SLB lands KOC technology contract

SLB has been awarded a seven-year contract by Kuwait Oil Company (KOC), which will see the company work with KOC to evaluate, test and deploy advanced technologies across its operations as well as establishing a new facility in Ahmadi Innovation Valley (AIV)

The agreement, under the AIV initiative, will support applied research, technology deployment and digital innovation programmes aligned with Kuwait's long-term energy objectives. Areas of focus include artificial intelligence (AI), industrial internet of things (IIoT) applications, production optimisation, reservoir technologies, water management and energy transition initiatives.

Ahmadi Innovation Valley is KOC's flagship innovation initiative that brings together industry, academia and technology providers to address strategic upstream technical challenges, with specialised facilities and technical teams focused on applied research, advanced technologies and operational excellence.

Under the agreement, SLB will establish a dedicated Ahmadi Innovation Valley facility in Kuwait, with construction expected to begin in 2026 and opening planned for 2028.

"Ahmadi Innovation Valley represents an important step in advancing technology leadership across Kuwait's energy sector," said Ahmad Jaber Al-Eidan, chief executive officer, Kuwait Oil Company. "Through collaboration with leading technology partners, we are accelerating technology deployment, strengthening local capabilities and expanding knowledge transfer to support Kuwait's energy industry."

"The energy industry has no shortage of technology. The challenge is deploying it at scale and turning innovation into operational impact," said Olivier Le Peuch, chief executive officer, SLB. "Ahmadi Innovation Valley brings together technology providers, researchers and operational teams to accelerate the evaluation, deployment and scaling of new solutions across KOC's operations. We are proud to contribute our technology, domain expertise and global experience while helping strengthen local capabilities and support the next generation of Kuwaiti talent."

SLB and KOC have a long history of collaboration going back more than 85 years. Most recently Kuwait Oil Company awarded SLB a US$1.5bn, five-year integrated contract in February this year for the Mutriba field, including design, development and production management. The work builds on SLB’s subsurface characterisation of the Mutriba field to support development planning and execution across deeper, technically demanding reservoir conditions. The contract covers development of high-pressure, high-temperature reservoirs with sour conditions.

Expanding the use of digital technologies

Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) is committed to expanding the use of digital and advanced technologies. In an interview with Oil Review Middle East, KOC’s CEO Ahmad Jaber Al- Eidan, said KOC has established an Innovation and Digitalization Team to co-ordinate enterprise- wide initiatives, including the integration of AI, advanced analytics, real-time monitoring, workflow automation and remote operations across the upstream value chain. For example, AI- powered drilling optimisation tools and predictive models for equipment reliability and well performance have been deployed to improve operational outcomes.

The Kuwait Integrated Digital Field (KwIDF) system has enabled real-time surveillance and faster data-driven decision making across operations. Smart field solutions are also being scaled across key assets.

A dedicated AI centre has been launched to optimise operational planning, assist in reservoir modelling, forecast ESP and equipment failures, enhance drilling performance and improve supply efficiency, while generative AI and advanced analytics are being embedded into workflows, supported by partnerships with leading technology providers.

“Looking ahead we are focused on piloting and scaling advanced digital solutions across all areas of our business, embedding those innovations within our operations and planning frameworks to ensure long-term scalability and aligned with our broader innovation and sustainability goals,” Al-Eidan said.