The Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) celebrated today the inauguration of its second nature-based project, Rima Water Treatment Plant.
The project, valued at RO 87 million, follows the success of the company’s award-winning Nimr Wetlands, which treats produced water using a series of sloping reed fields and evaporation ponds.
Spanning an area of 25 km2, Rima Water Treatment Plant uses a gravitational oil and water separation and natural biological treatment process, an emerging breakthrough technology that is the first of its kind to be used in Oman.
This innovative solution not only ensures the effective treatment of the water but also creates a desert oasis for local wildlife. The project has the capacity to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by an impressive 53,000 tonnes per year.
Prior to the launch of the plant, 60% of the associated water produced at Rima was used for water flooding to maximise recovery, with the remaining 40% being pumped into a deep reservoir in an expensive and energy-intensive operation. This has now been replaced by a more environmentally friendly and sustainable solution, capable of processing up to 65,000 cubic metres of associated water a day and reducing high-energy consumption by 10 megawatts.
The construction and commissioning of the plant came four months ahead of schedule with around 1.38 million LTI-free manhours achieved. Additionally, all construction work was carried out by local companies, with a number of equipment being procured and prefabricated in Oman.
The ceremony was attended by several senior government officials, members of the company’s board and executive committee and representatives from both the public and private sectors.
