Hamad Al Dalali

Baker Hughes is committed to promoting local talent development while also transitioning to become a leading solutions provider in oil and gas in Kuwait.

Can you provide an overview of Baker Hughes in Kuwait and your journey to assuming the role of its Country Manager?

Baker Hughes, a leading energy technology company, has been operating in Kuwait since the 1950s and is currently the only organization that is operating across the entire value chain in the country, from upstream to midstream and downstream. We have built strong partnerships with the Kuwaiti government, national oil companies, and local stakeholders, positioning us as a trusted and reliable partner in the energy sector. Over the past year, Baker Hughes has made remarkable strides in advancing Kuwait’s oil and gas industry through various projects and initiatives. One of the notable highlights is our collaboration with Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) in deploying a Long-Term Polymer Injection Pilot project to accelerate the adoption of the EOR approach in Kuwait’s brown fields. Additionally, Baker Hughes has played a significant role in testing new mobile water purification technology to re-cycle affluent water for use in injecting in tight reservoirs for pressure support. As for me, I entered the industry in 2002 and have since completed international assignments in Venezuela and Libya, working across the globe except for Southeast Asia. Seeking a challenge, I transitioned from operations to management consulting for four years, where the focus is on putting yourself in the customer’s shoes, as opposed to being driven solely by revenue and profitability. As a management consultant, I advised national and international oil companies on resolving their issues from an operator’s perspective. In my current role as the leader of Baker Hughes’ business, I approach every challenge from a holistic standpoint, striving to sustain and enhance the relationship between both parties rather than solely maximizing revenue and productivity.

What measures is Baker Hughes planning to help Kuwait achieve its production capacity targets and reduce the cost of drilling?

Baker Hughes is fully committed to supporting Kuwait in achieving its ambitious targets for increasing oil production capacity while ensuring responsible and efficient resource management. We approach this challenge through a combination of innovative technologies, strategic partnerships, and sustainable practices. For example, we provide advanced reservoir solutions that enhance oil recovery, optimize production, and maximize the potential of Kuwait’s oil fields. Through digital transformation our advanced data analytics platforms enable real-time monitoring, predictive maintenance, and performance optimization, allowing operators to make informed decisions that enhance production efficiency and minimize downtime. We also actively engage in emissions reduction initiatives by providing solutions for carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) and promoting the use of renewable energy in oil and gas operations. Baker Hughes is continuously developing new technologies to improve the efficiency of drilling oil and gas wells to help our customers reduce their lifting costs.

How does Baker Hughes support the current sustainability efforts taking place in the country?

In Kuwait, achieving sustainability and efficient oil production is key and comprises multiple elements such as the stimulation of existing wells or drilling new wells, the latter being costlier. Kuwait’s most significant reservoir, Burgan, has been producing since 1945, though its output is declining. It is vital to maintain production from the Burgan reservoir as approximately half of Kuwait’s 2.5 million barrels of oil production per day comes from that field. The challenge is to strike a balance between tapping into current reservoirs and incrementally drilling more wells. While bringing in additional rigs can increase production, the focus must be on minimizing the decline and increasing the life of old reservoirs. The main challenge lies in the traditional approach typically used here in Kuwait, which treats services as separate categories. Baker Hughes proposes a more integrated approach, delivering solutions rather than just services, to align all stakeholders towards the common target of increasing production. By streamlining engagement models and integrating other required offerings, Baker Hughes aims to provide a unified focal point to support KOC and leverage their experience in the industry.