MAYS IBRAHIM (ABU DHABI)
National Energy Services Reunited Corp. (NESR), a key player in the MENA region's oil and gas services, is leading the charge in decarbonisation in Abu Dhabi.
In an interview with Aletihad on the sidelines of ADIPEC 2024, the company's Chairman and CEO, Sherif Foda explained how the company is working to reduce the carbon footprint of oil and gas production through innovative technologies and sustainable practices.
Commitment to Decarbonisation
NESR's journey towards decarbonisation began in earnest in 2021 with the launch of its Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Impact segment.
Foda explained that NESR's strategy revolves around optimising production while minimising environmental impact, through advanced technologies and practices that target emission reduction, water recycling, carbon storage, and heat-to-power systems.
In February 2024, NESR took this commitment to the next level by introducing the NESR Environmental & Decarbonisation Applications (NEDA) segment.
NEDA brings together a growing portfolio of solutions developed under the ESG Impact initiative, with a particular emphasis on decarbonisation technologies.
Foda sees NEDA not only as a set of technological solutions but as a call to action, urging the industry to invest in and implement projects that can deliver tangible results.
Cutting-Edge Solutions for Water and Emissions
One of NESR's flagship innovations is produced water treatment-a significant challenge in the oil and gas industry.
For every barrel of oil produced, approximately six barrels of water is generated, according to Foda.
Traditionally, much of this water is disposed of, creating both environmental and operational challenges.
NESR offers a wide range of solutions for treating this produced water, allowing for its reuse to produce more oil and gas.
The company is currently working on developing a process to extract the minerals from treated water, turning them into a marketable product, Foda added.
The UAE's Leadership and COP28 The UAE has long been a leader in sustainability efforts, reaffirmed at the COP28 summit held in Dubai, Foda noted.
During the conference, the Oil and Gas Decarbonisation Charter (ODGC) was launched, an initiative that unites 52 companies from across the oil and gas sector to commit to net-zero emissions by 2050, with a focus on ending routine flaring by 2030 and achieving near-zero upstream methane emissions by the same year.
According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), many of the companies joining the ODGC had not previously participated in international methane and flaring initiatives.
Leveraging Artificial Intelligence for Efficiency
Foda believes that AI can play a crucial role in reducing emissions by enhancing predictive maintenance and optimising oilfield operations.
By mining data from various operations, AI can help identify inefficiencies, reduce energy consumption, and minimise carbon emissions-key objectives in the quest for decarbonisation, he explained.
Founded in 2017 as a Special Purpose Acquisition Company (SPAC), NESR quickly grew to become the first national energy company from the MENA region to list on NASDAQ.