Qatar Shell partners with academic institutions on national research projects

Doha, Qatar – Research partners of Qatar Shell Research and Technology Centre (QSRTC) were recently awarded three National Priorities Research Program (NPRP) grants by Qatar National Research Fund (QNRF), totalling approximately US$2 million. As the industrial partner to several academic institutions on three projects, QSRTC will collaborate locally and internationally to develop solutions designed to address industrial-related corrosion issues and water treatment.

QSRTC, which is an anchor tenant at Qatar Science and Technology Park, was established in 2008 to develop and deploy technology that supports the Qatar National Research Strategy. Since 2015, QSRTC has collaborated on five projects that have received QNRF funding.

Two three-year projects will target the issue of corrosion. This is notable because corrosion is the most prevalent cause of failure in many oil and gas infrastructures, particularly those exposed to harsh environments. It is responsible for about 70% of the repair and replacement needs in pipelines and piping.

In partnership with Qatar University (QU) and Imperial College London, QSRTC will develop new sensor technology for real time, online monitoring of “under deposit” corrosion risks in wet sour gas pipelines. Another project, in partnership with Texas A&M University at Qatar, Qatar Environment and Energy Research Institute, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Chimie de Lille in France, and Université de Montreal in Canada, will use multi-scale computational modelling to unveil corrosion mechanisms and investigate prevention. Dr Marwa Al-Ansary, Research and Development and Technology Manager at QSRTC, and Dr Nicholas Laycock, Senior Materials and Corrosion Engineer at Qatar Shell, will serve as the primary industry investigators and consultants on both projects.

The third project will develop and evaluate nano-particle-based biocatalysts to treat process water. QSRTC will collaborate with QU and Delft University in the Netherlands on the project. Dr Udeogu Onwusogh, Water Research and Development Team Lead at QSRTC, will serve as the principal industry investigator and consultant.

QSRTC and QU are also partners on two ongoing projects funded by QNRF targeting corrosion research and development.

“From our beginning, QSRTC has been committed to research and development projects that not only add value to Qatar Shell, but to Qatar as a nation,” said Youssif Saleh, Vice President of Qatar Shell Research and Technology Centre. “These three projects address issues critical to the industry and environment of Qatar, and we thank QNRF for the grants and we are pleased to continue working with the Fund on such important projects.”

As the anchor tenant of Qatar Science and Technology Park, QSRTC plays a vital role in the future of research and development in Qatar through ground-breaking research and thought-leadership. In addition, QSRTC works closely with universities and schools to develop local Qatari talent and enhance technical capabilities, therefore delivering sustainable impact in support of the Qatar National Vision 2030.