Saudi Aramco`s reservoir simulation technology wins Patent

DHAHRAN, June 20, SPA -- The EXPEC Advanced Research Center
(EXPEC-ARC) has been granted a patent (U.S. Pat. 7,526,418) for its
invention of a “Highly Parallel, Implicit Compositional Simulator for
Multi-Million-Cell Models.”

It is the first patent to be granted for Saudi Aramco’s
industry-leading reservoir simulation technology: Parallel Oil, Water
and Gas Enhanced Reservoir Simulator (POWERS), according to a latest
report carried by Saudi Aramco's web-site.


A four-member team of EXPEC-ARC has devised GigaPOWERS patented
technology.

“This patent recognizes just one of EXPEC ARC’s many initiatives
that have built the pathway for Saudi Aramco’s cornerstone
technology, GigaPOWERS™,” said Amin H. Nasser, senior vice president
of Exploration and Producing.

`To simulate the giant reservoirs of the Middle East, hundreds of
millions — and even billions — of cells are necessary to build the
reservoir models and illustrate changes over time. Finding a way to
harness enough computing power, or to link enough computing resources
together to communicate with each other, has been the perpetual
challenge throughout the industry.

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