The Kuwaiti Digest is a quarterly magazine published by the

Kuwait Oil Company (K.S.C.) since 1973.

The Kuwaiti Digest invites newspaper, magazine and trade journal editors to reprint or otherwise make use of articles or illustrations appearing in this issue. Material should be credited and a copy mailed to the Kuwait Oil Company.

Editor-in-ChiefSaad Rashed Al-Azmi

Deputy Editor-in-ChiefSami Al-Juhaim

Correspondence concerningThe Kuwaiti Digest should be addressed to:Editor-in-Chief, Kuwait Oil Company (K.S.C.)Information TeamP.O. Box 9758Ahmadi 61008, KuwaitTelephone: 965-2398-2747Facsimile: 965-2398-1076E-mail: kocinfo@kockw.comor visit the KOC homepage athttp://www.kockw.com

3KOC Holds 18th HSSE Award Ceremony

Contents

KOC Holds 18th HSSE Award CeremonyKOC Attends MEOS 2015

KOC Hosts KPC Town Hall MeetingProfessional Women Network ConferenceKOC Celebrates World Environment Day

Young Professionals Play Important Role for Future of KOCKOC Implements First Wireline ESP Pilot Project3rd Annual Crisis and Risk Management Summit

North Kuwait Celebrates 44 Million Hours Without LTIKOC’s Close Cooperation with the Kuwaiti Government

KOC to Deploy Kuwait’s Largest Solar Power PlantHeat Stroke: An OverviewTravel: Visit The Maldives

Hi-TechRamadan at KOC

Celebrating Gergean

371012172023262932343638404247

12 34Professional Women Network Conference KOC to Deploy Kuwait’s Largest Solar Power Plant

By the time this issue of The Kuwaiti Digests finds you, everyone here at KOC will be in the midst of observing the Holy Month of Ramadan. It is my sincere hope that this joyous month is full of goodwill and self-reflection, and on behalf of the Company’s senior leadership, please allow me to extend my best wishes to you and your families on this blessed occasion. Ramadan Mubarak to all.

While there is no doubt that the pace of life in Kuwait slows down somewhat over the summer months, the same cannot be said of KOC’s initia-tives and drive to remain a global leader in the oil and gas industry. In order to realize the ambitious objectives of KOC’s 2030 Strategy, the Company must continue working hard toward the goals that have been laid before us.

In terms of production, it is my pleasure to say that the Company’s various Directorates have contin-ued their pursuit of excellence in performance. However, great strides have not only been limited to new projects and initiatives. Instead, there has been a concerted effort across the Company to adopt efficient systems and measures of protection that not only protect employees and contractors, but the environment and community at large. I encourage readers of The Kuwaiti Digest to learn more about some of the Company’s efforts in the field of Health, Safety and the Environment by reading an article in the following pages that cov-ers the recent CEO HSSE Award Ceremony.

In the pages that follow, you will notice that this is-sue pays particular attention to young KOC employ-

ees, who I believe are the future of the Company, and by extension, Kuwait. Throughout all Director-ates, young engineers, geologists, and professionals of all types are making progress in their fields. It is my hope that senior KOC employees with years of experience can find time to spend with our next generation of leaders. By imparting our knowledge to them, we can help do our part in ensuring the security and prosperity of future generations.

From the Professional Women Network Confer-ence to the Company’s recognition of the United Nations World Environment Day, this issue con-tains a number of stories that provide an overview of some of the major events and projects KOC has engaged in. It is my hope that everyone who spends some time with this issue can take away something substantial and apply it to the work they are currently doing for the Company.

Before I conclude, I would like to take this oppor-tunity to remind KOC employees that they can play a major role in Kuwait’s conservation efforts this Ramadan. By turning off lights when not in use and setting air conditioning units to reason-able temperatures, you can help relieve stress on the nation’s energy grid and save energy. By con-serving energy today, you are creating wealth and protecting the environment for the generations of tomorrow.

In closing, I would like to once again wish all our readers a very happy Ramadan. May you all enjoy this special month of prayer and observation with your families and loved ones.

Letter fromthe Editor

Saad Rashed Al-AzmiDeputy CEO

(Administration & Finance)

In a speech he delivered at the 18th KOC Award for HSSE, KOC CEO Hashem Hashem told the audience that KOC spared no efforts in its quest to improve and enhance HSSE standards throughout the Company. In addition, Hashem upheld his belief that it was necessary

for the good of the Company to entrench HSSE values in KOC’s core business and instill those ideals into the everyday activities of KOC employees throughout all facilities.

“Good HSSE practice is at the heart of KOC’s company

values. This award ceremony marks KOC’s continuous effort to improve and enhance HSSE standards so that we can continue to protect the lives of our employees, contractors, and the wider Kuwaiti community as a whole,” the CEO said. “It’s vital that we think of HSSE

KOC Holds 18th HSSE Award CeremonyThe 18th KOC CEO Award for Health, Safety, Security and the

Environment (HSSE) was held recently at the Hilton Resort and Hotel in Mangaf. The event, which is hosted by the Company on an annual

basis, plays an important role for KOC by recognizing some of the most outstanding initiatives made by Company employees in the field of HSSE. This year’s event was held under the theme of “Clean Air.”

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not only as a set of industry requirements that we must meet, but as a challenge to be innovative with initiatives that will better serve our community and the environment,” he added.

The KOC CEO then provided an overview of some of the Company’s most important achievements in the field of HSSE over the past year. First, he highlighted the recent success in the reduction of gas flaring, which has been limited to 1.12% over the last fiscal year. Hashem noted that this rate was the lowest the Company has recorded yet and serves as a milestone for the Company that assists its effort in optimizing

the use of Kuwait’s natural resources and protecting the environment against pollution.

Hashem then told the audience that KOC was working hard on various initiatives that deal with environmental development. In this regard, the Company continues to work with outside parties and government institutions that are concerned with the preservation of wildlife and nature reserves.

“At KOC, one of our top priorities is maintaining a culture that continuously reminds employees to take care of their personal safety, as well as the safety of those around them,”

the CEO said. This sentiment is exemplified in new regulations that include HSSE regulations and conditions that are written into contracts. “As a result, we have managed to reduce Lost Time Injury (LTI) incidents from a rate of 0.29 in 2003/2004 to 0.028 over the last fiscal year, which is an outstanding achievement,” he said.

Other achievements the CEO mentioned in his speech included:

• A new project that seeks to reinforce occupational health among employees.

• Various Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives. A major initiative that was recently completed is the installation of point-to-point cameras along King Fahad Expressway near Nuwaiseeb.

• The execution of a major security project in Kuwait that has the aim of providing security services to oil installations across Kuwait. The project will include the latest in state-of-the-art technology.

• Greater efforts toward the creation of better efficiency throughout the Company’s various operations.

KOC CEO Hashem Hashem delivers opening remarks.

“The nature of business in the Company and that of the oil industry requires us to make every effort to protect the lives of employees and contractors alike. Meanwhile, it is imperative for the Company to ensure that its business is conducted in line with the latest HSE systems as an enforcement of its leading role in order to meet the development requirements of our country,” the CEO said.

KOC’s care for the environment is extensive and, according to Hashem, has proceeded at a faster pace and in accordance with a carefully studied methodology that has been developed in conjunction with the Public Authority for Agriculture and Fish Resources (PAAFR) and other parties concerned with the protection of wildlife and the environment.

The KOC CEO concluded his speech by expressing his gratitude to employees and contractors who have made efforts to elevate HSSE matters throughout the Company.

Following the CEO’s speech, Ahmed Abbas, the Health, Safety and Environment Group Manager took the stage and briefly discussed KOC’s HSE Management Systems, which include Risk Management, Integrity Management and Identification of Hazards within all KOC activities.

“The Company has implemented a set of measures that fall in line with our Strategic Objectives concerning the protection of the environment. Consequently, KOC has minimized gas flaring, effluent water disposal to the pits and also implemented a waste management program,” he said, adding that KOC recognized the importance of awareness campaigns and programs related to HSE and how those programs do much in the way of encouraging positive behavior and performance from employees and contractors.

The 2015 CEO HSSE Award received 247 applications in the Health, Safety, Security, Environment and HSSE Awareness categories. There

were a total of 15 winners from the applications received.

2014 CEO HSSE Supreme Award Winner:

Non-Man Entry Tank De-sludging & Cleaning

Members: Osamah Suhaim Al-Dabbous, Sharian Al-Dousary, Husain Ahmad Al-Saeed, Ghassab Fahad Al-Ajmi, Ganga Prasad Dharan

Abstract:

In the past, the method that was utilized to clean crude tanks throughout the Company involved the physical presence of employees or contractors inside the tanks. Today, it gives us great pleasure to say that this is no longer the case, as we have successfully implemented non-man entry technology for the cleaning of crude tanks throughout the Company. The benefits for the Company include eliminating the need for personnel to enter the tank, a more efficient cleaning process, and a significant cost saving to the Company.

KOC CEO Hashem Hashem with the Supreme Winners.

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improvement of HSSE performance at KOC?

• Reputation: Has it enhanced KOC’s reputation/image?

• Outreach: Has the activity contributed to awareness or improvement of HSSE issues among employees, contractors, students or the public?

• Transferability: Can the activity be applied to other KOC activities?

• Cost Efficiency: Has HSSE improvement been implemented in the most cost efficient manner?

KOC employees can view a complete list of winners and a description of their achievements through the KOC Portal.

About the KOC CEO HSSE Award

The KOC CEO HSSE Award was created in order to recognize outstanding achievements at KOC in the fields of Health, Safety, Security and the Environment. The awards are open to employees and teams of up to five key members, and applications are invited to be submitted on an annual basis. Applications from cross departmental teams is highly encouraged.

Applications from the following fields of work are encouraged:

Health: Initiatives or programs that promote and enhance health. Applications should be submitted under one of the following sub-categories:

• Occupational Health: Im-provements in the work place, home or community environment of KOC that enhance health, fitness and hygiene.

• Medical Health: Improve-ments by medical policy & personnel that improves the health, fitness and hygiene.

Safety: Changes to behavior, procedures, design or operations that raises safety standards. Applications should be submitted under one of the following categories:

• General Safety

• Process Safety

Security: Changes to behavior, procedures, design or operations which raise security standards.

Environment: Activities which help protect and conserve the environment and minimize the impact of KOC's activities, including activities to reduce waste, emissions and environmental improvement schemes in the community.

HSSE Awareness: Programs designed to educate and motivate employees, contractors, students and the public.

Applications are judged on the following guidelines:

• Performance: Has the activity contributed to the

HSSE winners receive their awards.

During the event, Deputy Prime Minister of Bahrain Shaikh Ali Khalifa Bin Al-Khalifa inaugurated the exhibition in the presence of Kuwait’s Minister of Oil, Dr. Ali Al-Omair, and KOC CEO Hashem Hashem. More than 8,000 oil and gas professionals converged at the Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Center to discuss a range of issues that will help shape the future of the oil and

KOC recently participated in the 19th Middle East Oil & Gas Show and Conference (MEOS 2015) which took place at the Bahrain International Exhibition & Convention Center. The event was held under the patronage of His Highness the Prime Minister of Bahrain, Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al-Khalifa, and was organized by the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE). MEOS is one of the region’s largest and best-attended technical events of its kind in the region.

