Water

Al Masaood will be the sole distributor of the technology. (Image source: Al Masaood)

Al Masaood Group’s Projects, Engineering, and Services Division (PESD) has entered into an exclusive agency agreement with Hengst Air Filtration Middle East, the regional subsidiary of Hengst Filtration Germany.

This collaboration designates Al Masaood as the sole distributor for Hengst’s advanced gas turbine and turbomachinery filtration systems within the UAE.

Hengst, a globally recognised leader in filtration and fluid management, operates across 26 locations with a workforce exceeding 3,700. The company’s solutions include innovative carbon capture and utilisation (CCU) technology, which captures CO2 directly on-site and converts it for reuse, eliminating the logistical challenges associated with transporting liquid CO2.

Hani El Tannir, CEO of Al Masaood Group Industrial, said,  “This collaboration with Hengst reflects Al Masaood’s strategic focus on sustainability and innovation. Together, we aim to introduce advanced filtration technologies that support cleaner and more efficient industrial processes in the UAE."

Vijay Thomas, managing director of Hengst Air Filtration Middle East, said, “Partnering with Al Masaood Group is a significant step in bringing our advanced filtration technologies to the UAE. This collaboration reflects our dedication to delivering sustainable solutions that drive innovation and support the transition to a greener, more efficient future.”

The facility by Cannon Artes. (Image source: Cannon Artes)

Cannon Artes is constructing an advanced wastewater treatment and water reuse plant within one of the largest petrochemical complexes in the Middle East.

The facility, designed to support the water recovery requirements of a major polyolefin plant in Qatar, will process up to 25,000 cubic metres of effluent and cooling-tower-blow-down water daily. With a recovery capacity of 780 cubic metres per hour, the plant significantly reduces discharge rates, achieving nearly 80% water reuse.

This far exceeds regulatory standards. The facility is part of a nearly US$2bn project to establish a new polyethylene plant. The plant, designed with two polymerisation units and an annual capacity of nearly 2 million tons, incorporates advanced membrane technologies to manage industrial wastewater and cooling water blowdown.

Industrial effluents are treated using Cannon Artes’ proprietary EmbioArt Membrane BioReactor (MBR), while cooling water blowdown is processed with ultrafiltration (UF) and reverse osmosis (RO) technologies. The facility has a total treatment capacity of approximately 1,000 cubic metres per hour.

The project also includes a 600 cubic metre-per-hour remineralisation plant, equipped with six advanced calcite filters. This system increases pH and reduces the corrosivity of recovered water, setting a new benchmark for industrial remineralisation technology.

Sustainable operations

The Qatar project highlights Cannon Artes’ capability to execute large-scale, complex contracts. The company handled every aspect, from process design to procurement, manufacturing, assembly, testing, and delivery. All components were customised to meet client specifications, integrating cutting-edge technologies like EmbioArt MBR, UF, and RO for maximum efficiency and environmental sustainability.

Construction commenced in August 2024, with infrastructure expected to be completed within six months by early 2025. Full mechanical completion is slated for Q4 2025, demonstrating an impressive timeline given the project's complexity.

With projects delivered in more than 80 countries, the company has provided customised solutions to industries including oil and gas, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, textiles, and food and beverage, solidifying its reputation for excellence in industrial water management.

“Cannon Artes was chosen as the supplier of choice earlier this year, due to our proven ability to deliver large-scale and complex industrial wastewater treatment solutions that meet the highest environmental and efficiency standards,” said Alessio Liati, sales director at Cannon Artes. “To give an idea of the project’s scale, the water treatment plant alone spans an area comparable to three football fields, with more than 1,600 reverse osmosis membranes, 360 ultrafiltration modules, and over 17,000 sqm of active MBR membrane surface.”

Hani El Tannir, CEO, Group Industrial, Al Masaood. (Image source: Al Masaood)

Al Masaood Group has built up its portfolio of oil and gas projects and services, industrial equipment, commercial vehicles and tyres, and power generation over the fast few decades.

While continuing to develop those, the group is diversifying into further fields covering manufacturing, a multitude of services, as well as greater emphasis on developing water solutions, and sustainability solutions.

Speaking to Technical Review Middle East, Hani El Tannir, CEO of Al Masaood Group Industrial elaborated on the recent launch of Al Masaood Motor Tech Services, in conjunction with NIDEC Power, to provide repairs and refurbishment of motors and alternators.

