Press Release

Qatar Petroleum Will Open Research Centre at QSTP

Doha, 1 April 2008 - Qatar's transition to a knowledge economy leaped forward today as Qatar Petroleum, the national oil and gas corporation, announced that it will establish a research centre at Qatar Science & Technology Park.

The announcement was made at a meeting yesterday between HH Sheikha Mozah Bint Nasser Al-Missned, Chairperson of Qatar Foundation, and HE Abdullah bin Hamad Al Attiyah, Qatar's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy and Industry and QP Chairman, at Qatar Foundation.  An agreement establishing the centre was signed by Mr. Saad Al-Kaabi, QP Director of Oil and Gas Ventures, and Dr. Tidu Maini, Executive Chairman of Qatar Science & Technology Park.

HE Al Attiyah said: "Through recent developments of our oil & gas fields we have become major users of advanced technology in QP.  Our future field developments will require application of additional advanced technologies tailor made for our use in Qatar.  The collaborative research activities of the QP Research & Technology Centre in Qatar Science & Technology Park will be a major provider of these advanced technologies in the future."

Maini said: "Building a knowledge economy cannot be done in isolation; companies, universities and government need to work together make the most of our potential.  Qatar Petroleum's research centre at QSTP represents a leap forward in Qatar's knowledge growth.  I know the bright young scientists and engineers of Qatar are up to the challenge."

The Qatar Petroleum Research & Technology Centre aims to take an active role in defining and conducting research projects that contribute to QP's operational performance.  It will initially address upstream oil and gas operations, carbonate reservoir research and the environment.  Regarding production technologies, the centre will focus on measurement, corrosion control and separation of liquids and gases.

QP estimates it will invest around $75 million in the research centre in its first five years.  Scheduled to open in the second half of 2008, it will be based in 1000 square meters of Qatar Science & Technology Park's offices, research and training facilities.  When fully operational the centre will have around 15 staff.

The Qatar Petroleum Research & Technology Centre represents a significant expansion of QP's technology capability.  It will help determine QP's long-term technology strategy, and remain at the forefront of key technologies through collaborative research with international organisations.

Fact Sheet

Qatar Petroleum is establishing the Qatar Petroleum Research & Technology Centre (QPRTC) at Qatar Science & Technology Park.  QP will use QSTP's research infrastructure to research, develop and apply cutting-edge oil & gas technologies.

Activities

·QPRTC will conduct research and development focusing on Qatar Petroleum's operating assets.  The primary goal is to deploy technological solutions that address specific operational and environmental issues/requirements and to find innovative solutions to operational problems.

·Focus areas:

-Oil and gas operations research

-Carbonate reservoir research

-Environment

·Focus technologies:

-Production technologies

-Processing/measurement technologies

-Environmental research and technologies

-Carbonate reservoir studies/research

Oil & Gas Operations Research

Identifying and adapting existing technologies or developing new technology to address operational requirements.

·Measurement technologies

·Corrosion control

·Efficient separation of gas & liquids

Carbonate Reservoir Research

Research undertaken to optimise oil and gas reserves contained in carbonate reservoirs.

In collaboration with industry and academic institutions, QP's R&T Centre will conduct carbonate reservoir study and investigation, including reservoir characterisation, integrated reservoir modelling/simulation and pore scale physics.

The carbonate research programmes will provide opportunities for Qatari PhD candidates to contribute to and build their knowledge of this area of study.

Environment

Addressing environmental impact and other environmental challenges facing QP and the oil and gas industry through research and technology.

·Impact assessment of oil and gas operations on the environment

·Compliance with national environmental protection regulations

·Impact assessment of climate change and implementation of Kyoto Protocol

·Energy efficiency/management, resource conservation and sustainable development

Relationships

Collaboration with oil & gas companies, universities, private research institutes and service companies to engage in specific research projects within first five years of operation.

Staff

3 - 5 at opening, increasing to potential 15 within first three years

Investment

$75m over the first five years.

Facilities

Initial 1000m² of office space, research and training facilities at QSTP's Innovation Technology Transfer Centre (ITTC).

Structure

100 percent owned branch of Qatar Petroleum