Viridien, through its subsidiary CGG Services SAS, has been awarded a contract to reimage two legacy 3D seismic data sets totalling 2,400 sq km in the Hassi Bir Rekaiz concession in the Berkine Basin, Eastern Algeria

The contract was awarded by Groupement Hassi Bir Rekaiz, a joint Sonatrach and PTTEP joint venture.

During the 13-month project, Viridien scientists are completely reimaging and merging the two legacy seismic datasets, originally acquired in 2011 and 2013. To meet the client’s challenging imaging objectives, Viridien is applying the latest technology to deliver more detailed seismic velocity modelling and improved reliability of seismic amplitude, phase and frequency attributes for quantitative interpretation and enhanced fault imaging.

Peter Whiting, EVP, Geoscience, Viridien, said, “We are happy to receive another award from Algeria, showing client confidence in our experience and differentiation in this growing market. We continue to develop and refine our technology, allowing us to extract more and more useful information from seismic data. This generates value for our clients, allowing them to do much more with the survey data they already have. The ultimate value lies in improved reservoir insights, reduction of uncertainties and increased drilling success.”

Last year, Viridien won a contract to conduct seismic imaging for a project in eastern Algeria for Groupement Berkine - a joint venture between Sonatrach and Occidental Petroleum, among other global partners. This imaging campaign covers an area of 3,400 sq km, capturing high-density onshore data set over blocks B404a and B208 of the Berkine Basin.

Algeria is seeking to increase oil and gas production, boost foreign investment and advance exploration. To this end, the National Agency for the Valorization of Hydrocarbon Resources (ALNAFT) launched a bid round in October, as part of a five-year licensing plan. The offering consisted of six blocks covering 152,000 sq km. Closing date for bid submissions was 15 April.

Aramco is looking to acquire an equity interest in Woodside Energy’s Louisiana LNG project, along with LNG offtake

The two companies have signed a collaboration agreement to explore global opportunities, which also include potential collaboration in lower-carbon ammonia.

Woodside CEO Meg O’Neill commented, “We are excited to explore new opportunities with Aramco. This collaboration aligns with Woodside’s strategic vision to build a diverse and resilient global portfolio. It leverages our growing relationship with one of the world’s leading integrated energy and chemicals companies, to explore new opportunities which deliver value for both parties.

“It is also another demonstration of the ongoing interest Louisiana LNG is generating among high-quality potential investors, following our recent agreement with Stonepeak to acquire a 40% interest in the project’s infrastructure holding company.”

The Louisiana LNG project and export terminal envisages the construction of five LNG plants through four phases. Woodside announced a final investment decision to develop the foundational phase, a three-train, 16.5 million tonnes per annum LNG development, on 29 April. Woodside is targeting first LNG in 2029. Development of Louisiana LNG will enable Woodside to deliver approximately 24 Mtpa from its global LNG portfolio in the 2030s, and operate over 5% of global LNG supply, according to the company.

The move also represents a further step in Aramco’s strategy to become a leading global LNG player and grow its gas portfolio to meet the rising global demand for lower-carbon forms of energy as the energy transition progresses. It follows the signing of an agreement with Sempra last year relating to LNG offtake of 5.0 million tonnes per annum (Mtpa) from the Port Arthur LNG Phase 2 expansion project, where it will also potentially have a 25% participation in the project-level equity of Phase 2, and the acquisition of a strategic minority stake in MidOcean.

The collaboration agreement was signed in Riyadh at the Saudi-US Investment Forum attended by Saudi Arabian Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman and US President Donald Trump. Aramco signed of 34 MoUs with major US companies, covering collaborations and partnerships in areas including LNG, fuels, chemicals, emission-reduction technologies, AI and other digital solutions, manufacturing, asset management, short-term cash investments, and procurement of materials, equipment, and services.

As environmental concerns and regulatory pressures gain precedence, the petrochemical industry is increasingly turning its attention to chemical recycling

Often positioned as a potential game-changer, this technology seeks to offer a more sustainable path by converting plastic waste back into its original chemical components, enabling the production of new materials with properties comparable to those made from virgin feedstocks. Its attractiveness lies in addressing the twin evils – the plastic waste crisis and the need for higher-quality recycled materials.

How does chemical recycling work?

Chemical recycling, also referred to as advanced recycling, differs from mechanical recycling in both process and potential. Rather than grinding and melting plastics, it involves breaking down polymers into monomers or other base chemicals through processes such as pyrolysis, gasification, or depolymerisation. This allows for the creation of new plastics suitable for applications that require high purity, including food-grade packaging, where mechanically recycled plastics often fall short.

Several companies around the world have begun to scale up their chemical recycling initiatives.
• ExxonMobil, for example, has announced plans to invest US$200mn to expand its chemical recycling capabilities at its Baytown and Beaumont complexes in Texas. With its proprietary Exxtend technology, the company aims to process up to half a million tons of plastic waste per year by 2027.
• In Europe, Eastman Chemical is building a US$1bn molecular recycling facility in France. Once operational, it is expected to recycle up to 160,000 tons of plastic waste annually using polyester renewal technology.
• In India, Reliance Industries has become a pioneer in this space, producing circular polymers at its Jamnagar refinery, which has received ISCC-Plus certification to ensure sustainability and traceability.

