BHGE inaugurates Artificial Lift Center of Excellence
 at MODON

Baker Hughes, a GE company (NYSE: BHGE) today inaugurated its Artificial Lift Center of Excellence at its Multi Modal Facility in the MODON site in the 2nd Industrial City of Dammam, underlining its commitment to localized manufacturing and Saudi talent development.

The Artificial Lift Facility will manufacture the entire range of BHGE’s oil and gas Electrical Submersible Pump (ESP) portfolio, highlighting the ‘Made in Saudi’ capabilities of BHGE and being closer to its customers by offering the entire suite of advanced solutions promptly.

BHGE Chairman & CEO Lorenzo Simonelli marked the opening of the new facility in the presence of Abdulaziz Al-Abdulkarim, Vice President of Procurement & Supply Chain Management Saudi Aramco; Nasir Al-Nuaimi, VP of Petroleum Engineering & Development, Saudi Aramco; Rami Qasem, President & CEO, BHGE, Middle East, North Africa & Turkey; and other senior dignitaries and officials.

Abdulaziz Al-Abdulkarim said: “The Kingdom is focused on promoting industrial and economic diversification as part of Saudi Vision 2030. As a core economic sector, the opportunity for localized manufacturing for the oil and gas industry will bring long-term benefits, including the creation of new jobs, and in building a Saudi SME supply chain. The new facility by BHGE is a significant initiative that not only meets our iktva initiative but also will deliver added operational efficiency for the industry.”

Rami Qasem said: “The opening of the facility is one of the key forward-looking initiatives by BHGE in the Kingdom. In addition to serving all the requirements of the ESP business locally, it serves as a center of excellence for training and knowledge sharing that will boost the skills of Saudi professionals. It will also support Saudi SMEs by making them active partners of our supply chain – potentially serving global customers through ‘Made in Saudi’ ESP solutions. We plan to expand the facility to cover other Artificial Lift offerings such as Surface Pumping Systems, Rod Lift Systems and Gas Lift Systems.”

The state-of-the-art facility adds over 12,000 sq meters of new warehouse and plant area, and improves the delivery of products to customers. It employs over 100 technical professionals with a Saudization rate of 75 percent. The Artificial Lift business is also working with mining and agriculture sectors – both identified as key pillars of growth in Saudi Vision 2030 – to promote economic diversification by delivering and installing pump equipment.

The capabilities of the new plant include assembly, dis-assembly and testing of ESPs including seals, motors and pumps; a machining shop; sandblasting, monel coating and painting; and accessories assembly and testing covering sensors, packers, y-tools and cables, among others. It also has full Dismantle Inspection & Failure Analysis (DIFA) capabilities with assured in-house expertise.

The Artificial Lift Center of Excellence builds on BHGE’s existing advanced manufacturing oil & gas footprint in the Kingdom, covering the expansion of the Pressure Control advanced manufacturing facility in 2016, following its inauguration in 2015, and the successful operations of its Drill Bit Manufacturing Plant, which manufactures polycrystalline diamond compact (PDC) drill bits made entirely in the Kingdom, and exports to over 40 countries.

With over 2,600 employees in the Kingdom, BHGE has a strong local presence marked by localized oilfield equipment manufacturing, and a portfolio of services and solutions that cater to the entire oil & gas value chain.