J a p a n C o o p e ra t i o n C e n t e r, P e t r o l e u m

NEWS
No.

119 2014 September

Connected by technology, person-to-person

Topics■ JCCP Alumni Meeting■ The 22nd Joint GCC-Japan Environment Symposium■ Participation in Middle East Petrotech 2014■ '&66LPXODWRU%ULHÀQJ
■ Corporate Cooperation in Oil-producing Countries

JCCP NEWS No. 119 September 2014

Table of Contents
Announcing Changes in Full-time Board Members ............................................................................................................ 3

TopicsJCCP Alumni Meeting Held in Saudi Arabia ....................................................................................................................... 4
The 22nd Joint GCC-Japan Environment Symposium ......................................................................................................... 7
Participation in Middle East Petrotech 2014 in Bahrain .................................................................................................. 11
DCS Simulator Brieﬁng ..................................................................................................................................................... 12

Personnel Exchange Programs
Regular Course on Advanced Control Technologies in the Oil Downstream ................................................................... 14
CPJ Seminar on Japanese-style HRM/HRD for KNPC ........................................................................................................ 16
CPO Seminar on Corrosion, Maintenance and Inspection of Static Equipment for Professional Engineers from
Saudi Aramco .............................................................................................................................................................. 18
Report on the Training Cooperation Program: Saudi Arabia & Qatar ............................................................................. 20
Report on the Training Cooperation Program: Qatar & UAE ........................................................................................... 22
JCCP Regular Courses Completed .................................................................................................................................... 24

Technical Cooperation
Joint Project on the Removal of Mercury from Natural Gas (Oman) ............................................................................... 27
Special Cooperation Study on Technical Support of Introduction of Formation Water Treatment for Reﬁneries inSouthern Region of Iraq.............................................................................................................................................. 28
The 15th Kuwait-Japan Joint Symposium ........................................................................................................................ 31
Joint Project on Treatment and Utilization of the Oilﬁeld-produced Water in Oman Phase II ........................................ 34
Progress Report on the Joint Study for Catalytic Polymerization Unit Improvement in QP Reﬁnery.............................. 36
Study of Environmental Measures for Crude Oil Shipping Terminal in Middle East Area (Saudi Arabia) ....................... 38
Study on the Promotion of a VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) Recovery Unit for Service Stations (SS) ..................... 40
Progress Report on the Special Cooperation Program on Research & Development of Evaluation of FCC Additives
and HDS Catalysts for Vietnam ................................................................................................................................... 42
2nd International KACST-KAUST-JCCP Workshop on Surface and Subsurface 4D Monitoring ........................................ 44

Corporate Cooperation
Our Technical Cooperation in Oil-Producing Countries and Expectations of JCCP .......................................................... 48

Graduates’ Voices .............................................................................................................................. 52
Announcements
Personnel Changes ........................................................................................................................................................... 53
Please Help Us Update Our Roster / Please Send Us Message as Alumni /Registration Form for JCCP Course Graduates ........................................................................................................... 55
Update or Change of Address / Cancellation of Subscription .......................................................................................... 56
Editorial Postscript ........................................................................................................................................................... 57

Announcing Changes
in Full-time Board Members
Mr. Masataka Sase retired from the position of CEO & Executive Director as of this past June 30, and assumed
the position of Special Adviser, effective July 1, 2014.
The position of CEO & Executive Director has been filled by Mr. Tsuyoshi Nakai as of July 1.
Mr. Morihiro Yoshida, Managing Director, retired from JCCP, effective June 11.
We hope you will favor us with your continuous support and cooperation.

Special Adviser
Masataka Sase

CEO & Executive Director
Tsuyoshi Nakai

Outgoing Managing Director
Morihiro Yoshida

JCCP NEWS No. 119 September 20143

Topics

JCCP Alumni Meeting
Held in Saudi Arabia
1. Purpose of the Meeting
In March 2014, JCCP organized and held the Second
JCCP Alumni Meeting in Saudi Arabia. (The firstmeeting was held in UAE in November 2012.) Throughsuch alumni meetings, JCCP aims to verify the effects
and evaluations of JCCP activities that are implemented
in oil-producing countries, obtain hints for an evenmore effective implementation of future activities, andstrengthen personnel exchanges between these countries
and Japan. JCCP also aims to promote deeper relations
between counterpart oil-producing countries and Japanby requesting their continued support and cooperationin JCCP activities and building a network of cooperationin each country for these JCCP activities. Furthermore,as many JCCP alumni have become executive officers
and managers in state-run oil companies in theirrespective countries, JCCP hopes the alumni meetings
will ultimately contribute to the stable import of crude
oil supplies to Japan.