KOC Attends MEOS 2015

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gas industry in the region and beyond.

KOC DCEO (NK) Emad Sultan and a number of KOC Managers participated in the conference while a delegation from KOC provided a brief presentation about KOC operations and its participation at the exhibition.

Officials at the event maintained that MEOS is one of the most established oil and gas shows in the Middle East with a 36-year track record of success. Over the years, it has firmly established itself in the international oil

MEOS 2015 featured a multidisciplinary program that included a record-breaking 42 technical sessions with more than 300 papers on topics covering reservoir management, production, facilities, exploration and appraisal, drilling and completions, project management, human resources, business models and HSSE.

and gas event calendar. With each new edition, MEOS builds on its solid reputation and industry esteem by offering a conference program that is highly topical while a parallel exhibition highlights the very latest in industry solutions, products and services. Together, the conference and exhibition combine to form a comprehensive and current overview of the oil and gas industry in the Middle East by offering real solutions to those operating in the sector while facilitating new business opportunities.

For this year’s event, MEOS 2015 featured a multidiscipli-nary program that included a record-breaking 42 technical sessions with more than 300 papers on topics covering res-ervoir management, produc-tion, facilities, exploration and appraisal, drilling and comple-tions, project management, hu-man resources, business models and HSSE.

For the first time since its inception in 1979, the MEOS agenda also included a ministerial session that took place at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Bahrain. The session

The KOC delegation at the event.

Senior officials at the inauguration of the event.

examined the current global energy outlook through the eyes of the respective governments that participated. In addition to His Excellency the Minister of Oil from Kuwait Dr. Ali Al-Omair, oil ministers and energy ministers from the UAE, Egypt and Bahrain were also in attendance. OPEC’s Secretary General, His Excellency Abdullah Salem Al-Badri, also took part in the ministerial session.

MEOS also featured a high level executive plenary session that took place at the Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Center. The session addressed the conference theme of “Energy Beyond Limits through Innovation and Collaboration” and examined how the exploration and production industry is transforming and pushing limits through innovation and collaboration to provide world energy needs efficiently, responsibly, and with maximum value. In addition to KOC CEO Hashem Hashem, plenary

session speakers included the Senior Vice President from Saudi Aramco’s Upstream Division, Amin Nasser, Shell’s Executive Vice President for Commercial and New Business Development, Edward Daniels, Exxon Mobil Corporation’s Senior Vice President, Mark Albers, and the Chief Executive Officer from Schlumberger, Paul Kibsgaard.

Daily panel sessions at MEOS featured CEOs, managers and presidents of national and international oil companies and the service industry. Discussion topics included academic and industry collaboration to develop future talent, added value, environmental stewardship, innovative collaboration, and cyber security in the energy sector.

A three-day exhibition of oil and gas products and services ran parallel to the conference. Span-ning some 14,800 square meters, it featured more than 300 exhib-itors from 30 countries and cov-ered all areas of the upstream

industry, including exploration and production, onshore and offshore technology, transpor-tation, geophysics, drilling and completion, measurement sys-tems, automation and informa-tion technology, security and environmental protection.

Principal exhibitors included national oil companies from the GCC, including KOC, ADNOC, Bapco, Qatar Petroleum and Saudi Aramco. GCC companies exhibited alongside international supermajors and service industry giants and suppliers from across the globe.

With a strong technical program and comprehensive exhibition, KOC delegates were able to utilize MEOS 2015 in a way that helped them forge better business relationships and share expertise and information about new and emerging technologies in one of the most prolific hydrocarbon-rich regions in the world.

Senior officials touring the exhibition portion of the event.

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KOC HostsKPC Town Hall Meeting

KOC recently hosted the annual KPC Town Hall Meeting, which was held this year at the Subaihiya Oasis. The event was attended by

a large number of senior officials from various KPC subsidiaries.

The KPC Town Hall Meeting, which also served as the official inauguration of the Subaihiya Oasis, featured speeches from KPC CEO Nizar Al-Adsani and KOC CEO Hashem Hashem.

In his speech, Al-Adsani maintained that Kuwait’s oil and gas industry was entering

a new era of exploration and production milestones. This new era, he said, will feature the utilization of advanced technology, which can already be seen in the presence of a number of new projects. For example, at KOC, the Kuwait Integrated Digital Field (KwIDF) Project and Real Time Drilling

Decision Center (RTDDC) are examples of how the Company is utilizing advanced technology throughout its areas of operation.

The KPC CEO continued his address and said, “High prices in recent years, coupled with new technology, has led to a

boom in shale oil extraction. Falling prices, however, have changed the landscape, which has lead everyone in the industry to search for optimal solutions.”

Al-Adsani also confirmed that the oil sector was working in a timely manner to facilitate the completion of a number of major oil projects throughout Kuwait. These projects, he maintained, will help Kuwait

realize a number of its long-term efforts. They will also ensure that a number of KPC strategies are achieved. For example, the heavy oil projects in North Kuwait that are being developed will play a major role in future Kuwaiti production figures.

In a statement he made at the event, KOC CEO Hashem Hashem upheld his belief that the Town Hall Meeting would clarify and confirm a number of important messages. According to him, the first and most important message was the fact that a high degree of cooperation and teamwork was present within KPC and its subsidiaries. The second message, he said, concerned challenges to all K-Companies that require further cooperation, integration

and synergy between various companies and sectors.

The KOC CEO went on to say that the reason the Subaihiya Oasis was chosen as the location for this event was because of the important symbolic significance the location has played for Kuwait historically. In the past, Subaihiya was an important destination for many Kuwaitis as it was a reliable source of water. Today, it serves as a symbol that connects the lessons and history of the past with the present by creating a link to the modern oil and gas industry that has grown in Kuwait.

About the Subaihiyah Oasis

KOC has established the Subaihiyah Oasis in a historic

location in South Kuwait, with the stated goal of preserving the environment and protecting wildlife in the area.

As part of efforts to promote the historical significance of the site, KOC constructed an informative exhibition that details the importance of Subaihiyah in Kuwait’s history.

From an environmental standpoint, KOC teams were responsible for creating environmental conditions at the location that are suitable for the growth of desert plants and wildlife, with special focus on making the location an attractive area for migratory birds. In addition, an artificial lake was created that supports fish life.

KPC CEO Nizar Al-Adsani and KOC CEO Hashem Hashem delivered opening remarks.

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As part of an effort to support female employees and provide them with a channel to receive motivation and inspiration to succeed, a number of K-Companies recently sponsored the Professional Women Network Conference (PWN).

Women in Kuwait, and particularly women in various positions throughout the K-Companies, are increasingly demonstrating that they are just as capable as their male counterparts when it comes to achieving the goals they have set for themselves in terms of their careers. Whether these careers are in administration, finance, leadership, and even in the field, women in Kuwait’s oil industry are discovering that the idea of high-paying, rewarding and influential positions being strictly reserved for men is an outdated concept. For one, today’s markets cannot afford to take risks on employees who do not possess the necessary skills, training

Professional Women Network Conference

and experience, and with women now outnumbering males in terms of college-educated graduates, employers are more likely than ever to shift their focus on merit and achievement instead of gender. However, as participants at this year’s PWN event noted, there are still obstacles that must be overcome.

As part of an effort to support female employees and provide them with a channel to receive motivation and inspiration to succeed, a number of K-Companies recently sponsored the Professional Women Network Conference (PWN), which was held in the Al-Dorra Ballroom at the Hilton

in Mangaf. As always, the aim of the PWN is to host conferences where women can share their collective experiences in Kuwait’s oil and gas industry. The event also serves as a networking opportunity where young female employees can learn from the experiences of women who have spent years in service at various K-Companies.

This year’s edition of PWN was held under the theme of “Diversity Challenges.” The event featured keynote speeches by KPC CEO Nizar Al-Adsani and Vice President of Operations at KUFPEC, Hosnia Hashem, who founded PWN while at KOC and serves as the event’s Chairperson. A panel discussion consisting of the senior officials from four K-Companies served as the highlight of the event, and participants were able to ask questions and share their concerns directly with senior management. Panelists included KPC CEO Nizar Al-Adsani, KOC CEO Hashem Hashem, KNPC CEO Mohammad Al-Mutairi, and KUFPEC CEO Sheikh Nawaf Al-Sabah.

The opening statement at the PWN Conference was officially delivered by KPC CEO Nizar Al-Adsani. In his speech, the CEO began by thanking Hosnia Hashem for organizing the event and reminded the audience that the goal of PWN was aimed at advancing the role of female professionals in the State of Kuwait. This effort, he maintained, had the support of senior officials throughout the country’s various K-Companies, who believed in and were proud of the important role women play in pushing Kuwait’s oil and gas industry forward.

The KPC CEO went on to say that Kuwait’s oil and gas industry currently faced many challenges, especially in terms of the recent drop in oil prices and the emergence of market competition. He added that mega projects currently being constructed in Kuwait were also complex challenges, as the standards to which they are being built are very high, which necessitates the need for careful

observation and oversight. In addition, a strict adherence to environmental guidelines must be followed in order to comply with new national and corporate policies that are in place to protect Kuwait’s natural spaces. However, the KPC CEO maintained that the greatest challenge currently facing the industry was much larger than the price of oil or the success of complex projects. “The biggest challenge we face,” he said, “is a resistance to change.”

Eliminating Resistance to Change

“To resist change, we need to clear the hurdle that is the train of thought that says, ‘We should stick to the way we have always done it.’ We need to lead the way toward new goals that should be our preferred way of action,” Al-Adsani said, adding, “We need to leave our resistance to change behind and embrace the new times and challenges ahead.

KOC CEO Hashem Hashem responds to a question from the audience.

KPC CEO Nizar Al-Adsani addresses the audience.

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The KPC CEO went on to say that the PWN event itself serves as an initiative for change that helps enhance the way operations can utilize the availability of talent. “We need to utilize all of Kuwait’s skilled human capacity. All of its available workforce. And note, I use the word ‘workforce’ instead of the obsolete ‘manpower.’ I encourage the use of this term throughout the K-Companies as it more accurately and fairly refers to our employees, who together form the essential component required by the State of Kuwait’s oil sector.” This statement by the KPC CEO was met with resounding applause from the audience.

Al-Adsani then told the audience that the workforce of Kuwait’s oil sector “strives through change” and that gender diversity throughout the K-Companies will create stronger, more effective structures. He then recalled the important work that Sheikha Sheikha Al-Sabah has made over the years for the benefit of Kuwait’s oil sector, which

included the establishment of training centers for new employees. Her efforts, he said, paved the way for the very effective training programs that are in place today throughout a number of K-Companies.

The KPC then concluded with encouraging words for the audience by maintaining that K-Companies were prime examples of change in action. He maintained that efforts over recent years have created transparency and efficiency throughout the oil and gas sector and that K-Companies now stand as models of integration and diversity for the rest of Kuwait. “Can we afford not to engage every capable person - man and woman - in our operations? It is our job to ensure that they are allowed to achieve their full capacity, and we can do this by obtaining talented individuals and nurturing their talent, regardless of gender,” he said.

The PWN Founder’s Message

Hosnia Hashem, Professional Women Network founder and

Vice President of Operations at KUFPEC, delivered her keynote speech after Nizar Al-Adsani’s opening remarks. In her speech, the PWN founder touched on a number of topics, which included the motivation behind PWN, its goals, and the challenges associated with fully integrating female professionals throughout K-Companies.

