ExxonMobil took home the "Innovation Award" during the Qatar Oil & Gas Industry HSE Excellence Awards 2013, organised by Qatar Petroleum (QP) yesterday.
ExxonMobil Qatar president and general manager Bart Cahir received the award from HE the Minister of Energy and Industry, Dr Mohamed bin Saleh al-Sada.
"As a long-term partner of Qatar Petroleum, we are thrilled to receive this important award of distinction," Cahir said.
He added: "At ExxonMobil, we are deeply-committed to sustainability. The Remote Gas Detection System can potentially improve the safety of our people, the integrity of our facilities, and the protection of the environment - elements that are fundamental to successful operations both now and for future generations."
The HSE excellence awards recognise outstanding programmes in health, safety, and environment being implemented in Qatar's oil and gas industry, while promoting continuous improvement and the sharing of best practices in the field of HSE.
Three organisations from among QP's joint venture partners, contractors, and within its business units were also recognised with awards for outstanding efforts and overall contributions in 2013. The winners each received a trophy and a certificate of HSE Excellence.
During the awarding rites, al-Sada explained that safety, health, and environmental protection are more than just "valuable attributes" of business and represent an organisational commitment aligned with the national vision of the government.
"The Remote Gas Detection System, which was fully-developed and commercialised through ExxonMobil Research Qatar at the Qatar Science and Technology Park with patents pending, was designed to improve process safety and environmental performance at any facility where oil and gas is produced, processed, transported, stored or sold," Cahir said.
He added: "The goal of this technology is to deliver an early warning alert of hydrocarbon leaks by pairing infrared camera detection technology with a sophisticated computer algorithm that analyses camera images for hydrocarbon plumes and then notifies operations personnel." Cahir explained that when fully deployed, the Remote Gas Detection System can improve process safety by alerting personnel to larger leaks that could potentially lead to hazardous situations and also identifying smaller leaks that can be repaired. It reduces "fugitive" hydrocarbon emissions to the environment, improving Qatar's air quality.
"This system is a step forward in mitigating risks in a plant environment, which is a top priority for ExxonMobil in Qatar and at our operations areas around the world," said Dr Andy Wigton, research director at ExxonMobil Research Qatar.
He added: "By continuously and autonomously scanning for hydrocarbon emissions, we can potentially improve process safety and enhance environmental performance."
He further said ExxonMobil is committed to addressing the challenge of sustainability by balancing economic growth, social development, and environmental protection "so that future generations are not compromised by actions taken today. Essential to achieving this balance is sound scientific research and data collected with accuracy and integrity."
© Gulf Times 2014