2. Reason for Holding the Meeting in
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia was selected as the venue of the alumni
meeting primarily because it is the largest and mostimportant supplier of crude oil to Japan. Another reason
is because there are as many as 911 JCCP alumni in Saudi
Arabia as of March 2014, who presently hold important

Mr. Abdulaziz F. Al Khayyal, Senior Vice President,
Saudi Aramco, giving a speech as the guest of honor

posts in national oil companies and related companies
at a higher rate compared to other countries.

3. Overview of the Alumni Meeting
The alumni meeting was held on March 6, 2014 at
Le Meridien Al Khobar, a hotel centrally located in Al
Khobar. In response to a broad invitation to JCCP alumni
in Saudi Arabia, 121 people from Saudi Arabia attended
the meeting. Together with 109 local Japanese participants,
the meeting was attended by some 230 people.
(1) Participants on the Saudi Arabian side included many
important figures particularly from Saudi Aramco,such as Mr. Abdulaziz F. Al Khayyal, Senior Vice

Commemorative VIP photo:
H.E. Mr. Jiro Kodera, Japanese Ambassador to Saudi Arabia (left);
Mr. Abdulaziz F. Al Khayyal, Senior Vice President, Saudi Aramco (third from left);
Ms. Huda M. Al Ghoson, Executive Director, Employee Relations & Training, Saudi Aramco (center)4

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JCCP NEWS No. 119 September 2014

Mr. Abdullah I. Al Jof, Manager, Technical Training Unit,
Eastern Province Branch, MPMR, giving a speech
on behalf of JCCP alumni in Saudi Arabia

President; Ms. Huda M. Al Ghoson, Executive
Director, Employee Relations & Training; and Mr.
Nasser A. Al-Nafisee, General Manager, Training& Development. Also among the Saudi Arabianparticipants were Mr. Abdullah I. Al Jof, Manager,
Technical Training Unit, Eastern Province Branch,
MPMR; and Mr. Abdulrahman Al-Subaie, Manager,
Riyadh Refinery, representing JCCP regular course
alumni.
(2) Participants on the Japanese side included H.E.
Mr. Jiro Kodera, Japanese Ambassador to Saudi
Arabia, his staff from the Japanese Embassy in
Saudi Arabia, members from representation offices
of Japanese oil wholesalers engaging in business in
the GCC countries, and members from other Japanesecompanies in Saudi Arabia. From JCCP, the meeting
was attended by the Executive Director, Managing
Director, and other relevant officers.
(3) The meeting opened with welcome speeches byrepresentatives on both the Japanese and Saudi
Arabian sides, followed by a keynote presentation

Mr. Abdulrahman Al-Subaie, Manager, Riyadh Reﬁnery,giving a speech on behalf of JCCP alumni
in Saudi Arabia

Article on the meeting printed in The Arabian Sun (Sunday,
March 20, 2014 issue): Ambassador Jiro Kodera (left) andMr. Abdulaziz F. Al Khayyal (right)

Meeting venue

JCCP alumni

JCCP NEWS No. 119 September 2014

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5

by Ambassador Kodera, and speeches by Mr. Al
Jof and Mr. Al-Subaie on behalf of JCCP alumni
in Saudi Arabia. It also featured a showcase ofJapanese culture, which included a kabuki lion dance
performance and Japanese foods, including Japanese
crafted candies, sushi and tempura.
(4) In a questionnaire completed by all alumni members
attending the meeting, 80% said the JCCP training
they received has been extremely helpful to them intheir current operations. Among the activities that havebeen helpful, offsite training (head offices, refineries,etc.) ranked highest at 70%, followed by exposure to
Japanese history and culture at 44%, and lectures at
JCCP Headquarters at 42%. With regard to technicalcooperation, the questionnaire strongly showed thatalumni members have particular interest in suchareas as efficiency improvement and enhancementof equipment operations, renewable energies, energy
conservation, and wastewater treatment.

