GE Water Joins ConocoPhillips Center in Qatar
GE Water & Process Technologies has become an equal co-venturer in ConocoPhillips' Water Sustainability Center in Qatar. Set within the Qatar Science & Technology Park in Doha and expected to open in late 2008, the center will research and develop water solutions primarily for the petroleum and petrochemical sectors but also will focus on municipal and agricultural solutions.
"We are very pleased that GE will join ConocoPhillips in this important endeavor," said Mike Stice, president, ConocoPhillips Qatar. "Our vision is for the WSC to become ConocoPhillips' global corporate center of excellence for water-related research and expertise. GE's leading-edge technologies in chemicals, equipment, and advanced membranes, coupled with ConocoPhillips' industrial applications and test facilities, will help us achieve this goal," he added.
On average, approximately three barrels of water are produced for every barrel of oil produced worldwide. However, this water may contain residual components that limit its use without extensive treatment. The team will work to develop more efficient and cost-effective treatment technologies, leveraging GE's global scale and broad water portfolio with ConocoPhillips' understanding of the petroleum and petrochemicals industries.
"This collaborative effort builds upon GE's commitment to delivering innovative technologies that drive growth and deliver economic and environmental benefits to our customers," said Jeff Garwood, president and chief executive officer, GE Water & Process Technologies.
"Water sustainability is vital for Qatar and the Middle East, and central to QSTP's strategy of developing key technologies demanded by the local community," said Tidu Maini, Ph.D., executive chair, Qatar Science & Technology Park.
About 75 percent of the work will focus on the petroleum and petrochemical sector and about 25 percent on non-industrial sectors, primarily municipal and agriculture. Proposed uses for treated water could include crop irrigation, livestock watering, wildlife habitats, and industrial cooling, potentially leaving more fresh water available for domestic use.
A longer-term goal of the center will be to sponsor sustainable development projects that benefit the local community, such as programs to encourage water conservation, exhibitions and public or industry workshops.