The group also launched Shams+, a UAE designed and built solar based system to provide a multitude of power provision configurations. In addition, manufacturing and integration of specialist products for the oil and gas sector, another recent addition to the group, has borne remarkable results, added El Tannir.

Wastewater solutions

In line with its focus on sustainable and innovative technologies, advanced water and wastewater treatment solutions were amongst those showcased at Al Masaood Group’s stand at ADIPEC this year, where its presence was anchored by the PESD division. PESD’s water and wastewater treatment solutions leverage cutting-edge technologies including ultra-filtration, reverse osmosis, and ion exchange.

These innovations cater to sectors demanding sustainable water management and provide advanced solutions for efficient wastewater treatment, including modular systems such as MBBR, MBR and SAF plants.

These compact solutions are designed to optimise water management in industrial settings, further aligning with the company’s sustainability objectives. The Water Industry is not new to Al Masaood; its partnership with KSB is a long standing one, including their joint venture, KSB Services LLC. The new partnership for water and wastewater treatment is with the innovative company PACT.

“Along with energy, water is a critical sector, and we are focused on delivering innovative solutions to the GCC in this space,” he said.

Highlighting the company’s commitment to net zero emissions by 2050, El Tannir commented that the focus is on venturing into sustainable solutions that help reach that goal. PESD has ongoing collaboration with more than 12 major brands, including, as given above, PACT and KSB, Chart, MAN Energy Solutions, Quartz Elec, and Hengst, all contributing innovations aligning with the company’s commitment to sustainability. Its partnerships reflect a shared vision of driving energy efficiency and supporting the transition towards greener practices.

Meanwhile, Al Masaood Power Division's SHAMS+ was recently recognised at the Gulf Sustainability Awards 2024 with a gold award for best innovation in sustainable technology and bronze award for best sustainable product. The division was also recognised as one of the "Outstanding Contributors to Sustainability" at the event for its ongoing efforts to promote sustainable practices across all operations.

TAQA’s M4 Inflow Control System offers seamless ‘plug and play’ integration. (Image source: TAQA)

TAQA has launched its next-generation M4 Inflow Control System. This system allows operators to optimise reservoir performance while sustainably managing fluid production.

The M4 Inflow Control System regulates the flow of unwanted fluids like water and gas, preventing the binary (open/close) effect that can lead to instability or halting production. The system excels in controlling water in ultra-light and light applications and enhances gas production control, offering stability and flexibility across various reservoir conditions.

One of the system’s standout features is its advanced pilot control system, which is highly sensitive to density, making it suitable for a wide range of oil types, including ultra-light, light, medium, and heavy oils. Additionally, its multi-phase control capabilities allow the device to perform efficiently, regardless of its orientation in the wellbore.

Flexibility at sites

TAQA’s M4 Inflow Control System offers seamless ‘plug and play’ integration with its entire portfolio of inflow systems, optimising performance across all well and reservoir types. The design incorporates features such as last-minute capacity adjustments and the ability to circulate to the bottom, ensuring ease of installation and flexibility, even at the rig site.

The system is engineered to maintain an open operating point for oil while being highly restricted for water, based on precise force field analysis confirmed through single and multi-phase flow testing. It has undergone rigorous testing in state-of-the-art multi-phase loops, evaluating the flow behaviour of water, oil, and gas mixtures under various conditions.

Although the system is not limited by oil viscosity, it has performed exceptionally well with oil viscosities as low as 0.5cP, tested alongside water to establish the optimal operating and control points at different water cuts. A comprehensive qualification matrix, including debris, erosion, and cycle testing, has also been completed.

Current market technologies often struggle to control water effectively when oil viscosities drop below 1cP, and there is a risk of turning into a “binary” open-close system, shutting off zones prematurely. TAQA’s new device overcomes both of these issues, ensuring reliable and efficient operation across a range of challenging conditions.

Dr Mojtaba Moradi, subsurface engineering manager of TAQA, said, “With the largest portfolio of inflow control systems more than 20 years of inflow control devices expertise, the M4 Inflow Control System represents the pinnacle of our innovation so far. This new generation offers water control by gradually reducing inflow as water production increases, avoiding premature well shut in.

Its main benefit is precision control based on reservoir production. The device allows operators to maximise output without risking shutting wells in, so they can manage production continuously and efficiently, which translates into obvious financial benefits.”