The PWN founder began her speech by reminding the audience that the reason PWN

PWN was established to promote professional growth of the female workforce, empower and integrate female professionals throughout all areas of work,

and serve as a forum where female professionals could come together for the purposes of networking and support.

Hosnia Hashem, PWN founder and VP of Operations at KUFPEC, addresses the audience.

was established was to promote professional growth of the female workforce, empower and integrate female professionals throughout all areas of work, and serve as a forum where female professionals could come together for the purposes of networking and support.

In her speech, Hosnia Hashem also provided an overview and analysis of the female workforce in Kuwait’s oil sector. She maintained that Kuwait’s oil and gas industry, which is comprised of nearly 20,000 employees, consists of a female workforce that stands at 3,067, or approximately 16%. Throughout the K-Companies, positions held by women varies greatly, from 8% at PIC to approximately 50% at KPC. About 53% of all women employed at K-Companies work at KOC, which is understandable given the total number of KOC employs is around 9,000, which is significantly greater than the next largest organization, which is KNPC with 6,500 employees. The PWN founder also

reminded the audience that out of the total number of female employees, approximately 92% were Kuwaitis.

Hashem then went on to describe the type of work female employees engage in. Out of 3,067 female employees, about 67% work in technical roles, which range from chemical engineers to engineers in the field or at refineries.

Maximizing Talent & Facing Challenges

Hosnia Hashem maintained that it was critical to dedicate resources to the progression of the female talent that exists throughout the K-Companies. Because about three quarters of women employed are in technical roles, it is imperative, she said, that they be provided with the technical support and training that is required to shape future leaders. On the issue of leadership distribution, Hashem also called for renewed efforts and progress to be made in the effort to appoint more females in leadership positions.

In regard to the challenges that hamper full participation of females in the workforce, Hashem cited two main issues, which include culture and a lack of self-empowerment. Other challenges, she said, include work conditions that are not adequate for women in the field. She also cited an HR policy that is not always equal for men and women.

“PWN wants to help women overcome these barriers, so what is the road ahead?” Hashem asked. “The road ahead should help us achieve our goals in a phased approach. This approach can be said to contain three main elements, which include networking opportunities for women in other K-Companies, a benchmark process with other national and international oil companies, and mentoring programs,” she said. In this regard, the PWN founder maintained that female employees were blessed to have the endorsement and support of the leadership throughout the K-Companies, many of whom were present at the event itself.

Female participants at the event.

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Living Examples

Two women, Awrad Al-Hashash from KOC and Faten Taqi from KNPC, shared their experiences with the audience during the PWN event.

Al-Hashash, a Drilling Engineer from the Development Drilling & Workover Team, discussed some of the obstacles and stereotypes she had to face when she began assuming more responsibilities at KOC. “Being a Drilling Engineer is a tough job,” she said, “but what is harder is getting people to accept that females can do the job.” Al-Hashash told the audience how difficult it was to convince some of her male colleagues that she was capable of the responsibilities and requirements her job demanded of her. In order to acquire more responsibilities, Al-Hashash maintained that she first had to earn the trust of her superiors. By going above and beyond her call of duty, Al-Hashash quickly demonstrated that she was willing and able to accomplish any task that was required. By exercising an exceptional degree of self-driven initiative, Al-Hashash says that she was able to quickly assume the roles and responsibilities she desired.

Meanwhile, Faten Taqi, a Process Engineer at KNPC, discussed her roles and responsibilities at the refinery. In her job, Taqi is responsible for monitoring unit performance and controlling all activities related to various processes. Female engineers, Taqi said, can be found throughout KNPC’s departments, from Operational Planning to various laboratories.

Discussion Panel

The final portion of the PWN event consisted of a discussion panel where audience members were free to ask questions to senior officials. The panel

consisted of KPC CEO Nizar Al-Adsani, KOC CEO Hashem Hashem, KNPC CEO Mohammad Al-Mutairi, and KUFPEC CEO Sheikh Nawaf Al-Sabah.

One of the first questions fielded dealt with opportunities for promotion. Audience members wanted to know if a fair system was in place and whether it was based on performance. In his response, KPC CEO Nizar Al-Adsani maintained that promotions for circular appointed employees were based on committee decisions that followed several criteria, which included years of experience, performance, and other measures. The primary reason, he said, for the disparity in the number of women reaching senior positions was because men simply outnumbered women throughout the K-Companies. For example, the KPC CEO said that if, for example, 10 candidates were being considered for a job, only one of them may be female. However, as time progresses, the CEO said that it was his hope that this trend will change in the future.

Meanwhile, KOC CEO Hashem Hashem offered a similar viewpoint. He maintained that in certain areas of the Company dominated by men – fields such as drilling, for example – the chances of women being promoted there is significantly smaller because of the simple fact that there may not be as many female employees in that field. Other departments, where women have a greater presence, display a more equal distribution when it comes to career advancement. However, the KOC CEO upheld his belief that in terms of advancement and promotion, the main factors that should be considered are past performance and leadership ability, regardless of gender.

Other questions that were put forth were met with positive responses from the senior leadership.

Hosnia Hashem delivers her presentation.

As part of Company efforts toward environmental protection and conservation, the HSE (NK) Team recently celebrated the United Nation’s World Environment Day during an event that was organized in cooperation with the North Kuwait and Administration & Finance Directorates. The celebration was held under the patronage of DCEO West

KOC CelebrAtesWOrld EnvirOnMEnt day

The World Environment Day was established in 1972 by the General Assembly of the United Nations. KOC commemorates the event annually by sharing information related to the WED theme, in addition to other environmental initiatives the Company has engaged in.

Kuwait Hasan Bunain and DCEO Administration & Finance Saad Al-Azmi.

The event, held at the KOC tent, witnessed the participation of the UNEP representative in Kuwait and a number of other officials from various government institutions in Kuwait, including the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR) and Kuwait University.

The event program consisted of a number of lectures and presentations that were delivered by KOC employees and other individuals. The primary focus of the presentations was related to issues such as renewable energy, national energy security, sustainability and energy preservation technology. Other topics included environmental cleanup, gas flaring reduction in West Kuwait, and the contribution of the WK Directorate to the issues of environmental preservation and protection.

TL HSE (WK) Ahmad Qabazard delivered opening remarks at the event before DCEO WK

17 TheKuwaitiDigest

Hasan Bunain delivered a speech to the audience. In his speech, Bunain maintained that KOC was putting forth a concerted effort to protect the environment throughout its areas of operations and activities.

Executive Director of the Energy and Building Research Center at KISR, Dr. Salem Al-Hajraf, and Professor Raed Bouresle from Kuwait University, also delivered presentations during the event. Specialists from KOC and other organizations also participated.

In related news, KOC’s Marine Environment Group (WK), in cooperation with the Regional Clean Sea organization (RECSO), recently celebrated World Environment Day with a series of events that culminated in a cleanup campaign at Ahmadi Port.

During the event, DCEO (WK) Hassan Bunain said that the celebrations were part of a series of large and diversified initiatives KOC has launched within the framework of its Environmental Protection policy. He cited examples such as the wildlife and marine reserves that the Company established to protect Kuwait’s ecological systems. Bunain also referenced KOC’s participation and contribution to a number of environmental activities and its leading role in the protection of the environment.

Meanwhile, Marine Operations Group (WK) Manager Fadhel Boresle said the Company was a

leader in terms of respect to the implementation and contribution to environmental laws on the local, regional and international levels. Boresle also praised KOC’s remarkable achievement in the reduction of gas flaring, which he said was an indication of the Company’s ceaseless drive to protect the environment and reduce pollution.

In a final comment, Port Operations Team Leader Lafi Al-Murtaji said the campaign was a contribution to the “World Clean Ports Campaign” aimed at raising awareness among employees, who attended a presentation by Captain Pawan Chaudhry that detailed the

KOC has long been a major driver of environmental protection and conservation in Kuwait. From the reduction of gas flaring to the establishment of new nature preserves, KOC is doing everything in its power to help lead the way in terms of sustainability efforts throughout the country.

Senior officials participating during the event.

effects of pollution on coastal waters.

Additionally, the HSE (D&T) Team recently commemorated the United Nations World Environment Day (WED) by hosting the D&T Green Symposium at the Hubara Center under the World Environment Day theme of “Seven Billion Dreams. One Planet. Consume with Care.” The HSE (D&T) Team’s session focused on creating awareness and highlighting some of the innovative technologies that will help support sustainable development.

More than 80 employees from various directorates participated during the event, where awareness presentations were delivered which covered some of the world’s most pressing environmental concerns in regard to sustainability. Presentations also touched on a number of

environmental initiatives KOC has recently engaged in.

During the event, eight employees from the D&T Directorate were recognized as “D&T Environmental Champions” for their outstanding contributions to the Directorate’s effort to protect the environment it operates in.

The World Environment Day was established in 1972 by the General Assembly of the United Nations. The D&T Directorate commemorates the event annually by sharing information related to the WED theme, in addition to other environmental initiatives the Company has engaged in.

KOC has long been a major driver of environmental protection and conservation in Kuwait. From the reduction of gas flaring to the establishment

of new nature preserves, KOC is doing everything in its power to help lead the way in terms of sustainability efforts throughout the country. In addition, new initiatives such as the adoption of clean and renewable energies and various recycling and energy conservation campaigns have taken place. Together, these efforts do much in the way of creating a Company culture that is committed to environmental protection.

In order to recognize the United Nations World Environment Day, KOC organized an informative program that detailed some of the Company’s recent environmental efforts. Presentations touched on topics such as energy conservation technologies, Company projects aimed at environmental enhancement and protection, and initiatives geared toward efficiency and sustainability.

DCEO (WK) Hasan Bunain and Marine Operations Group (WK) Manager Fadhel Boresle addressed the audience.

KOC employees were recognized for their efforts by senior officials.

19 TheKuwaitiDigest

Over the past few months, KOC has sponsored and taken part in a number of events that are aimed at fostering the growth of the young professionals in the Company’s ranks. A brief overview of these events and the beneficial role they have played for KOC follows.

Young ProfessionalsPlay Important Rolefor Future of KOCSenior officials at KOC understand the importance of properly training and preparing the next generation of leaders for the Company. Young Kuwaiti professionals, who are joining KOC in increasing numbers every year, are being equipped with the necessary knowledge and resources that will allow them to carry the Company far into the future. By tapping KOC’s existing knowledgebase, an accumulation of the many years of experience of long serving engineers, geologists, and specialists of all types, new employees can learn from the lessons of the past while staying abreast of emerging technologies and methods of production.

1st Young Professionals Conference 2015

In yet another manifestation of KOC’s recognition of the role of young professionals, the Company recently organized an event for new employees under the title of the “Young

Professionals Conference.” Over a three-day period, the event reviewed some of the best practices that are in place at KOC that are aimed at developing the careers of young talent through opportunities and programs K-Companies provide.

In opening remarks he made at the conference, CEO Hashem Hashem said that KOC plays a crucial role in contributing to the overall economy of Kuwait; therefore, it is imperative to develop a skilled, competent, and motivated national workforce.

