Saudi Aramco Protect Oil Fields

How to Protect their Oil Fields?

The geopolitics, security, and stability of oil exporting nations: The Gulf contains over 65% of the world’s “proven” reserves, and stability in these countries, security of oil fields and routes of transportation in the region are of paramount importance to oil market.

The protection of oil facilities is currently the responsibility of a 15,000-strong force run by Aramco, the state oil corporation and under Industrial Security Operation (ISO). Saudi Arabia “Aramco” is the world’s largest oil producer and home to 25% of it is proven reserves. The (ISO) department, started trained in the use of laser security and satellite imaging surveillance equipment, countermeasures and crisis management.

The developments of energy security is only one of the security challenges Saudis Aramco face but it is certainly critical to both Kingdom and the world as a whole. Saudi Arabia is the center of a region that now dominates the world’s petroleum exports and whose importance will grow steadily over coming decades and more interdependent global economy. It has more than 80 oil fields and 11,000 miles of pipeline.

Sustainable development the Aramco has fortified it is oil infrastructure security through the use of high tech surveillance systems and creation of special security units, as well as deployment of members of various military and security forces. Securing the Kingdom’s energy infrastructure, which cover hundreds of square miles, is a complex and daunting task. Saudi Arabia has seen several attacks on its infrastructure, but none has so far disrupted the flow of oil. In February 2006, al-Qaida attacked the Abqaiq oil facilities in Eastern Province, which supplies almost 10% of the world's oil. The attack did not stop exports, but pushed up oil prices by $2 a barrel.

In most cases, the Petroleum Installation Security Force “supplemented by specialized brigades of the National Guard”. The Navy and Coast guard work to protect terminal docks and offshore fields and the Air Force provide surveillance and protection from the air.

The developments of technology for security, Saudi Aramco has built advanced communication centers to manage emergency and supply disruptions in its pipelines and processing hubs. For example, in November 2002, Aramco inaugurated a new Abqaiq Area Emergency Control Center (ECC). According to Aramco, the ECC houses 14 workstations, which control radio and telephone communication systems as well as link this to the Shaybah field, export stations, and pipeline control hubs.

The Saudi security budget is estimated to total more than $8.0 billion in 2004, between 2002 and 2004, $1.2 billion to increase security at all of its energy facilities. Oil fields are large area targets, with many redundant facilities.

Energy security will, however, be a continuing problem for Saudi Aramco and the world. Moreover, global energy use expected to rise by more than 50% by 2025, and the security of Saudi energy exports will play a steadily more vital role in the world’s economy.

Further Research will be conducted to analysis for Petroleum Infrastructure Security and Importance to Energy Security.

References:

http://www.saudiaramco.com/irj/portal/anonymous
Source: Saudi Aramco
http://www.iags.org/saudi.html
The Institute for the Analysis of Global Security (IAGS)
http://www.energysecurityme.com/cgi-bin/templates/genevent.html?topic=229&event=13823
Security for Energy Infrastructure: Middle East 2007

Book Note: National Security in Saudi Arabia:
Threats, Responses and Challenges