4. Summary
The alumni meeting achieved the following two
results.
First, the large turnout of JCCP alumni in Saudi
Arabia indicated JCCP’s strong presence in Saudi
Arabia. At the same time, owing to an article on themeeting (attached) that was printed in Saudi Aramco’s
in-house newsletter, recognition of JCCP increased
especially within Saudi Aramco.
Second, responses to a questionnaire completed bymembers from Saudi Aramco and other Saudi Arabianparticipants allowed JCCP to gain an accurate grasp ofneeds in Saudi Arabia, and their many requests of JCCP
provided hints on the direction of training and technicalcooperation programs that would be required in the future.
As a result, we believe the alumni meeting contributed
anew to building a network in Saudi Arabia, as well as tostrengthening relations between Saudi Arabia and Japan.
<by Takaaki Yuasa, Training Dept.>6s 4OPICS s

JCCP NEWS No. 119 September 2014

Topics

The 22nd Joint GCC-Japan
Environment Symposium
The 22nd Joint GCC-Japan Environment Symposium
themed “Sustainable GCC Environment – Challenges
for Our Future” was held in Saudi Arabia over athree-day period from March 3 to 5, 2014, under theco-organization of JCCP and King Fahd Universityof Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM). This year’s
symposium was divided into four sessions, with thefourth session featuring a discussion forum, and wasattended by some 300 people from the GCC countries
and Japan.
On March 2, one day in advance of the opening of
the symposium, a Japanese delegation composed of Dr.
Koichi Segawa, Professor Emeritus of Sophia University
and leader of the delegation, Japanese speakers, Mr.
Morihiro Yoshida, Managing Director of JCCP, andother JCCP members paid a courtesy call on H.E. Dr.
Khalid S. Al-Sultan, Rector of KFUPM, to thank His
Excellency for his support of the implementation of thesymposium. Thereafter, a press conference was heldat KFUPM, and Mr. Yoshida and Dr. Alaa A. Bukhari,organizing committee chairman, fielded questions frommembers of the media. News of the press conference wasprominently featured in local newspapers, and contributed
to increasing public recognition of JCCP in Saudi Arabia.
On the first day of the symposium, an opening ceremonybegan with welcome speeches by H.E. Dr. Khalid S. AlSultan and Mr. Hesham Ahmad Al-Musaiid, Manager,
Saudi Aramco, representing the Saudi Arabian side, andMr. Morihiro Yoshida representing the Japanese side.
Dr. Al-Sultan extended his gratitude to JCCP,

Saudi Aramco, all speakers and participants, the
KFUPM secretariat, and everyone else concerned fortheir contribution to implementing the symposium,and expressed his hopes that it would be a fruitful
opportunity to shed light on the GCC countries’ pursuitof diversified and sustainable energy sources. Mr. AlMusaiid congratulated all parties concerned for thefifth holding of the symposium in Saudi Arabia, andexpressed his expectations that the forum will bear fruit
for all participants. Mr. Yoshida mentioned the keywords“synergy and mutual prosperity,” which Prime Minister
Shinzo Abe used in a speech on Japan’s ties with the
Middle East that he delivered during his visit to Saudi
Arabia last year, and associated them with Japan’s supportof the GCC countries through the provision of energysaving and environmental countermeasures. As JCCP
is dedicated to the provision of such countermeasures,
he said he believes the symposium, which composes animportant part of JCCP’s activities, will contribute to the
future of the environment, and thus also to “synergy andmutual prosperity.”
Following the opening ceremony, Dr. Segawa gave akeynote speech on “Catalyst Technology for Green andSustainable Chemistry.” He first explained that while
the chemical industry, which produces petrochemical
products and plastics, is a major industry, in Japan it hasin the past released toxic substances that adversely affectthe environment. However, owing to tremendous efforts
to address such pollution issues, most have been solved.
Dr. Segawa then explained that catalyst development has

Press conference

Dr. Koichi Segawa, Professor Emeritus of Sophia University,
giving a keynote speech