He added that young professionals truly are the future face of KOC and that it was the Company’s responsibility to ensure that they are provided

with the collective knowledge and experience of existing and long-serving KOC staff. These individuals, the CEO said, have many years of collective experience in the various fields they specialize in, and this experience serves as an extremely valuable resource for new employees. In addition, the CEO said, new employees should be provided with the resources they need, such as training courses and access to new technology, in order to effectively carry KOC into the future.

The CEO also maintained that the conference would do much in the way of highlighting the Company’s young talent while allowing them to network and learn from their peers at other K-Companies and GCC institutions. He expressed hope that everyone in attendance benefitted from the event, adding that he looked forward to meeting KOC’s future leaders.

Young Professionals Forum

The Kuwait branch of theSociety of Petroleum Engineers recently organized the first Young Professionals Forum under the title “From Young Professionals to Great

Achievers.” The event, which took place under the auspices of KOC CEO Hashem Hashem and the Ministry of Health for Youth Affairs, was held at the Hilton in Mangaf.

The Young Professionals Forum was held with the aim of sharing the success stories and work experience of various individuals from a range of K-Companies. In addition, a number of academics and business executives from various fields spoke of their career experiences during the event.

In a statement he made on the occasion, Hashem praised the role that the Society of Petroleum Engineers plays for the State of Kuwait. He also commended the organization’s interest in providing informative events for the country’s youth, who he said will play a large role in Kuwait’s future projects and goals. This is why, he said, the State of Kuwait accorded additional care for the country’s young talent and provides them with the necessary training and tools for advancement, an effort that is embodied in the newly formed Ministry of State for Youth Affairs.

Hashem went on to say that

KOC also plays a role in developing and supporting the youth of Kuwait. For example, a program titled “Under Development” has been specially designed to improve the skills and knowledge of the young individuals that KOC hires. He noted that this program has graduated thousands of employees, and many of them have assumed leading positions in the Company and the oil sector in general.

The forum, which was organized by Reservoir Engineer Eman Al-Fadli from the Fields Development Group (WK), reviewed the success stories of the Company’s former CEO, Sami Al-Rushaid, Kuwait University Professor Dr. Salah Al-Mudhi, and Professor Dr. Mohammad Al-Khodor. Other individuals also shared their success stories, such as Petrochemical Industries CEO Khaled Al-Seif, former CEO of Talabat.com Mohammad Jaafar, and KOC Petroleum Engineer Sabih Boftein (retired). These success stories were shared with approximately 300 young professionals at the event.

KOC Future Talents Showcase

As part of efforts to

KOC CEO Hashem Hashem and TL Technical Personnel Development Eisa Al-Daihani addressed the audience.

21 TheKuwaitiDigest

highlight some of the recent accomplishments of young KOC employees, the Company recently organized the 2014/15 Future Talents Showcase at the KOC Tent in Ahmadi. The event had KOC UD’s present their projects to CEO Hashem Hashem, who visited each booth at the event and listened to the ideas generated by the next generation of Company employees.

KOC’s Future Talents program was originally initiated and organized by the Training Competency Team, represented

by TL Bashar Al-Khashti and supervised by T&CD Manager Qusai Al-Amer, who attended the event and showed support for the employees and all Team Leaders within the Group.

The showcase was followed by two lectures that were represented by a guest speaker from ACK, Dr. Majed Al-Sarheed, titled “The Essences of Innovation.” The second lecture was presented by guest speaker from PIC, Aref Al-Awadhi, and was titled “Continuous Improvement.”

At the conclusion of the event,

Hashem commended the efforts put forth for the benefit of this initiative. The projects that were showcased were met with interest from the CEO and his DCEOs, who were keen to encourage the future talents of the Company.

The Way Forward

With a young population that is increasingly searching for ways to implement its collective talent, Kuwait is a country rich with potential. While the world’s most important resource, oil, can be found beneath the sands of Kuwait’s deserts and waters, there is also unforetold wealth in the capabilities and aspirations of Kuwait’s younger, educated population. The underlying belief at KOC is that the Compnay can change the world for the better by tapping into both of these resources and unlocking their potential. Through collaboration and teamwork, KOC aims to provide the motivation necessary for young employees so that they can carry the Company safely into the future.

Officials at the SPE 1st Young Professionals Forum.

Wireline Retrievable ESP (WRESP) pertains to a change in ESP deployment. The method consists of first lowering a large bore tubing (e.g. 5 ½”) with a docking station attached underneath as a permanent part that provides three receptacles for the wet mate electrical connectors. It also is comprised of a power cable connected directly to the connectors of a docking station and clamped

along the tubing to the surface.

A retrievable part composed of a standard ESP string (motor, seal protector, gas separator, and pump) utilizes on its bottom side a motor connector provided with a three pin wet mat electrical connector designed to connect the ESP in a docking station once landed. On the top side, a seal assembly is present to separate

Submitted by the Well Services Technical Team, Well Surveillance Group

In terms of methods pertaining to artificial lift in the oil industry, Electrical Submersible Pumps (ESP) play a significant role in the extraction process. In the field, artificial lift is created by lowering the ESP string under tubing during well work-overs. The power cable is connected directly to the motor and clamped externally along the tubing string while the pump runs until failure. Because of rig work-over costs, operators utilize ESPs as sacrificial equipment, which means that no maintenance program can be scheduled.

KOC IMPleMenTs FIrsT WIrelIne esP PIlOT PrOjeCT

discharge pressure from intake pressure inside the tubing; it also provides an internal fishing neck profile for lowering or retrieving the ESP string with a slick line method using a 5/16” non-electrical braided-line. A 5” GS running/pulling tool is used to engage this internal fishing neck for ESP deployment.

During this first implementation at KOC, we faced an obstacle in which the ESP was stuck due to damage of a seal assembly that occurred each time during the ESP retrieval with a wireline method. The issue of seal failure was faced from the beginning of the pilot project in June. First, seal damage occurred to standard seals. After extracting from the hole, seals from the seal assembly were completely damaged and left in the hole.

23 TheKuwaitiDigest

We posit that rubber pieces had fallen down and might be deposited on the docking station connectors, thus preventing electrical connection. Many attempts were performed with a slick line junk basket to retrieve these small pieces of damaged seals.

Three months after the first trial, Zeitecs (a company that specializes in artificial lift technologies) delivered packer cup seals that were newly designed and used in Guiberson completion packers. These seals were used in the seal assembly to prevent any fluid recirculation through the pump. Unfortunately, during ESP retrieval with the wireline method, a huge over pull (Fig.2) was registered on the way up at each tubing collar, even at low speeds (10 feet/min). Once the ESP was at the surface, we found that severe damage occurred to the packer cup seals.

Additionally, due to the continuous up and down movement (attempt to release the ESP string), the GS profile fishing neck was unscrewed and became loose. At this point, it was likely that the ESP string would fall on the permanent part.

After a long discussion with a technology provider, an alternative solution was developed. This solution consisted of lowering the ESP system in two parts that would be assembled with a PBR (Polished Bore Receptacle) as a separation tool. The first part would be a motor connector, seal protector and a pump at the top of the PBR; the second part would be the seal assembly.

The PBR and seal assembly are designed for two specific applications. As an expansion

joint, it provides a stroke length for extreme tubing movement during well treatment and production. As a separation tool, it allows removal of production tubing string while leaving a “polished bore” and “anchor seal assembly” set in the packer.

Unfortunately, after careful evaluation, we found that:

• After lowering the first part, it would be difficult to insert the polished bored in the second part because of the light weight of the wireline tool string.

• During ESP retrieval, there is a high risk that the top part will stick inside the polished bore. Therefore, the entire retrievable ESP part will move together, then most likely on the way up. The first part will be free from the second part (at “separation tool” level) and fall down; consequently, serious damage occur to a completion system.

Due to the repetitive sticking problems faced in the retrieval of the wireline ESP in each retrieval, and after a five-month downtime of the project, the client was at the point of halting the pilot project of this technology. In parallel, a KOC Well Surveillance slick line specialist was conducting a study of the root cause analysis for the problem. The conclusion was as follows:

As designed, packer cup seals create seals and prevent fluid recirculation inside the 5 ½” tubing in flowing conditions. During ESP retrieval, seals are not retractable. This means the entire hydrostatic head will be supported by these seals, thus a huge over pull will be created while moving up with a retrievable ESP that leads to serious sticking issues.

After calculation, it was determined that 4,200 feet of fluid above the seals would

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create large forces acting downward that is equal to 27,800 lbs. This exceeds the maximum safe working load of the 5/16” braided line cable. On the other hand, a swabbing effect will happen and a well control issue will be faced. In addition, a force created due to the swabbing effect will be added to dragging forces created by fluid.

“New Idea” Summary as Illustrated in Fig.1:

To reduce a hydrostatic head during ESP retrieval, we should have a fluid bypass above and below the packer cup seals assembly to allow for fluid circulation. This can happen when using a 2 7/8" SSD (sliding sleeve) attached to a 2 7/8" pup joint between a cup seal assembly and a discharge head (Fig.1).

During wireline ESP retrieval, the first step is to run in hole with a shifting tool to open SSD. After that, a 5" GS pulling tool will be lowered to pull the whole system at once. On the way up a large amount of fluid will be circulating from above the cup seals through SSD holes and falling down in the clearance between the ESP string and the 5 1/2" LTC Tubing. The rest will be circulated downhole through pump stages.

As a contingency plan, in case of SSD malfunction (jammed in a closed position), a hole can be made to a pup joint above the SSD when using a slick line mechanical perforator tool for fluid circulation during ESP retrieval.

After implementation, we observed the following:

Once we applied tension on the ESP for retrieval, the whole system was unset and moved up smoothly with 5,600 lbs. of line tension, which is equal to a normal weight of ESP + 5/16” wire + wireline tool string.

With the presence of the Company technology provider representative, no over pull was observed during WRESP retrieval (Fig.3) from the setting depth until the surface thanks to the excellent fluid circulation through the SSD (Fig.1).

At surface, packer cup seals of the seal assembly were in good condition. These can also be used again without issue.

Thanks to this innovative idea, a turning point in the project occurred and the WRESP field trial was balanced from a failed job trial to a successful job trial.

Finally, we can conclude that:

• KOC WSG Team-II left its fingerprint on this new technology by providing the aforementioned innovative idea that added significant technical value and improvement in a wireline retrievable ESP deployment.

• A WRESP system can be lowered and retrieved with a wireline (braided line) as a normal job thanks to this innovative idea.

• After six instances of the setting and pulling of the Wireline Retrievable ESP, a reliability and robustness of a wet mate system of motor connector with a permanent docking station met successful criteria.

• Wireline Retrievable ESP is a step change in the ESP system lifecycle management and operating model.

Despite the registered successes, some issues remain to be solved, including:

• Well control during wireline ESP deployment in presence of H2S, especially when the ESP string reaches the X-mas tree during the assembly/disassembly stage.

• Protection of receptacle connectors in the permanent part (docking station) from solid particle deposits and physical damage when well cleaning is required after retrieving the ESP.

