SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHABI)
Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (ADIPEC 2024) has attracted over 2,200 exhibitors and 184,000 attendees, with global energy leaders putting their best innovations on display.
Speaking to Aletihad, exhibitors outlined their role in driving the UAE’s energy transformation and sustainability.
Tony Farn, Principal Geodata Advisor at Fugro UAE, a Netherlands-based company specialising in geotechnical operations, said ADIPEC is a key platform to showcase their geotechnical, inspection, repair and survey services to the oil and gas industry.
Fugro has a long-standing partnership with ADNOC, supporting operations with soil sampling and site characterisation services.
Farn explained the role of geospatial data in energy sustainability.
“Geodata is incredibly important for repeatability, efficiency, and a cleaner world. We are continually driving to gather data more effectively and provide efficient data sets for the future,” he said.
Farn also discussed Fugro’s innovative technology, including autonomous systems. “We are showcasing autonomous vessels that gather data offshore with no crew, and remote operations are now safer and more efficient.”
Fugro’s alignment with the UAE’s energy goals spans both oil and gas exploration as well as clean energy initiatives.
“We provide services for gas exploration, carbon capture, and clean energy solutions, such as wind and solar farms, which we can support with our expertise,” Farn said.
He added that Fugro supports emerging energy sources like hydrogen, wind and solar farms with a range of services.
In conversation with Aletihad, Andreas Kern, Head of Gas Treatment for BASF, a leading global chemical company, highlighted ongoing innovation in gas treatment, mainly amine-based technology, to meet evolving industry needs.
“Gas is the new oil. BASF’s gas treatment technology is integral to sustainable solutions, including ammonia and hydrogen production. Our work in blue ammonia and low-carbon energy reflects the growing sustainability focus of ADIPEC,” Kern said. He said that BASF’s gas treatment technologies support the UAE’s energy transition, particularly in liquefied natural gas (LNG) production and blue hydrogen, while reducing sulfur emissions.
Furthermore, BASF’s gas treatment innovation reduces energy consumption, lowers investment costs, and adapts to extreme Middle Eastern conditions, enabling smaller, more efficient units, he added.
In relation to foreign investment, he noted that the Middle East, especially the UAE, is an energy powerhouse. “With vast resources and a strategic location, it is becoming an attractive hub for investment, particularly as sour gas fields are now economically viable thanks to advanced treatment technologies,” Kern said.
Kern pointed out the UAE’s stability as a key factor for growth, with BASF committed to sustainable decarbonisation initiatives in the coming years.
Alessio Liati, Sales Director at Canon Artes, an Italian company specialising in wastewater treatment, said they marked the company’s 20th ADIPEC anniversary and announced a major Qatar project - a wastewater recovery unit capable of processing 25,000 cubic metres daily.
The system recycles water from a petrochemical plant using a membrane bio reactor (MBR), flotation, and Zero Gas technologies, ensuring efficient water reuse and preventing oxidation in oil fields.
“Water injection is now essential for maintaining pressure in oil fields. Canon Artes plays a key role in providing oxygen-free, solid-free water for injection, which is vital for maintaining efficiency in the region’s oil operations.”
Liati said they work closely with local oil companies like ADNOC, demonstrating their water deaeration technologies.
“Our focus is to help the industry adopt the most sustainable and technologically advanced solutions.”