Corrosion Key Challenge Facing Gas, Oil Companies in Qatar, Say Experts

Doha, December 26 (QNA) – With a focus on aligning its innovative research and development on the needs of industry, Qatar Environment and Energy Research Institute (QEERI), part of Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), recently convened the annual Technical Steering Committee meeting for its Corrosion Center.

The meeting, which brought together more than 35 attendees, marked corrosion as a key issue facing companies operating in Qatar, with the conditions present being some of the harshest and aggressive environments encountered globally.

The meeting was an opportunity for QEERI to present current programs and projects to industry members for feedback and comments to ensure they are in line with the needs of Qatar’s industries.

Senior Research Director of the center, Dr. Hanan Farhat said: “The Technical Steering Committee is crucial to our operations at the QEERI Corrosion Center. Every project we conduct has an industrial partner and an industrial challenge that needs to be resolved.

“We believe that our work has to be relevant and meet industry needs. This is why we conduct our tests either in field conditions or in simulated field conditions to better represent the environment that contributes to material corrosion. The Technical Steering Committee evaluates our projects and their relevance to the industry to make sure that our research results are useful and the solutions we provide can be applied in industrial facilities”.

Vice President of Innovation and Change Management at TotalEnergies, Yousef Al Jaber, who attended the meeting, said: “QEERI’s Corrosion Center provides a unique opportunity for the energy sector to work with world-class researchers on topics that are crucial for our operations. The Corrosion Center has been very successful in establishing strong ties with the local industry and breaking the barriers between the research community and industry. This is very much needed in Qatar.”
QEERI Executive Director Dr. Marc Vermeersch, said the meeting not only allowed for connection and networking opportunities between the Corrosion Center and industry but ensured the center’s programs remain relevant to industry needs.

Commenting at the conclusion of the Technical Steering Committee meeting, he said: “The meeting provided direct insight and discussion between oil and gas companies that operate in Qatar and across all aspects of the operations spectrum, from upstream producers to downstream refining. It has enabled knowledge transfer about new test methods, materials, or environmental conditions currently being faced.

In turn, this has allowed direct input from industry for the Corrosion Center to tailor programs for specific needs and also helped industry partners to understand the full extent of the projects, facilities, and resources offered. This initiative maintains the focus and objective of the Corrosion Center, to provide projects driven by industry demand and opens the possibility for future collaborations”. (QNA)