25 TheKuwaitiDigest

Institutions responsible for emergency services in Kuwait, such as the Kuwait Fire Service Directorate, the National Guard and the nation’s oil industry, go to great lengths to implement measures to avoid major asset failures and disasters. However, natural disasters, pipeline explosions or leaks, plant explosions, gas leaks, and other incidents are not unheard of and happen at oil and gas companies around the world. In addition to the human and environmental toll, these types of disasters have many implications for

operating companies, including major financial obligations and the tarnishing of a company’s reputation within the community that it operates. In order to be prepared for these types of situations, emergency response and crisis management teams need to be in place, all employees need to be well-trained in proper protocol, and they should also be well-equipped with technologies that can prevent, detect and manage disasters. This allows for a proper, efficient, and safe response to natural disasters,

gas leaks, oil leaks, offshore leaks, as well as potential fires, explosions and offshore incidents with employees and equipment. Companies and state institutions must have comprehensive crisis and risk management systems as well as an effective loss prevention strategy in place to ensure uninterrupted production with swift remediation and recovery.

As part of its efforts to remain ahead of the curve in terms of safety and preparedness, KOC recently took part in

3rd Annual Crisis and Risk Management Summit

the IQPC Crisis and Risk Management Summit, which was held recently at the Hilton in Mangaf. The Crisis and Risk Management Summit was officially endorsed by the Kuwait Fire Service Directorate, Kuwait National Guard and the Risk Management and Security Consultancy Company (RIMSCO). RIMSCO is a privately owned limited liability company based in Kuwait and founded in 2007 by a group of multi-disciplined visionaries encompassing a mix of former military, former police, and highly trained academics.

Aiding in the chairing of the summit and delivering additional opening remarks was Peter Johnson, Incident Commander for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Federal Emergency Management Agency. Johnson has more than 30 years of experience in emergency response activities and has led some of the largest responses in the United States, including the World Trade Center rescue operations in 2001 and the Hurricane Katrina and Rita disasters. In addition, Johnson has been Incident Commander for numerous responses and teaches Incident Command System tactics to companies and agencies around the world. He has also worked toward the development of national response plans for the United States Government, where he worked for the Department of Homeland Security/Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), where he was responsible for bringing over 70 federal agencies together to build unified response plans.

After delivering his opening remarks, Johnson invited Lt. General Yousef Al-Ansari to

the stage. Al-Ansari is the General Manager of the Kuwait Fire Service Directorate. In his address to the audience, Al-Ansari maintained that the Crisis and Risk Management Summit served an important role for Kuwait and the region because of the opportunities the event presented for various individuals within the industry to present and share their expertise and experiences in the fields of emergency response, coordination, and loss prevention. He added that the conference aimed to cover a wide range of topics related to damage control, environmental management, risk assessment and management, remediation and recovery post crisis, planning a comprehensive crisis management system and risk communication.

KOC Shares Experiences

During the summit, KOC played a large role in the sharing of information pertaining to its emergency response procedures. Nasser Al-Buhairi, Chief Security Officer and Head of the Emergency Coordination Unit at KOC, was present at the event to discuss a range of topics that the Company has extensive experience in. Al-Buhairi, who replaces his long-serving and pioneering predecessor, Ali Assad, has extensive knowledge

in the areas of corporate security, emergency management, critical infrastructure protection, maritime security, and intelligence. Al Buhairi is a veteran of the Kuwait Armed Forces, where he served with the Kuwait Navy and Intelligence Department. He later worked for a number of multinational organizations before returning to state service as a Critical National Infrastructure Protection Advisor for the State of Kuwait’s Council of Ministers (Security Designs Follow-up Committee – SDFC).

Al-Buhairi began his presentation with a brief description of KOC and its operations before discussing how the Company deals with various emergency situations. He maintained that KOC has enacted many safety measures throughout all areas of the Company and that drills and emergency preparedness are extremely important points of concern for KOC.

While KOC has invested a significant amount of effort into ensuring that its current standards are adequate, Al-Buhairi maintained that there is always room for improvement. For example, in response to future challenges that affect crisis management, the Head of the Emergency

Nasser Al-Buhairi, Chief Security Officer and Head of the Emergency Coordination Unit at KOC, addresses the audience.

27 TheKuwaitiDigest

Response Coordination Unit maintained that responses involving multiple agencies were the biggest challenge that the Company faced. This, he said, was because communication tools may differ from one agency to the next. In order to overcome this issue, Al-Buhairi suggested that it is imperative to consider unifying standards across companies and agencies so that emergencies may be dealt with in an efficient and unified manner. Improved channels of communication, he added, were also key.

In his address to the audience, Al-Buhairi maintained that national institutions in Kuwait, such as the military and oil sector, had similar preparations in place to train and equip personnel for natural or other disasters. “We are resilient in Kuwait to some extent, but there is always room to improve and develop our capabilities,” he said.

Al-Buhairi added that KOC is

the port authority for all oil and gas terminals in Kuwait and that the Company was divided into three sectors (North Kuwait, West Kuwait, and South & East Kuwait). KOC’s areas of operation cover thousands of wellheads, 20 gathering centers, 3,100 km of pipeline and more than 6,500 employees and 60,000 contractors. As huge expansion is part of the Company’s 2030 Strategy, Al-Buhairi maintained that the Company in general, and his unit specifically, would have its work cut out for it in terms of coordinating all parties responsible in the case of any type of emergency situation. The Emergency Response Coordination Unit is responsible for coordinating other units and oversees the Dispatch Center. Among a host of other things, the unit is also responsible for training and the implementation of drills and exercises.

In a recent interview, Al-Buhairi said, “The main feature that sets the oil sector aside from other sectors is the fact that, in

general, through its hazardous activities the oil sector acknowledges its susceptibility to the real dangers and risks to which it is exposed. Within the oil sector there are a number of stakeholders, both internal and external, and without the cooperation and coordination of each and every one of these, through shared intelligence and full understanding as to their individual and collective roles, the emergency response successes which the oil sector strive to achieve would be impossible.”

In regard to challenges that must be overcome, Al-Buhairi said that the main challenge was associated with “man-made hostile acts, as they are the hardest to prevent.” He went on to say that another main challenge dealt with ensuring the development of KOC’s preparedness and response times satisfy not only Company needs, but the needs of KPC and the State of Kuwait as well.

Senior officials were provided with a tour of the exhibitor portion of the event.

North Kuwait Celebrates44 Million Hours Without LTI

KOC’s North Kuwait Directorate recently celebrated the completion of 44 million man-hours without Lost Time Incidents (LTI) in a ceremony that took place at the New Office Complex in North Kuwait. Today, that figure currently stands at more than 45 million hours.

The LTI ceremony at the New Office Complex was held under the auspices of DCEO (NK) Emad Sultan, who attended the event alongside Group Managers, Team Leaders, Project Managers and other employees and contractors based in North Kuwait.

In a speech he delivered on the occasion, Sultan commended the efforts of KOC employees and the Company’s partners. He maintained that without the combination of their hard

work and dedication, such an achievement would not have been possible. He also stated that a number of new projects were being developed in North Kuwait, and he advised employees and contractors to continue their efforts while adhering strictly to the highest safety standards in order to protect the health and safety of all individuals working in North Kuwait.

The DCEO’s speech was followed by a presentation from

29 TheKuwaitiDigest

Team Leader HSE (NK) Ismail Mataqi, who spoke about the way forward regarding matters related to HSE. In his speech, Mataqi said that he appreciated the Company’s business partners and KOC’s senior management for the support and dedication it has offered in helping to achieve the LTI milestone. Mataqi also stated that it was his hope that North Kuwait would be able to celebrate LTI achievements for years to come.

In a recent interview with The Kuwaiti Digest, Ismail Mataqi discussed the importance of North Kuwait’s recent accomplishment and the work that has gone into making such a milestone a reality. In order to learn more about the work that has gone into completing 45 million man hours without incident, we asked the HSE Team Leader a number of specific questions related to the work that is conducted in North Kuwait and how that has translated into an impressive record of total hours worked with no incidents or injuries.

TKD: Can you provide us with a bit of background information regarding LTI and how these figures are defined and calculated?

TL Mataqi: LTI, and more specifically the 44 million hour

figure (which now stands at more than 45 million hours) refers to the total number of man-hours worked by employees and contractors in North Kuwait fields. Basically, we utilize a formula that calculates man-hours worked throughout the year by calculating these hours on a monthly basis before ascertaining where we are at the end of the year. Naturally, the man-hours build up on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis if there are no industrial incidents that occur. What we mean when we talk about industrial incidents are incidents where an employee or contractor is injured while on the job to such a degree that he or she is not able to return to work the next day. These types of incidents are what we refer to as Industrial Disabling Injuries, or IDI. When an IDI occurs, this resets the safe working hours that we have accumulated and sets us back to zero. Calculation of safe working hours begins with last incident that has occurred and builds up and accumulates as time goes on without incidents. What this means is that our current figure of 45 million man-hours without incident indicates that we have not had an IDI since approximately 2011.

There are, of course, other Groups in North Kuwait that conduct

a various range of work for KOC. This includes Drilling and Technology, Gas, and Corporate Projects, which has a number of undertakings in North Kuwait. However, they all have their own way of calculating their hours, but their incidents do not effect ours. In terms of the actual calculations themselves, this is naturally a variable system that changes based on an increase in employees or contractors. More people means more man-hours, and this assists in the accumulation of more safe working hours.

TKD: Can you give us a bit of information about HSE plans for the future?

TL Mataqi: There are many challenges associated with maintaining our record number of safe man-hours. At the core of the issue is the fact that we are dealing with people. Naturally, no individual is perfect. Humans are not machines and cannot be programmed to be failsafe. Any mistake in the field by one of our employees or contractors can lead to an injury, so this is a great challenge. However, there are ways for us to eliminate the possibility of unnecessary incidents, and this includes a well-rounded program of training, coaching, and information awareness campaigns. During our monthly

DCEO (NK) Emad Sultan TL HSE (NK) Ismail Mataqi

meetings, we share lessons learned and ensure that excellent channels of communication are present in order to bring people onboard with us. We also make a serious effort to demonstrate the important role they have in all of this. We make sure to tell them that each one of them has an important share in this achievement and that this accomplishment reflects positively for everybody, KOC and contractors both.

We place great effort in making sure that proactive measures are implemented in order to avoid incidents before they happen. We strongly believe that proactive measures are much more effective than reactive measures. In order to ensure that we remain proactive, we conduct daily inspections and train employees. Communication is also a key measure we use in our proactive measures. We try very hard to communicate, in the right language, to those working in North Kuwait about the importance of safety at the worksite and how an adherence to safety standards benefits them, not just the Company. By doing this, it is our hope that they consider how important it is for them to share in the responsibility of maintaining North Kuwait’s record.

TKD: Can you tell us about the role of contractors?

TL Mataqi: Contractors have learned a lot from KOC. In the past, it was common for contractors to conduct work in their own way, where if an incident occurred, it may not necessarily be reported. However, all of this has changed for the better. Today, if an accident occurs, contractors immediately report it. Near misses are also reported. Safety officers are present, and these

individuals have direct lines of communication with the Company. This is in addition to the monthly HSE meeting, where all issues of concern can be discussed and reviewed and where challenges can be tackled proactively. This, of course, represents a major shift and is a significant change for the Company, where better adherence to safety standards is present more now than ever before. All in all, the Company’s contractors are definitely onboard with us in terms of making a commitment to safety standards.

TKD: How would you describe support from the higher management?