However, the economic challenges associated with chemical recycling are substantial. These technologies are energy-intensive, resulting in higher operational costs compared to traditional recycling or even the production of virgin plastics. In some cases, chemically recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET) can cost two to three times more than its virgin counterpart, limiting its competitiveness. Additionally, the process often requires clean and sorted plastic waste as feedstock, which is difficult to obtain in many regions due to inadequate waste segregation and contamination. This issue not only affects cost but also scalability.

Advantages of chemical recycling

From an environmental standpoint, chemical recycling does offer certain advantages. Studies indicate that pyrolysis — a commonly used method in chemical recycling — can emit up to 50% less CO₂ than the incineration of mixed plastic waste. The process also has the potential to eliminate hazardous substances embedded in plastics, such as legacy chemicals and substances of very high concern (SVHC), resulting in cleaner end-products. Nevertheless, these benefits must be weighed against the significant energy inputs required for these processes. Without low-carbon energy sources or efficiency improvements, the net environmental gains may be limited.

Looking ahead, the development of chemical recycling will depend on a combination of technological, regulatory, and economic factors. Enhancing waste collection and sorting infrastructure will be crucial for improving feedstock quality. Policy frameworks that clearly define recycled content and support traceability will help create market confidence. Meanwhile, collaboration between governments, research institutions, and industry stakeholders could accelerate innovation and reduce costs over time.

While chemical recycling is unlikely to single-handedly resolve the petrochemical sector’s sustainability challenges, it may play a valuable role within a broader strategy for circularity. When complemented by upstream design changes, responsible consumption, mechanical recycling, and waste minimization efforts, it has the potential to contribute meaningfully to the sector's transition.

Whether it ultimately transforms the petrochemical industry or becomes a niche complement to existing methods will depend on how these challenges are addressed in the years to come.

This article is authored by Synergy Consulting IFA.

Material science and technology provider, 3M, has released via Offshore Network a case study illustrating how an Indonesian oil and gas corporation Pertamina Hulu Mahakam (PHM) deployed Ceramic Sand Screen to cost effectively unlock marginal field assets 

While coiled tubing-deployed chemical sand consolidation (SCON) or slickline deployed through tubing metallic screens are the conventional approaches to sand control at PHM, they are limited by its operating envelope and technical constraints. There is a need identified to unlock production with a change in filter media material.

3M Ceramic Sand Screens have saved PHM up to 50% cost over SCON solution and delivered 200% higher productivity than through tubing metallic screen solution by integrating 3M advanced ceramic materials into a sand screen assembly.

Assets like in Tunu and Peciko, reservoirs are marginal and multi-layered sand series which are highly unconsolidated and poorly sorted sands with an average of 20 to 30% porosity. 3M Ceramic Sand Screen have been initially trialed in these conditions and enabled in optimising sand control completions.

Within a span of 4 years, more than 80 wells in various fields of PHM have been successfully replicated.

Download the case study to learn about:

*How 3M solution has impacted to unlock production from marginal assets

*How material change enables optimised and cost-effective sand control completions

*How 3M material science empowers and contributes to their energy customers to develop improved, safer and more sustainable solutions

Click here to learn more.

Oil Review Middle East hosted a very well-attended webinar on 20 November on the future of offshore operations, in association with SAFEEN Group, part of AD Ports Group

The webinar explored the latest trends and challenges in the rapidly evolving world of offshore operations, focusing on groundbreaking innovations that are driving sustainable and efficient practices. In particular, it highlighted SAFEEN Green – a revolutionary unmanned surface vessel (USV), setting new benchmarks for sustainable and efficient maritime operations.

Erik Tonne, MD and head of Market Analysis at Clarksons, gave an overview of the offshore market, highlighting that current oil price levels are supportive for offshore developments, and global offshore capex is increasing strongly. The Middle East region will see significant capex increase over the coming years, with the need for rigs and vessels likely to remain high. Offshore wind is also seeing increased spending. Global rig activity is growing, while the subsea EPC backlog has never been higher, with regional EPC contracts seeing very high activity. Tonne forecast that demand for subsea vessels and other support vessels will continue to increase.

Tareq Abdulla Al Marzooqi, CEO SAFEEN Subsea, AD Ports Group, introduced SAFEEN Subsea, a joint venture with NMDC, which offers reliable and innovative survey, subsea and offshore solutions to support major offshore and EPC projects across the region. He highlighted the company’s commitment to sustainability, internationalisation and local content, and how it is a hub for innovations and new ideas, taking conceptual designs and converting them to commercial projects. A key project is SAFEEN Green, which offers an optimised inspection and survey solution.

