The GGIP includes the recovery of gas currently flared in the Basra region to supply power generation plants. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

Global engineering company Wood has been awarded two new three-year engineering and procurement framework agreements worth US$11mn by TotalEnergies EP Ratawi Hub as part of the Gas Growth Integrated Project (GGIP)

Under the contracts, Wood will support TotalEnergies to advance the Associated Gas Upstream Project (AGUP), a key part of the GGIP project. The aim is to debottleneck and upgrade existing facilities to increase energy production capacity to 120,000 barrels of oil per day on completion of the first phase.

Wood is already providing engineering design, detailed design, procurement support, and construction and commissioning assistance for the first phase of the AGUP.

The contracts will be delivered by Wood’s teams in Basra and the United Arab Emirates. Wood currently employs over 4,000 people across the Middle East, having increased its headcount by 500 in 2024. The Middle East is a strategically important market for Wood and investing in Iraq and its people is core to this. The company has made significant investments in training, competency and skills development in the market.

Shaun Dewar, senior vice president of Operations, Middle East and Africa at Wood said: “We have an extensive track record in brownfield facility modifications and are committed to delivering safe, quality and innovative outcomes for TotalEnergies. Wood has supported the Ratawi field since 2023. “

He added that the company had hired 70 Iraqis to work at the Ratawi operations hub across a range of disciplines including HSE, logistics, quality, construction, welding, electrical and document control.

Enhancing the development of Iraq's natural resources

The US$10bn GGIP is a multi-energy project designed to enhance the development of Iraq’s natural resources and improve the country’s electricity supply at the Ratawi field in Iraq. The consortium implementing the project is composed of TotalEnergies (45%), QatarEnergy (25%) and Iraq’s Basrah Oil Company (30%). The project includes the recovery of gas currently flared in the Basra region to supply power generation plants, along with the construction of a seawater treatment unit and a 1GW solar power plant. Once implemented, this project will increase electricity supply to the Iraqi people, advance Iraq’s energy self-sufficiency, reduce harmful climate effects from flared gas in southern Iraq, and allow for the export of gas products to new markets. The GGIP includes a large-scale gas processing plant, with a first phase of 300 Mcf/d that will recover gas being flared on three oil fields and supply gas to 1.5 GW of power generation capacity. In January, the consortium launched the construction works of ArtawiGas25, a first processing facility for the associated gas from the Ratawi field. This facility will process 50 Mcf/d of gas previously flared, which will supply local power plants.

The collaboration resulted in improved drilling performance and reduced well construction time. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

Halliburton and Nabors Industries have through their combined solutions achieved the first fully automated surface and subsurface execution of rotary and slide drilling operations in Oman, resulting in improved drilling performance and reduced well construction time

The integration of Halliburton’s LOGIX automation and remote operations solutions, and Nabors SmartROS rig operating system delivered land-based, closed-loop drilling solutions to improve operational efficiency, consistency, and real-time decision-making capabilities. It enabled seamless orchestration of drilling parameters, real-time data analytics, integrated experience management, and remote control of operations.

“The wells were delivered ahead of plan with a higher average rate of penetration and lower non-productive time. This milestone demonstrates our leadership in drilling automation,” said Steve Haden, senior vice president, Project Management, Halliburton.

“The success we are seeing in Oman is a testament to the power of collaboration as we work together to drive automation across the industry to improve safety and efficiency. This is just the beginning, and we are excited to continue to push the boundaries of innovation to achieve autonomous drilling,” said Subodh Saxena, senior vice president, Canrig and Nabors Drilling Solutions.

Halliburton’s LOGIX automation and remote operations drive reliability and efficiency in well construction, increasing the consistency and performance of well construction operations by integrating subsurface and surface automation, digital twins, and remote operations. It provides an array of advanced digital applications to enable critical engineering, operations insights, and automated operations. Halliburton LOGIX automation and remote operations, combined with Nabors’ SmartROS rig operating system, form a unified platform that enables consistent, repeatable drilling performance.

In June 2023,Halliburton and Nabors Industries announced an agreement to collaborate on leading well construction automation solutions, initially deployed in Iraq.These include the Halliburton Well Construction 4.0 digital surface and subsurface drilling technologies, the LOGIX Autonomous Drilling Platform, the Nabors SmartROS universal rig controls and automation platform and RigCLOUD high-performance digital infrastructure platform. Initially deployed in Iraq, the companies’ technologies automate well construction services from planning to execution across both subsurface and surface equipment and environments.

Earlier this month, Nabors Drilling Technologies and Corva AI are expanding their strategic alliance into the RigCLOUD high-performance edge computing platform, to accelerate digital transformation in the drilling industry. “RigCLOUD Powered by Corva” is a fully integrated drilling intelligence solution that will combine Nabors’ edge and cloud computing platform with Corva’s industry-leading AI-driven analytics.

Nabors Industries has also teamed up with SLB to scale adoption of automated drilling solutions industrywide. The collaboration, announced in January 2024, provides customers with access to a broader suite of drilling automation technologies and greater flexibility to utilise their existing rig control systems and equipment on either SLB’s PRECISE or Nabors’ SmartROS rig operating system.