TL Mataqi: We have had excellent support from our senior management, and we definitely appreciate this. This support has come not only from our Manager, but from the DCEO and our Company’s CEO, Hashem Hashem. They have been extremely supportive, from ensuring that HSE is defined as a strategic element in Company policy, to assisting us in the creation of safe working environments for employees and

contractors. Senior management has done an excellent job in making sure that Site Verification Visits are conducted regularly, and they have been a major proponent of ensuring HSE messages are communicated across the board at KOC.

About North Kuwait

North Kuwait is a unique project area for KOC in terms of risk exposure to personnel because of the complex work carried out there. North Kuwait includes the border fields of Ratqa Oil Field, where KOC recently signed a contract for the implementation of a project for the first phase of the Lower Fars Heavy Oil Development Program. Plans for the field include production figures of 60,000 bpd by 2018. In recent years, discoveries have been made of large quantities of gas and light oil in North Kuwait, which is generally known for its heavy oil reserves. North Kuwait is home to gathering centers, water handling facilities and other associated facilities.

DCEO (NK) Emad Sultan recognizes a KOC employee for his efforts.

31 TheKuwaitiDigest

NK Directorate Meets Officials from MEW

The first coordination meeting of the year between the North Kuwait Directorate and the Ministry of Electricity and Water (MEW) was held recently at the Ahmadi Guest House. Emad Sultan, the North Kuwait Directorate DCEO, presided over the meeting on behalf of the Company. The Ministry of Electricity and Water was

represented by Assistant Undersecretaries Jassim Al-Nouri and Jassim Al-Lankawi.

A number of Group Managers and Team Leaders from NK also attended the meeting, which included a presentation of the Company's operations in North Kuwait. During the meeting, officials from North Kuwait discussed the vital role that operations in the north of the country play for

the State of Kuwait. In the presentation, it was clearly noted that operations in North Kuwait relied heavily on a continuous supply of power in order to facilitate the necessary work being conducted there, especially at wells and new installation areas. Therefore, officials said, a framework for strong communication and cooperation with the MEW is required.

During the meeting, it was agreed that a joint group would be formed to undertake the coordination between both sides in order to raise the efficiency of existing services, overcome difficulties, and reduce the frequency of power failures in order to maintain levels of

KOC’s Close Cooperation with the Kuwaiti GovernmentAs part of efforts to develop and expand an already close relationship with the Government of the State of Kuwait, KOC has recently taken part in a number of meetings with a variety of state bodies. These meetings, Company officials said, have done much in the way of creating closer ties with government institutions on matters of mutual importance, such as security, the environment, and issues related to the use of utilities, such as electricity and water.

production. Meanwhile, MEW representatives confirmed their close cooperation with KOC and praised the good relations that exist between the two sides.

KOC Holds Meeting with MOI & Jahra Municipality

KOC DCEO for Major Projects and Technical Services, Esam Nasser Al-Houti, recently hosted a meeting with the General Manager of the Jahra Governorate Security Directorate, Major-General Ibrahim Al-Tarrah, and Jahra Municipality Manager Bader Al-Mukheizeem. The meeting, which was attended by KOC Group Managers and Team Leaders, discussed a host of issues related to KOC operations, particularly those that affect North Kuwait.

In a speech he delivered on the occasion, Al-Houti underlined KOC’s interest in promoting communication with the concerned authorities, which he said benefited both parties and the oil sector in general. He also thanked the ministry for its continuous support, cooperation and coordination with KOC to protect oil facilities.

In a statement he made during

the event, Al-Tarrah said the Ministry of Interior would spare no effort in providing the utmost protection to oil sector facilities in the State of Kuwait. He also underlined the importance of making greater efforts to reduce a range of violations.

Meanwhile, Al-Mukheizeem praised the points related to security issues discussed during the meeting, which he said helped bridge gaps and improved cooperation between the Company and various public institutions.

KOC Honors Government Bodies

The Exploration Group recently hosted an event at the Radisson Blu Hotel that honored a number of government entities in Kuwait. In part, the event honored the public institutions for their participation in the successful completion of a 3D survey of North Kuwait and an aerial survey that provided a range of detailed, scientific measurements throughout the country.

During the event, Exploration Group Manager Ahmad Al-Eidan thanked the various government bodies and said that cooperation on various

projects represented a model for cooperation between state bodies. Al-Eidan also upheld the importance of coordination and integration and confirmed the Company's willingness to cooperate closely with various actors in the country and region in an effort to accomplish tasks and implement projects.

In his speech, Al-Eidan described the role of the Exploration Group and the recent exploration successes achieved, as well as the importance of exploration for the State of Kuwait, especially in terms of securing new reserves. He also outlined a number of key issues related to the 2030 Strategy.

During the ceremony, a short film about geophysical opera-tions activities was screened. The following government agencies were honored by the Company: Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ku-wait Army, National Guard, General Administration of Land Border Security, General Au-thority of Civil Aviation, Public Authority for Agriculture Af-fairs and Fish Resources, Sabah Al-Ahmad Reserve, Depart-ments from the Ministry of In-terior and the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research.

KOC officials with the Ministry of Interior and Jahra Municipality delegation.

33 TheKuwaitiDigest

The solar plant uses photovoltaic (PV) panels that convert sunlight directly into electricity. The plant in Um Gudair in West Kuwait has a peak capacity of 10 MW and is designed to provide a minimum of five MW during the peak hours of the summer months under typical weather conditions. The plant is synchronized to an 11 kV distribution substation that receives electricity from

Kuwait Oil Company is currently in the process of deploying the largest solar power plant in Kuwait that is currently on track to be commissioned later this year. This project is in response to the directives received from KOC’s parent company, KPC, to utilize solar energy in the oil sector and reach the goal set by His Highness the Emir of Kuwait to produce 15% of energy in the country from renewable resources by 2030. The project’s vision is to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that are produced during oil and gas industry operations.

KuwAit’s lArgest sOlAr POwer PlAntSubmitted by the Well Surveillance Group

KOC tO dePlOy

“This is a turnkey project with five years of operation and maintenance based on a lease model,” said Al-Shaheen. The PV plant is situated on a 600 x 600m plot of land in Um Gudair and is connected to the nearest distribution substation five kilometers away through underground cables. Construction has started in the PV Plant, and is targeted to be completed soon.

The solar plant has 32,500 panels that are mounted on single-axis trackers to increase energy production. During the five-year operation and maintenance period that is managed by the contractor, a minimum amount of energy production is guaranteed.

“The energy production is measured against actual weather conditions at the site, which includes solar irradiation and ambient temperature to adjust the guaranteed generation and compares it with actual electricity delivered to the substation,” said Dr. Raed Sherif, a solar energy specialist working with the Well Surveillance Group on the project.

Approximately 17,000 MWh are to be produced on average every year from the solar plant, which over the course of 25 years

reduces a collective amount of 250,000 tons of CO2 emissions. The project was successfully registered with the United Nations Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) to receive Certified Emission Reduction (CER) certificates.

“This is the first project at KOC to be successfully registered with the UN to receive carbon credits,” said Sr. Eng. Laila Al-Bairami from the Well Surveillance Support and Engineering Team, who headed the registration process with the UN CDM. “Future solar projects at KOC will follow the same procedures defined in this project for registration with the UN,” she said.

The successful deployment of this PV project at KOC will spur the development of other projects utilizing solar energy in the oil sector. “There are many opportunities to supplement electricity from the grid with grid-connected PV plants,” said Al-Shaheen, “and where there are no grid connections, the environmental savings are even more when PV is used with diesel generators.”

Declining prices of photovoltaic panels make the project economically feasible, as seen below:

the national grid to provide electricity to 29 electric submersible pumps (ESPs).

“This is the first project of its type in the world where solar energy feeds ESPs in the oilfield,” said Saeed Al-Shaheen, Manager of the Well Surveillance Group (WSG). The Well Surveillance Group championed the development of the project from its early concept and is supervising the project’s execution.

The project was awarded through a competitive tender-ing process to Gestamp Solar, a Spanish company that special-izes in providing optimal solu-tions for PV plants.

Plummeting Cost of Solar Modules(Cost Per Watt in 2012 Dollars)

-- Coal / Natural Gas Cost Band --

Sources: DOE NREL Solar Market Report, SolarBuzz Retail Price Environment1980

$16.00

$8.00

$4.00

$2.00

$1.00

$0.50

$0.251984 1988 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008 2012

35 TheKuwaitiDigest

HEat StrOkE: An Overview

In a county like Kuwait, where peak summertime temperatures can reach an extreme high of 50°C, it is necessary for individuals to exercise extreme caution when spending extended periods of time in outdoor environments. The article that follows provides an overview of what heat exhaustion and heat stroke are before offering insight into ways to prevent situations where these conditions may arise.

Heat exhaustion and heatstroke are two related health conditions that can be very

Health

serious if not treated quickly. In cases of heat exhaustion, a person experiences fatigue as a result of a decrease in blood pressure and blood volume. Heat exhaustion is caused by a loss of body fluids and salts after being exposed to heat for a prolonged period of time. In Kuwait, it is quite easy to lose an excess amount of fluid and salt through sweat, where being outdoors – even for a short period of time in the midday sun – can cause this condition.

Someone with heat exhaustion may feel sick, faint and sweat

Heat exhaustion and heatstroke are two related health conditions that can be very serious if not treated quickly. Left untreated,

heatstroke can lead to complications such as brain damage and organ failure. It is also possible to die from heatstroke.

heavily. If a person with heat exhaustion is quickly taken to a cool place and is given water to drink, and if excess clothing is removed, they should start to feel better within half an hour and have no long-term complications. However, without treatment, they could develop heatstroke.

Certain groups are more at risk of developing heatstroke or suffering complications from dehydration and should be taken to hospital. These include:

Health

Use a fan to lowertemperature

Apply coldcompresses

Have victimlie down

Elevate feet

Have victimdrink fluids

• Children under two years of age.

• Very elderly people.

• People with kidney, heart or circulation problems.

• People with diabetes who use insulin. Because diabetes is common in the Kuwaiti population, it is important for diabetics to be especially careful when spending prolonged periods of time in the outdoors during the summer.

Heatstroke

Heatstroke is a more serious condition than heat exhaustion. It occurs when the body's temperature becomes dangerously high due to excessive heat exposure. The body is no longer able to cool itself and starts to overheat.

Signs of heatstroke include dry skin, vertigo, confusion, headache, thirst, nausea, rapid shallow breathing (hyperventilation) and muscle cramps. Suspected heatstroke should always be regarded as a medical emergency, and you should seek medical attention immediately if you or someone you know is suspected of suffering from a heatstroke. While waiting for an ambulance to arrive, individuals should:

• Immediately move the person to a cool area.

• Increase ventilation by opening windows or using a fan.

• Provide water to drink (if the person is conscious), but do not provide medication such as Panadol or other drugs.

• Shower their skin with cool, but not cold, water (15-18°C). Alternatively, cover their body with cool, damp towels or sheets or immerse them in cool water (not cold).

Left untreated, heatstroke can lead to complications such as brain damage and organ failure. It is also possible to die from heatstroke.

Avoiding Heat Exhaustion & Heatstroke

There are steps you can take to reduce the risk of getting heat exhaustion and heatstroke during the summer months in Kuwait. These include:

• Staying out of the sun during the hottest parts of the day, particularly between 11 am and 3 pm.

