Premier COREX has announced the opening of its first formation damage facility in the Middle East following increased demand from clients in the region for its full reservoir condition simulations.

Abu Dhabi lab: simulator of reservoir conditions near wellbore (photo: Premier COREX)

The new purpose-built laboratory in Abu Dhabi, UAE will bring Premier COREX’s hi-tech testing capability to the region and support local operators and vendors with the rapidly growing demand for drilling and completion solutions. The state-of-the-art facility will provide simulations which re-create conditions within production and injection wells that will assist clients to not only maximise the absolute recovery, but vastly increase the economic recovery of a field.

In addition to the analytical services and expertise Premier COREX will bring to the region, there will be opportunities for local employment, technical training and knowledge transfer in Abu Dhabi and elsewhere in the Middle East as the laboratory gains momentum and grows in influence.

Bassem Youssef, Vice President Middle East & North Africa, says, 
“We have seen an increased demand across the Middle East to address reservoir uncertainty and improved hydrocarbon recovery, so it made sense for us to have a set up that could be accessed locally. We are committed to the Middle East, with one of our strategic objectives to increase our in-country value and contribute to sustainable growth for us as a company and the region. The expansion into Abu Dhabi enhances the company’s ability to deliver key services and technical support locally and across the Gulf.”

Premier COREX already boasts the largest independent formation damage facility in the world in Aberdeen, UK, and the investment in the UAE is the company’s second in the region in the last 2 years following the opening of its core processing and measurement facility in East Ahmadi, Kuwait in 2019.

The UAE site, which is now fully operational, will offer full reservoir condition (pressure and temperature) simulations, utilising representative geological core samples to address reservoir uncertainty associated with drilling and completion fluids, treatment fluids, stimulation fluids, workovers, scaling and scale inhibition and gas storage.

Randal Wichuk, Chief Executive Officer, Premier Oilfield Group, adds, 
“We are excited about growing our presence in the Middle East by establishing a rock and fluids laboratory in Abu Dhabi that is focused on enhancing the recovery of hydrocarbons in the region. It was important for Premier COREX to have a presence in the region so that we can effectively partner with local companies to better understand issues that are unique to the Middle East subsurface and provide the best possible solutions.”

As a global oilfield services company, Premier COREX has been delivering projects in the Middle East through its world-leading international laboratories for nearly 45 years. The company is proud to continue its long-established relationship with local UAE partner AlMansoori Specialized Engineering, with the organisation providing invaluable support for the establishment of the new Abu Dhabi facility.

Ibrahim Al-Alawi, Deputy CEO, AlMansoori Specialized Engineering, says, 
“The opening of this new laboratory just confirms our faith in Premier COREX’s commitment to the region, which has never been in doubt since we started our relationship with them back in 2007. Throughout this period we have shared success, not only in the UAE, but in other countries in the region where we have lent them the support of our facilities and network of contacts. Partnering with Premier COREX has also enhanced our reputation and we are proud to be associated with such a world-class organisation.”

As well as the new facilities in Kuwait and Abu Dhabi, Premier COREX also offers customers across the UAE access to its award-winning, patented geological interpretation and quantification workflows. The improvements with digital rock technology over the last few years have provided a platform to generate 3D alteration modelling to understand in more detail the impact of operational fluids and sequences. This novel approach creates 3D models after near wellbore simulations allowing visualisation and quantification of the damaging mechanisms.

KeyFacts Energy Industry Directory: Premier COREX   l   Additional information from Premier COREX