AD Ports Group is accelerating the shift toward sustainable marine fuels. (Image source: AD Ports)

AD Ports Group has completed its first ship-to-ship (STS) LNG bunkering operation at Khalifa Port, reinforcing Abu Dhabi’s position as a key hub for alternative marine fuels and sustainable maritime solutions

The STS bunkering was part of a simultaneous operation, in which the container vessel MSC Thais - berthed at Abu Dhabi Terminals, received LNG fuel from the dedicated LNG bunker vessel Green Zeebrugge, supplied by marine fuels provider Monjasa. The operation demonstrated the concurrent transfer of LNG and cargo, in addition to highlighting AD Ports Group’s ability to integrate complex and efficient services into its port infrastructure and operations, whilst facilitating access to lower carbon fuels, which support both the industry and global environmental objectives. 

LNG offers reduced greenhouse gas emissions and significantly less sulphur oxide, nitrogen oxide, and particulate matter emissions compared to traditional marine fuels, with demand in the maritime and shipping sector growing given its role as a transition fuel.

AD Ports Group and Monjasa will continue expanding LNG bunkering services across the Group’s commercial ports in Abu Dhabi, including cruise vessels at Zayed Port, while offering a comprehensive fuel portfolio that includes Very Low Sulphur Fuel Oil (VLSFO), Marine Gas Oil (MGO), and High-Sulfur Fuel Oil (HSFO).

The STS operation was executed in accordance with international best practices and regulatory standards, including LNG bunkering protocols and guidelines set by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH), International Organization for Standardization (ISO), and Society of International Gas Tanker and Terminal Operators (SIGTTO).

With this achievement, AD Ports Group is accelerating the shift toward sustainable marine fuels, while reinforcing Abu Dhabi’s leadership in the global energy transition and advancing the UAE’s Net Zero 2050 Strategy.

Captain Saif Al Mheiri, CEO of Abu Dhabi Maritime and Chief Sustainability Officer at AD Ports Group, said, “By adhering to the highest safety and environmental standards, AD Ports Group and Monjasa are ensuring that shipowners have reliable access to a diversified fuel mix that supports their decarbonisation objectives. AD Ports Group will continue to explore and implement forward-looking solutions that drive progress toward global sustainability goals.”

TAKRAF Mobile Stacking Bridge (MSB) as part of a DST solution for iron ore tailings in Mauritania. (Image source: TAKRAF)

As safety and water conservation become top priorities for the global mining industry, Dry Stack Tailings (DST) solutions are gaining momentum as the preferred method for tailings management

TAKRAF Group, a global leader in mining, material handling and minerals processing solutions, offers cutting-edge DST systems that provide a safer and more sustainable alternative to conventional tailings storage facilities. With the Middle East’s increasing focus on responsible resource management, investors and mine operators are exploring innovative approaches to increase safety, maximise water efficiency and mitigate environmental risks.

Revolutionising tailings management with Dry Stack Tailings

DST systems eliminate the need for traditional tailings dams, which pose significant safety and environmental risks. By removing most of the water from the tailings and being able to stack the material, DST solutions drastically reduce the risk of catastrophic dam failures, groundwater contamination and excessive water loss through seepage or evaporation. They also decrease the fresh water input requirements of an operation by increase the reuse of process water that would otherwise have been wasted and lost. The adoption of a DST solution is particularly critical in arid regions such as the Middle East, where water scarcity is a pressing concern.

Key advantages of DST solutions include:

• Enhanced safety: Eliminates the risk of dam failure and tailings runout, making mining operations safer for workers and surrounding communities.
• Water conservation: Reduces water consumption by enabling process water recycling, which is vital in water-stressed regions.
• Minimal environmental footprint: Requires a smaller land area compared to conventional tailings storage facilities.
• Regulatory and public approval: Meets stringent environmental regulations and improves public perception of mining operations.
• Easier closure and rehabilitation: Facilitates faster and more cost-effective mine site rehabilitation at the end of operations.

TAKRAF Group: A one-stop DST solutions provider

TAKRAF Group offers comprehensive DST solutions that cover every aspect of tailings management. From thickening and filtration to material handling and stacking and from single equipment pieces to integrated systems, the Group’s approach ensures seamless implementation of DST solutions. The Group provides:
• DELKOR thickeners: High-rate, high-density and paste thickeners for efficient tailings dewatering.
• Filtration technologies: DELKOR Horizontal Belt Filters and/or DELKOR Filter Presses designed to maximise water recovery.
• Advanced material handling solutions: Conveyors, grasshoppers, mobile trippers, mobile stacking bridges and spreaders tailored to specific site requirements.

Proven success in DST implementation

TAKRAF Group has a strong track record of successful DST implementations worldwide. One of the company’s landmark projects in Brazil set a benchmark for the industry, demonstrating the viability of DST as a long-term solution for responsible tailings management. Additionally, TAKRAF has conducted pilot studies and implemented equipment in large-scale DST systems in Mexico, Mauritania and other regions, helping clients achieve sustainability goals while ensuring operational efficiency.

Driving the future of sustainable mining in the Middle East

As mining operations in the Middle East face growing pressure to adopt sustainable practices, TAKRAF Group’s DST solutions provide a viable pathway to achieving water conservation, regulatory compliance and enhanced safety. With decades of experience and a global network of technical support, TAKRAF Group is uniquely positioned to help mine operators transition to a safer and more sustainable future.

For investors, regulators and mine operators seeking to embrace environmentally responsible tailings management, Dry Stack Tailings represent a forward-thinking solution that aligns with the region’s long-term sustainability goals.

For more information on TAKRAF Group’s DST capabilities, visit https://www.takraf.com/expertise/dry-stack-tailings-management