• If you have to go out in the heat, walk in the shade, apply sunscreen and wear a hat.

• Do not leave anyone in a parked car.

• Avoid extreme physical exertion during the hottest part of the day.

• Have plenty of cold drinks, but avoid drinks that contain caffeine.

• Eat cold foods, particularly salads and fruit with a high water content.

• Take a cool shower or bath.

• Sprinkle water over your skin or clothing or keep a damp cloth on the back of your neck.

• Keep your environment cool.

Additional precaution can be taken by placing a thermometer in your main living room and bedroom to keep a check on the temperature. If possible, move into a cooler room, particularly for sleeping. Keep windows that are exposed to the sun closed during the day.Turn off non-essential lights and electrical equipment because they generate heat. Placing bowls of water around your house will also help cool the air through evaporation.

During hot weather, keep an eye on people who are isolated, elderly, ill or very young. Make sure they are able to keep cool. In hot weather, check on elderly or sick neighbors and elderly family members or friends every day, if possible. Be alert and call a doctor if someone is unwell or if further help is needed.

37 TheKuwaitiDigest

Travel

Imagine this: Getting comfortable in your private ocean villa that overlooks crystal blue waters, brilliant sunsets on the horizon that turn the setting sky into every shade of red imaginable, tropical fruits and the freshest seafood available for dinner, world-class room service and spa therapies, scuba sessions to break up the very hard work of working on that tan… Does it sound like paradise? Welcome to the Maldives.

If it is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience you’re looking for, look no further, because the Maldives is like no place on earth. However, getting to and staying in this tropical paradise requires just a bit of patience. Located in the Indian Ocean roughly 500 miles southwest of Sri Lanka, the Maldives is about as far away from the hustle and bustle as you can get.

A Brief Overview

The Maldives has been an Islamic nation since the 12th century. With its rich heritage, visitors from Kuwait will find familiar traditions entrenched in Maldivian culture. Mosques dot the capital of Malé, the nation’s capital, and Maldivian men and women dress in very conservative attire.

With more than 100 resort islands, the Maldives relies on tourism as its dominant industry. The other major industry is fishing, and this island nation exports its sea catches to countries across the world. The Maldivian currency is the rufiyaa (MVR). The exchange rate hovers around KD 1 for 50 Maldivian Rufiyaas.

If you wish to catch a glimpse of Maldivians' daily lives, look no further than the Male' Fish Market. This is the commercial epicenter of arguably the country's most important industry: fishing. Here, the foot traffic peaks in the afternoon as fishermen from the entire

visit the MaldivESUnless the idea of spending your summer under the scorching heat of a desert sun appeals to you, you have probably given some thought to escaping the blistering heat of another Kuwaiti summer. To those of you who are still unsure of where to escape to this summer for a little break, look no further, because here at The Kuwaiti Digest, we can help make that decision for you. In this issue’s travel section, we take a look at the Maldives, an island nation that is truly one of the most unique slices of paradises on the planet.

Travel

while the Maldives never sees overcrowding, room rates will increase.

Getting Around

The best way to get around the Maldives is to walk. The capital city of Male' is only one square mile, and whichever resort you pick will be walkable as well. Island-hopping at your own leisure really isn't an option since the ferry (or "dhoni") network is not very extensive. That said, if you are traveling by yacht, you'll be able to navigate these waters. Once you arrive at Ibrahim Nasir Male' International Airport (MLE) on the island of Hulhule', you’ll most likely be escorted by a representative from your resort to the island where you are staying. You will have to take a ferry, an air taxi, a speedboat or some combination of the three to reach your final destination. This final jaunt is sometimes included in the cost of your hotel stay.

Once you're on your island of choice, walking is the most convenient option. All of the resort islands, are easily manageable on foot. For those with a little more money to spend, yachts are the only way to travel. Yachts glide through

this archipelago and provide the best access to remote islands and isolated reefs. Many resorts have their own docks for the convenience of seafaring travelers. You should know that visiting non-resort islands is generally prohibited by the Maldivian government, but licensed tour operators can bring you to islands that are usually off-limits to tourists. If you are trying to get somewhere in a hurry, take a seaplane. You're resort may use one to transport you to and from the airport. On these brief jaunts, you'll enjoy a scenic bird's-eye view of the reefs and islands. For an island hop by air, compare the rates of Trans Maldivian Airways and Maldivian Air Taxi.

Where to Stay

The Maldives is home to more than a handful of five star resorts. Most of these hotels include everything you need to have a perfect time in paradise, from decadent meals to water activities such as scuba diving or a leisurely boat excursion. Some of the hotels that come highly recommended include the W Retreat and Spa, Four Seasons Resort, Lux, and many, many more.

country sail right up to the edge of the market and unload their daily catch. Tuna is the most popular fish for sale, but you'll find some other types as well.

When to Visit

The best time to visit the Maldives is May to November. Although you'll experience some rain during the southwestern monsoon that occurs at this time, you'll have the least company and best prices at the resorts. Plus, surfers will catch the best waves and divers will see the most life on the reefs. December to April is the high season, which encounters the drier northeast monsoon. And

39 TheKuwaitiDigest

TravelHi-Tech

tESla intrOducES POWErWallTesla Motors, best known for its amazing range of electric cars, has come up with an all new vision of exploring our functional relationship with solar energy. In an effort to lessen our dependency on grid power, Tesla came with the idea of adopting solar energy for a more sustainable approach through a new product that the company has named “Powerwall.” This new release from Tesla, which will be mass marketed this year, is a stationary battery compatible with the household power system that has the potential to replace the traditional grid system. The battery system is made with rechargeable lithium-ion, and the Powerwall can be fixed to walls, with the process of handling comparatively easier than the prevalent power source used by most people. The Powerwall can provide financial savings to its owner by charging during low rate periods when demand for electricity is lower and discharging during more expensive rate periods when electricity demand is higher. As well as being connected to the internet, the Powerwall can be hooked up to solar panels on the roof of your house. The surplus solar energy can then be used when the sun goes down - or during a power outage. The Powerwall comes in a 10 kWh weekly cycle -- for backup applications -- and 7 kWh for daily cycles. If a home/business has a greater energy need, multiple batteries can be stored -- up to 90 kWh total for the 10 kWh battery and 63 kWh total for the 7 kWh battery. The Powerwall generates 2.0 kW continuous and 3.3 kW during peak usage. It weighs 220 pounds and can be installed indoors or outdoors.

A new bionic lens implant could give patients the unique ability to see three times better than standard 20/20 vision for the rest of their lives. Dr. Garth Webb, founder and CEO of Ocumetics Technology Corp, a company committed to eliminating glasses and contact lenses for patients, invented the Ocumetics Bionic Lens, which resembles a small button. The procedure, which can be done in an outpatient office, takes just eight minutes and is painless, according to Webb. The lens inside the patient’s eye is removed and replaced with an artificial lens, much like cataract surgery. The process then involves flushing the eye with a saline solution. Just 10 seconds after the implant is in place, the folded lens opens up, moves itself over the eye’s natural lens and vision is improved, the company says. The lens was created after eight years of research and $3 million in funding for research, international patents and

SciEntiStS dEvElOP nEW BiOnic lEnSES

trials. The patent is expected to be available as soon as 2017, as long as clinical trials go as planned. The lens will be available to people over the age of 25, since that’s the age when eye structures are fully formed. Webb believes the new lens will revolutionize eye care as we know it and has said, “If you can just barely see the clock at 10 feet, when you get the Bionic Lens, you can see the clock at 30 feet away.”

TravelHi-Tech

GOOGlE turnS Hand GESturES intO diGital cOntrOl

Google recently unveiled an interaction sensor that uses radar to translate subtle hand movements into gesture controls for electronic devices, with the potential to transform the way people interact with technology. Project Soli was one of the developments revealed by Google's Advanced Technology and Progress (ATAP) group during the company's I/O developer conference in San Francisco recently, where the team said they had created a tiny sensor that fits onto a chip that is able to track sub-millimeter hand gestures at high speed and accuracy with radar, and use them to control electronic devices without physical contact. This could remove the need for designing knobs and buttons into the surface of products like watches, phones and radios, and even medical equipment. Waves in the radio frequency spectrum are emitted at a target by the chip. The panel then receives the reflected waves, which are transferred to a computer circuit that interprets the differences between them. Even subtle changes detected in the returning waves can be translated into commands for an electronic device. Radar has been used for many different things: tracking cars, big objects, satellites and planes. It is now being used to track micro motions, such as twitches of the humans hand or fingers. The data from these movements is then identified and compared in a database of stored gestures. These include movements that mimic the use of volume knobs, sliders and buttons, creating a set of virtual tools, a Google employee said in a statement.

Sydney materials scientists are claiming a breakthrough in cool roof technology with a surface they've developed that will stay cooler than the ambient air temperature, even under the mid-summer Australian sun. The development, with major implications for reducing the heat load in urban areas and consequently cutting energy use and greenhouse gas emissions, is reported in the latest edition of the journal Advanced Science. The study by Dr. Angus Gentle and Emeritus Professor Geoff Smith from the University of Technology in Sydney has reported results from a "coated polymer stack" – a combination of specially chosen polyesters on a silver layer. "We demonstrate for the first time how to make a roof colder than the air temperature around it, even under the most intense summer conditions," Professor Smith said. Roofs heat up by absorbing sunlight, so darker roofs can get very hot. Even white roofs still absorb enough sunlight to warm up by 9 degrees Celsius to 12 degrees Celsius. This new surface, however, stayed 11 degrees or more colder than an existing state-of-the-art white roof nearby because it absorbs only 3 percent of sunlight while simultaneously radiating heat at infrared wavelengths that are not absorbed by the atmosphere. Furthermore, the plastic materials used are available commercially and potentially suited to use on basic roofing. The potential for such technology is high, especially in countries like Kuwait where the summer months necessitate the need for air conditioning and more efficient cooling systems.

rESEarcHErS dEvElOP “cOOl rOOf” SOlutiOn

41 TheKuwaitiDigest

By the time Kuwaiti Digest readers come across this article, the Holy Month of Ramadan will have already begun. Each year, employees throughout the Company and individuals throughout Kuwait and the Muslim world fast from sunrise to sunset in observance of the holiest period in the Islamic year.

Ramadan at KOC

At KOC, a long-standing Company tradition involves the hosting of Iftar banquets for the faithful. These often occur at the Unity Center, but the Company often lends its support and sponsors numerous Ramadan-related activities throughout Kuwait. Often included in these activities is the organization

of Umrah trips for KOC employees.

This year, KOC has organized the “Iftar Saim Campaign” that allows employees to automatically donate a portion of their salary to charitable causes during the Holy Month of Ramadan. To take part in

this campaign or to learn more, employees should contact the Community Services Team.

Before the start of Ramadan, Acting Team Leader of the Ahmadi Services Group, Abdul Aziz Al-Obaidan, inaugurated the “Ramadhan Shahar Al-Khair” exhibition, where more than 40

companies displayed foodstuffs and other commodities related to the Holy Month.

The ceremony was attended by Acting Public Relations & Information Group Manager Mohammad Al-Basry and Ahmadi Services Group Community Services Team Leader Nasser Al-Mutawaa. A number of Team Leaders and employees were also in attendance.