Tareq Al Marzooqi and Ronald J Kraft, CTO, Sovereign Global Solutions ME and RC Dock Engineering BV. outlined the benefits and capabilities of SAFEEN Green as compared with commercial vessels, in terms of safety, efficiency, profitability and sustainability. It is 30-40% more efficient through the use of advanced technologies, provides a safer working environment given it is operated 24/7 remotely from a control centre, and offers swappable payload capacity. Vessels are containerised and can be transported easily to other regions. In terms of fuel consumption, the vessel is environment-friendly and highly competitive, reducing emissions by 90% compared with conventional vessels, with the ability to operate on 100% biofuel.

As for future plans, SAFEEN Green 2.0 is under development, which will be capable of carrying two inspection work-class ROVs simultaneously. A priority will be to collect data to create functional AI models for vessels and operations, with the first agent-controlled payload systems in prospect by around 2027.

To view the webinar, go to https://alaincharles.zoom.us/rec/share/mNHjZhAhQzn1sPzmFWZCgrq7_SckfLRcSb4w81I7aVlokO9sgHM_zVeOqgN3DgJS.bO4OIRqNeFP09SPu?startTime=1732095689000

Fossil fuel operations in the Middle East and North Africa emitted around 20 Mt of methane in 2024, nearly all from oil and gas operations, with Iraq, Iran and Algeria accounting for more than 30% of the flared volumes and related methane emissions, according to the IEA’s latest Global Methane Tracker 2025

The recently updated Global Methane Tracker presents the IEA’s latest sector-wide emissions estimates – based on the most recent data from satellites and measurement campaigns – and discusses the various abatement measures available to tackle them.

Flaring is a leading source of the MENA region’s emissions, accounting for around 25% of the total. Performance varies greatly, with Libya, Algeria and Iran having relatively high upstream methane intensities, while Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates perform better than the global industry average.

Satellites made more than 800 methane emission observations over Algeria, 400 in Iran, and 165 in Iraq, with incomplete combustion from burning pits identified as the leading source of emissions in Algeria and Egypt, followed by gas lift system vents and equipment venting. Flaring and direct venting have also been identified as major sources in Iraq. The IEA is working to support Iraq’s oil and gas methane mitigation efforts.

The IEA highlights that many of the region’s national oil companies have joined the OGDC (Oil & Gas Decarbonization Charter) or OGMP 2.0 (Oil & Gas Methane Partnership), including the UAE’s ADNOC, Libya’s National Oil Corporation (NOC), Saudi Arabia’s Aramco, Bahrain’s Bapco Energies and Petroleum Development Oman. All countries in the region participate in the Global Methane Pledge except for Algeria, Iran and Syria, with many also subscribed to the World Bank’s Zero Routine Flaring by 2030 Initiative. However, fewer countries have developed regulations designed to limit oil and gas methane emissions. Most countries have flaring and venting restrictions, but flared volumes have increased by over 50% since 2010.

Global methane emissions remain stubbornly high

Globally, the fossil fuel sector is responsible for nearly one-third of methane emissions from human activity, according to the IEA. Emissions exceed 120 mn tonnes (Mt) annually, thanks to record production of oil, gas and coal, combined with limited mitigation efforts.

Abandoned wells and mines have been included in this year’s Global Methane Tracker for the first time, and were found to have contributed around 8 Mt to these emissions in 2024. Closure plans should include measures to mitigate methane emissions, the IEA says, noting that timely action is critical for effective mitigation as most emissions result from mines and wells that have recently been abandoned.

A further 20 Mt of methane arises from bioenergy production and consumption.

According to the Tracker, around 70% of annual methane emissions from the energy sector could be avoided with existing technologies such as leak detection and replacing faulty equipment. The IEA points out the cost-effectiveness of such measures, since the gas that is captured can be resold.

The Tracker finds that methane abatement could have made around 100 billion cubic metres of natural gas available to markets in 2024. A further 150 billion cubic metres of natural gas is flared globally each year, the majority of which is routine flaring and can be avoided.

IEA analysis finds a huge range in methane emissions intensities across different countries and companies. Raising awareness and spreading best practices are essential to narrow this gap, it notes.

Satellites are bringing increased transparency, with satellite-detected emissions from super-emitting methane events at oil and gas facilities rising to a record high in 2024.

While current methane pledges by companies and countries cover 80% of global oil and gas production, only around 5% of global oil and gas output comes with near-zero methane emissions. The focus should now be on turning pledges into action, the IEA says, with strong action needed to prevent a 0.1% C rise in global temperatures by 2050.

“Tackling methane leaks and flaring offers a double dividend: it alleviates pressure on tight gas markets in many parts of the world, enhancing energy security – and lowers emissions at the same time,” said IEA executive director Fatih Birol. “However, the latest data indicates that implementation on methane has continued to fall short of ambitions. The IEA is working to ensure that governments and industry have the tools and knowledge they need to deliver on pledges and achieve the goals they have set.”