Bruno Avena, ALTAVE CEO, (left), and Azzeddine Smida, ARO director of Operational Excellence & Efficiency, sign the contract during IPTC 2026. (Image source: ALTAVE)

ARO, a leading drilling rig operator in Saudi Arabia, and ALTAVE, a global company specialising in artificial intelligence solutions for monitoring and securing critical operations, have signed a contract to implement the Harpia intelligent monitoring platform on nine offshore rigs of ARO’s fleet

The agreement was formalised during the International Petroleum Technology Conference (IPTC 2026) in Dubai, following a pilot project conducted throughout 2025. The pilot delivered measurable improvement in safety compliance, operational governance, and risk visibility, supporting ARO’s decision to scale the solution to a significant portion of its fleet.

This partnership further reinforces ARO’s commitment to the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030, integrating cutting-edge digital technology into its offshore drilling operations.
Under the contract, ARO will deploy the ALTAVE Harpia platform, which combines advanced AI and computer vision to enable continuous monitoring of critical operations. Beyond core compliance metrics such as Red Zone access control and PPE verification, the platform supports a broader range of safety, efficiency, and governance protocols.

All operational data is consolidated into dashboards and periodic reports for HSE and operations teams. ALTAVE's service model also includes 24/7 technical support and continuous monitoring system, ensuring sustained performance throughout the duration of the contract.

Bruno Avena, CEO of ALTAVE, said, “It is an honour to be a technology partner of a company that is at the forefront of digital transformation in the energy industry. ARO demonstrated leadership by embracing artificial intelligence as a strategic tool to elevate its safety and excellence standards. During the pilot phase, we validated the robustness of our software in one of the world's most demanding operational environments, and we are proud to now scale this intelligence across the fleet.”

Azzeddine Smida, director of Operational Excellence at ARO said, "Today’s signing marks another important milestone in ARO’s AI and digitalisation journey, building on the progress already made to bring smarter technologies deeper into day-to-day operations. Scaling AI-enabled camera monitoring across our offshore jack-up rigs reflects our commitment to disciplined execution and continuous improvement in safety and operational performance."

The new venture will provide EPC services for the onshore oil and gas sector. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

NMDC Group, a global leader in engineering, procurement, construction and marine dredging, and engineering and construction firm Consolidated Contractors Company (CCC) have established a new centure, NMDCCC, to provide EPC services for the onshore oil and gas sector in the United Arab Emirates

NMDCCC will operate as a subsidiary of NMDC Infra, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of NMDC Group. The new entity combines CCC’s extensive track record in executing complex energy and chemicals projects with NMDC Group’s capabilities and resources. NMDCCC aims to support the UAE’s vision for energy security and sustainable development by leveraging the combined technical expertise of both entities, and offering innovative, efficient, and high-quality onshore energy EPC solutions.

His Excellency Mohamed Thani Murshed Ghannam Al Rumaithi, chairman of the Board of Directors of NMDC Group, said, “The formation of NMDCCC is another important step in NMDC Group’s growth journey as it adds significant depth to our existing EPC business. It enables us to serve critical energy projects with greater scale, precision, and efficiency to meet the sector’s aspirations. Collectively, NMDC Group’s market-leading diversified businesses have also come to reflect the ambitions of the UAE Vision 2031, and as we look optimistically ahead, we’ll continue to apply our vast capabilities in ways that will drive sustainable growth and economic progress for the UAE and beyond.”

The new venture will help to grow NMDC Infra’s capabilities and services, in line with NMDC Group’s strategy of continuously complementing and enhancing the service offering under its verticals. It will complement NMDC Infra’s offering by increasing its market share, tapping into new markets, and allow successful execution of a growing backlog under NMDC Group, while mitigating supply chain risk by securing execution capabilities and reducing turnaround time to better serve clients.

The acquisition will strengthen GEOLOG’s portfolio of advanced subsurface and drilling support services. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

GEOLOG International B.V, a leading independent provider of wellsite geosciences, drilling solutions and surface logging services, has acquired Quad Ltd and QO Inc. (Quad), provider of wellsite and operations geologists, along with advanced pore pressure and fracture gradient analysis services

GEOLOG and Quad have collaborated on numerous international projects, serving a broad spectrum of energy clients. The acquisition significantly enhances GEOLOG’s portfolio of advanced subsurface and drilling support services and solidifies its operational presence globally. Integrating Quad’s highly experienced personnel and specialised technical capabilities will strengthen GEOLOG’s capacity to support clients in complex drilling environments, from exploration through development and production phases.

“Quad has been a trusted partner for a long time, and we are delighted to formally welcome their team into the GEOLOG family,” commented Richard Calleri, chief executive officer of GEOLOG. “Their industry reputation for excellence in wellsite and operations geology, as well as pore pressure and fracture gradient analysis, is exceptional. By combining Quad’s specialist knowledge with GEOLOG’s extensive global footprint and technology platform, we can now offer a truly integrated suite of solutions, which is critical for technically challenging and high-risk wells.”

Shaun Coogan, director of Quad, added, “This is a logical next step in our long-standing relationship with GEOLOG. We share a commitment to technical excellence and a client-focused culture. Together, we are better equipped to help our clients reduce risk, improve well performance, and deliver their projects safely and efficiently worldwide.”

Over the coming months, GEOLOG and Quad will coordinate service delivery, align technical workflows, and further integrate their offerings.

The development will deliver 200mn standard cubic feet per day (scfd) of gas before the end of the decade. (Image source: ADNOC)

ADNOC has announced the Final Investment Decision (FID) for the SARB Deep Gas Development, a strategic project within the Ghasha Concession located 120 km offshore Abu Dhabi

The project comprises a new offshore platform with four gas production wells which connect to Das Island, where gas will be tied into ADNOC Gas facilities for upstream treatment, maximising the integration with other ADNOC projects.

The development will deliver 200mn standard cubic feet per day (scfd) of gas before the end of the decade, enough energy to power more than 300,000 homes daily. This technically advanced project will embed advanced technologies and artificial intelligence (AI) and will be operated remotely from Arzanah Island, leveraging existing infrastructure to maximise efficiency and enhance safety.

Musabbeh Al Kaabi, ADNOC Upstream CEO, said, "We are pleased to confirm the final investment decision for the SARB Deep Gas Development. This strategic project within the Ghasha Concession reinforces the progress we are making to fully unlock Abu Dhabi’s world-class gas resources, supporting UAE gas self-sufficiency and strengthening the nation’s role as a reliable exporter to international markets. The development will leverage advanced technologies and AI and maximises synergies across ADNOC’s offshore infrastructure, unlocking efficiencies and value.”

The Hail & Ghasha Project project will play a vital role in meeting the UAE’s goal of gas self-sufficiency and rising demand for exports. The Ghasha Concession is targeted to produce 1.8 billion standard cubic feet per day (bscfd) of gas and aims to operate with net zero emissions, capturing 1.5 million tonnes per year (mtpa) of carbon dioxide (CO2), and providing low-carbon hydrogen that can replace fuel gas and further reduce emissions. The project will also leverage clean power from nuclear and renewable sources from the grid.