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Science & Technology Park
 

ExxonMobil Research Qatar Announces Funding to Top 218 Million QR at QSTP

Doha, 11 April 2010: ExxonMobil Research Qatar (EMRQ) announced that it is extending its commitment to the Qatar Science & Technology Park (QSTP) with a total investment of more than 218 million QR through 2014, including support for two new research programs.

The first new program is EMRQ's Water Reuse research program, which will investigate water treating technology and will initially focus on the identification and selection of native plant life that can naturally clean water produced from oil and gas wells. The second new research program, the Qatar Center for Coastal Research, will study Qatari coastal geology to help improve understanding of the continuity and quality of ancient carbonate reservoir rocks found in Middle Eastern oil and gas fields

Stephen M. Greenlee, president of both ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company and ExxonMobil Research Qatar, stated, "ExxonMobil's growing investment at the Qatar Science & Technology Park will continue to help build the scientific foundation of Qatar's efforts to solve complex energy and environmental challenges."

Dr. Tidu Maini, executive chairman of QSTP and Qatar Foundation's science and technology advisor, added, "QSTP was established to foster a strong research culture that progresses scientific and technological advancement in Qatar.  We support EMRQ's expansion, which demonstrates ExxonMobil's increased commitment to environmental and geoscience research in Qatar.  EMRQ's efforts are aligned with our vision to build a world-class center of educational and scientific excellence."

Dr. James Rigby, research director at ExxonMobil Research Qatar, said,  "Our research endeavors complement the Qatar National Vision 2030 and its Four Pillars of Human, Social, Economic and Environmental Development.  Our expansion gives us an opportunity to add more local employees in addition to the graduates hired recently from Qatar University and Texas A&M - Qatar. We will continue to recruit qualified personnel to work in our research center."

Dr. Rigby added, "ExxonMobil is proud to be working with Qatar Foundation and to be an anchor tenant at QSTP.  We are working together with Dr. Tidu Maini and his team to achieve QSTP's potential.  We look forward to a long and successful relationship with QSTP and are exploring additional collaboration opportunities in Qatar."

There are a number of highlights of the first year of operation including installation and progress of a world-class facility for developing advanced three-dimensional visualisation training technology for LNG safety training and other applications.

  • EMRQ presented to the Ministry of Environment a significant environmental research report on coastal water quality near Ras Laffan Industrial City, and conducted environmental studies of Qatar's coral and sea grass.
  • EMRQ partnered with Qatar University's Environmental Studies Center to survey the northern Qatari coastal and marine regions.
  • The research and development facility advanced remote gas detection research that seeks to automatically scan for and identify hydrocarbon emissions in LNG production and transportation facilities.
  • EMRQ also continued active involvement in high school and college educational communities.