OREANDA-NEWS. August 02, 2013. This year’s Saudi Aramco Global Reliability Forum, hosted by Aramco Services Co. (ASC), continued to fuel the drive for operational excellence across the industry.

Now in its third year – the recent event saw its highest participation yet:  approximately 540 attendees, 35 exhibitor/sponsors, four keynote speakers, and five technical tracks featuring 55 presentations.

Attendees gathered from all over the world, representing such major energy companies as ExxonMobil, Shell, BP, Chevron, Total and ConocoPhillips.  Participants also included engineering services and consulting groups; as well as manufacturers and suppliers.

The participation rate was impressive, but the real value was in the quality of knowledge exchanged.

“Over the past few years, we have seen game-changing technological advancements, new oil source discoveries, and a workforce that continues to grow in talent and knowledge,” commented Ahmed M. Alzayyat, ASC president.

“This event captures that spirit of ingenuity and achievement by bringing together engineers and others who are leading the way to find innovative technologies and processes to help ensure a reliable energy future.”

Khalil Al Shafei, manager of ASC Technical Services, added, “Saudi Aramco is truly committed to ensuring industry excellence and this event indeed drives home that message.”

He also said the forum “provides a unique environment where we can join with our peers to share, listen, and learn about the best the industry has to offer in a number of engineering disciplines.” The two-day event included morning general sessions with renowned keynote speakers who addressed energy reliability as it relates to world market trends, academics and research, cyber security, and technology innovation.

They were: David Pumphrey, senior fellow/co-director of the Energy and National Security Program at the Center for Strategic & International Studies and former deputy assistant secretary at the U.S. Department of Energy; Renu Khator, Ph.D., chancellor of the University of Houston System and president of the University of Houston; Shawn Henry, president of CrowdStrike Services and former executive assistant director of the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); and Hari Nayar, Sc.D, supervisor of Robotics Modeling and Simulation at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

The technical breakout sessions followed, with a focus on five key areas:  Electrical Equipment, Fixed Equipment & Materials, Instrumentation & Control Systems, Machinery, and Process Safety & Technologies.

The forum also featured a vendor expo that doubled in size from the year before; and an evening networking reception.

One of the technical track presenters was Jim Anderson, a general supervisor in the Saudi Aramco Process & Control Systems Department who oversees the company’s Engineering Solutions Center (ESC).  “The ESC derives its value by providing a place where knowledge transfer and innovation are conducted through collaboration," he said.

He further defined the ESC as a “data integrated work center that fosters quicker and better decisions, a broader ‘buy in’ to solutions, and an amazing amount of knowledge transfer.”

Attendees expressed their appreciation, providing comments such as:  “I was impressed with the breadth of topics covered throughout the two days." "The overall participation from oil and gas industry leaders was great, and the exemplary hosting of the event by all of the Aramco representatives was the very best.” “The event keeps getting better and better each year.”

Plans are in the works for next year’s forum, which will be held again in Houston and is scheduled for June 24-25. The call for presentations deadline is October 28.