023)
Venue:
NRG Park
Houston
Texas
Dates:
1-4 May 2023
Website:
2023.otcnet.org