Participants at the event offered special Ramadan promotions, which included special discounts for KOC employees and Ahmadi residents.

During the event, representatives from Ahmadi Hospital offered basic health tests for visitors. The Kuwait Anti-Smoking Society and the Kuwait Committee for Breast Cancer Prevention were are also present.

About Ramadan:

Ramadan commemorates the ninth lunar month of the year 610 CE, when revelations began from Allah (SWT) through the angel Gabriel to the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). These revelations, which were communicated in Arabic, were memorized, passed on orally,

and written down as the Qur'an.

During the Holy Month of Ramadan, Muslims abstain from food, drink, and other sensual pleasures from the first light of dawn until sunset. Ramadan is the fourth pillar of the five pillars of Islam.

Because the timing of Ramadan is based on a lunar calendar, the Holy Month starts about ten or eleven days earlier each year according to the Gregorian Calendar. Beginning in the early 2010s, Ramadan has fallen in the summer months in the Northern Hemisphere. This is especially challenging for

Officials inaugurate the Ramadan event.

43 TheKuwaitiDigest

Muslims in hot, arid climates like Kuwait and the Arabian Gulf region, where sweltering temperatures make daily fasts much more challenging.

Ramadan is a time for Muslims to practice self-restraint and self-reflection. Fasting is seen as a way to cleanse the soul and display empathy for those in the world who are hungry and less fortunate. Muslims go to work and school and take care of their usual activities during Ramadan; however, some also read the entire Quran, say special prayers and visit mosques more frequently during this time.

All Muslims who have reached puberty and are in good health are required to fast. The sick and elderly, along with travelers, pregnant women and those who are nursing are exempt, although they are supposed to make up for the missed fast days sometime in the future or help feed the poor.

The first pre-dawn meal of the day during Ramadan is called

“suhoor.” Each day’s fast is broken with a meal known as “iftar.” Traditionally, a date is eaten to break the fast. Iftars are often elaborate feasts celebrated with family and friends. The types of foods served vary according to culture.

The conclusion of Ramadan is marked with a major celebration known as Eid Al-Fitr, the Feast of Fast-Breaking. It starts the day after Ramadan ends and lasts for three days. Eid Al-Fitr includes special prayers and meals with friends and relatives, and gifts are often exchanged.

The Benefits of Fasting

While many fast as a religious obligation, few truly understand the potential health benefits that fasting can provide. Fasting, if properly implemented, can promote the elimination of toxins from the body, reduce blood sugar, decrease stores of fat and boost your immune system.

Below are 10 potential health benefits one can attain by fasting

in a safe and healthy way:

1. Fasting promotes detoxification.Processed foods contain many additives, and these additives can become toxins in the body. Most of these toxins are stored in fat, and fat is burnt during fasting, especially when it is a prolonged fast.

2. Fasting gives the digestive system a rest. When fasting, the digestive organs rest. The normal physiologic functions continue, especially the production of digestive secretions, but at reduced rates. This exercise helps to maintain a balance of fluids in the body.

3. Fasting may resolve inflammatory responses.Some studies have shown that fasting promotes resolution of inflammatory diseases and allergies. Examples of such inflammatory diseases are rheumatoid arthritis, arthritis and skin diseases such as psoriasis. Some experts assert that fasting

may promote the healing of inflammatory bowel diseases such as ulcerative colitis.

4. Fasting can reduce blood sugar. Fasting increases the breakdown of glucose so that the body can obtain energy. It also reduces the production of insulin, which rests the pancreas. Glucagon is produced to facilitate the breakdown of glucose, and the outcome is a reduction in blood sugar.

5. Fasting can increase the breakdown of fat. The first response of the body to fasting is the breaking down of glucose. When the store of glucose is exhausted, ketosis begins, which is the breakdown of fats to release energy.

6. Fasting can correct high blood pressure. Fasting is one of the non-drug methods of reducing blood pressure because it can help reduce the risk of atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is the clogging

of arteries by fat particles. When you are fasting, glucose and fat stores are used to produce energy. The metabolic rate is also reduced when fasting, and hormones such as adrenaline and noradrenaline are also reduced.

7. Fasting promotes weight loss. Fasting promotes weight loss by reducing stores of fat in the body. However, fasting is not a good weight loss strategy. Reducing fat and sugar intake and increasing fruits and rest are better measures to achieve weight reduction.

8. Fasting promotes a healthy diet. It has been observed that fasting reduces cravings for processed foods. It promotes a desire for natural foods, especially water and fruits.

9. Fasting boosts immunity. Immunity can be boosted when an individual is on a balanced diet between fasts. The elimination of toxins and the reduction in fat

stores also helps the body. When individuals eat fruits to break a fast, they increase the body's store of essential vitamins and minerals. Vitamins a and e are good antioxidants readily available in fruits. They help to boost immunity.

10. Fasting may help to overcome addictions. Some studies have shown that fasting can help addicts reduce cravings for nicotine, alcohol, caffeine and other substances. Although there are other regimens required to resolve addictions, fasting can play a role.

Despite the benefits, fasting has the potential to cause some negative side effects. Aside from dehydration, fasting may lead to headaches and can even trigger migraines in predisposed persons. It may worsen heartburn and peptic ulcer. Pregnant women, nursing mothers, malnourished people, and individuals with cardiac arrhythmias, renal or liver problems are advised not to

45 TheKuwaitiDigest

a few crackers with peanut butter, some orange slices, and two glasses of water.

• During the hottest part of the day, stay in cool areas (indoors or in the shade) and limit your physical activity. Rest if possible.

• Avoid overeating when breaking your fast at sunset. After a long period of fasting, you need to bring your fluids and blood sugar levels up without overdoing it.

• During the early evening, have a healthy and balanced dinner. Do not overeat, and be sure to drink a few more glasses of water.

• During the evening hours, resist the temptation to drink tea, coffee, and soda. When visiting friends or family, ask for glasses of water.

• Serve yourself, your family, and guests a dessert of fresh fruit and nuts, which are much healthier than chocolates and candy.

• Sip on water throughout

fast.

Fasting during Ramadan is a challenge in itself, and fasting during the middle of a Kuwaiti summer, when daylight hours can last up to 16 hours, is even more of a challenge. In order to ensure adequate nutrition so that you can continue to be in good health, follow these tips:

• Consult with a doctor about the safety of fasting in individual health circumstances.

• Even if you are generally healthy, recognize that fasting can take its toll. Plan your schedule and meals ahead of time in order to make sure you get the nutrients, hydration, and rest that you need.

• Eat suhoor just prior to dawn. This morning meal is generally recognized as the single most important meal of the day. Do not overeat, though. Focus on taking in foods that are rich in complex carbohydrates and protein, fruits or vegetables, and plenty of water. For example: an egg on whole-grain toast,

the evening. Aim for eight glasses by bedtime. To help you keep track, fill and refill a water bottle with a measured amount of water, and be sure to finish it.

• Light exercise, such as walking for 15-20 minutes, is best done in the evening hours.

• Avoid fried and spicy foods as they may cause heartburn or indigestion.

• Speak to your doctor about an appropriate multi-vitamin.

• Continue to brush and floss your teeth several times a day.

• Wash your hands regularly, and avoid those who cough or sneeze. This is important to prevent the spread of viruses and bacteria which may cause illness.

• Quit smoking.

• Organize your schedule so that you get enough sleep.

Gergean is a traditional celebration that happens twice a year throughout a number of Gulf countries, with especially strong roots in Kuwait. During

Gergean, which takes place on the 15th night of the Islamic month of Sha’ban and on the 15th night of Ramadan (or when the moon is full), children dress

in traditional attire and go door-to-door to receive sweets and nuts from neighbors while singing traditional songs.

Celebrating GergeanCelebrating Gergean

Origins

The Gergean tradition has existed for hundreds of years in the region and is strongly rooted in Gulf culture; however, many historians note that some speculation exists about the tradition’s exact origin. Even the origin of the word “Gergean” cannot be agreed upon. Many people from the Gulf hold the view that “Gergean” is derived from the Arabic word “qarqa’ah” which means click or knock. They attribute this association to the sound the sweets and nuts make when they are dropped into the iron pots the children carried. Still others believe “Gergean” is derived from children in

Medina singing “Qarrat Al-Ain,” which over time was changed to “Gergean.”

Many believe Gergean is rooted in the time of the birth of Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) grandson, when the Prophet’s daughter Fatimah handed out colored sugar cubes in celebration of her newborn child on the 15th night of Ramadan. The story goes that when the children of Medina heard about the news of the birth, they gathered around the Prophet’s house singing “Qarrat Al Ain, Qarrat Al Ain Wa Ajr AlJo’an” which means “Congratulations, congratulations, blessed for feeding the hungry.”

Gergean in Kuwait

In Kuwait, children celebrate Gergean by going from one house to the next, knocking on neighbors’ doors and asking for candy and nuts. The children gather in small choir groups in front of a house and sing a song that is intended to call on Allah (SWT) to bless the youngest child of the family, to keep him or her healthy and that the mother will remain happy. The more they sing, the more nuts and sweets they receive. The Gergean tradition is intended to spread love, happiness and affection among adults and children during Ramadan.

47 TheKuwaitiDigest

In modern Kuwait, however, many families are increasingly moving any type of Gergean celebration indoors and foregoing the outdoor activity. As Kuwait has grown, the country’s close-knit sense of community has increasingly been weakened, with many citizens preferring to keep Gergean celebrations indoors with family and friends. But, regardless of whether the tradition is celebrated indoors or in the streets, Gergean represents a time of happiness and is a shared celebration of joy, faith and compassion for all.

Gergean Treats

As Gergean approaches, a number of cooperative societies throughout Kuwait offer a wide range of quality sweets packaged in attractive boxes or baskets in preparation for the mid-Ramadan children’s celebration. In addition to the many varieties of Gergean packages that can be found at the cooperative societies, those looking forward to the event can count on an entire cottage industry of Gergean packet producers to spring up during Ramadan. Many of these businesses prepare for Gergean long before Ramadan in order to provide the best quality

Gergean treats. These packages often contain chocolates, nuts, sweets and even toys for those wishing to celebrate the long-standing Kuwaiti tradition.

While the cooperative societies continue to offer some of the best Gergean packages available, many Kuwaiti entrepreneurs have utilized social media sites to promote their home-made businesses. These businesses often feature a wide display of Gergean treats and packages that are targeted at a more discerning consumer. But while many feel they have to go out and purchase the latest or trendiest form of Gergean package, others are perfectly content with creating their own Gergean treats. Home-made treats are totally unique and impossible to find in any store, which for some people, makes their appeal so much greater.

A Kuwaiti Tradition

Gergean is a Kuwaiti tradition that plays a historic and very important role in Kuwaiti culture, especially during Ramadan. On the 13th, 14th and 15th nights of the Holy Month, Kuwaiti children go door-to-door singing festive songs in the hope of receiving candy, and if they are lucky, loose change.

While Gergean is quite a treat for children, it serves another more important function. In a rapidly changing world, new modes of living are increasingly seeing tradition sidelined throughout all walks of life. Gergean is an important tradition that allows Kuwaitis to understand their history and keep it alive. By passing on this tradition from generation to generation, Kuwait can continue its legacy of goodwill, community and trust amongst neighbors.

1960sMosque in Ahmadi

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