JCCP NEWS No. 119 September 2014

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7

Presentation of a commemorative plaque from H.E. Dr. Khalid
S. Al-Sultan, Rector of KFUPM, to Mr. Morihiro Yoshida,
Managing Director of JCCP

been promoted in Japan in consideration of minimizing
chemical waste, avoiding the use of hazardous
substances, and reducing the use of natural resources.
Following the keynote speech, experts from the GCC
countries and Japan gave presentations in two sessions
on day one: Session 1 on “Environmental Issues andSustainable Environmental Development in Oil and
Gas Industry,” and Session 2 on “Ground Water andWastewater Management.” On day two (March 3),
Session 3 was held on “Environmental Challenges for
Desalination and Refining Industry,” and Session 4
featured a forum that spotlighted environmental issues
in refineries, following on from last year’s program.
In the forum, speakers from refineries in the five GCC
countries (Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, andQatar) and Japan gave presentations pertaining to thetheme of the forum on “Management of Solid Waste,
Wastewater and Gaseous Emissions in Refineries.”
With regard to Japanese speakers, in Session 1,
Dr. Seiji Maeda, Manager, Research & Development
Planning Department, JX Nippon Oil & Energy

Forum scene8

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Corporation, gave a presentation on “Technical andSocial Demonstration of Hydrogen Stations Integrated
with Gas Stations Targeting the Commercial Start of Fuel
Cell Vehicles (FCV).” In Session 3, Mr. Hisato Aoyama,
Manager, Heavy Oil Project Market Development
Department, JGC Corporation, gave a presentation
on “Application of Ultrafiltration Membrane System
to Water Recycle System for Oil Industry,” and Dr.
Takanori Fujimoto, Senior Researcher Chemist,
Research & Development Unit, Cosmo Oil Co. Ltd.,gave a presentation on “Management of Wastewaterand Approach of Excess Bio-Sludge Reduction for
Refinery.” In Session 4 (forum), Dr. Hiroki Kimoto,Chief Associate, Technology & Engineering Center,
Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd., gave a presentation on“Prevention of the Material Degradation of Boilers.”
A total of 18 technical papers were presented
during the symposium. Based on their experience andtechnologies, the speakers mutually shared technicaladvice and exchanged views throughout the course of
the symposium in regard to environmental issues they
face, and no doubt acquired information that is extremely
useful to their research and operations.
In a closing ceremony held after the final presentation
on March 5, Dr. Abu Nasser Khondaker from KFUPM
expressed his gratitude to the KFUPM symposium
secretariat, Saudi Aramco, the speakers and other parties
concerned from the GCC countries and Japan.
On the last day of the symposium (March 5),participants from Japan and the GCC countries gathered
for a technical tour. Guided by Mr. Ronald Loughlandfrom Saudi Aramco’s Environment Department, they
toured the Ras Tanura Refinery (residential area) and amangrove-planting project the company is implementing
near the refinery. Mangrove planting involves time andeffort, as seedlings are grown by gradually applying

Area where Saudi Aramco is implementing a mangrove
planting project

JCCP NEWS No. 119 September 2014

water with higher and higher salinity. After gaining
first-hand knowledge of the hard work that goes intoplanting mangrove trees, a common wish was expressed
for the project to succeed and greenify Saudi Arabia’s
coastal regions.
The next GCC-Japan Joint Symposium is planned
to be held in Kuwait. We have high expectations that it

will not only contribute to environmental improvementin the GCC countries, but will also lead to even greater
results as a forum for the discovery of specific needs
for environmental improvement, the dissemination of
JCCP activities to symposium participants, and personal
exchanges among environmental personnel from the
GCC countries and Japan.
<by Tsuyoshi Ota, Technical Cooperation Dept.>

FY2013 Joint GCC-Japan Environment Symposium Program
Opening Ceremony
KeynoteSpeechJapan

Country

Dr. Koichi Segawa
Professor Emeritus, Sophia University“Catalyst Technology for Green and Sustainable Chemistry”

Title

Speaker/Organization

Session 1: Environmental Issues and Sustainable Environmental Development in Oil and Gas Industry
Session Chair:
Mr. Abdul Wahab Zaki Ali (KFUPM/Saudi Arabia)
Dr. Abdulaziz Al-Shaibani
King Fahd University of Petroleum &Minerals1

Saudi Arabia

Environmental Impact of Upstream Oil and Gas
Activities

2

UAE

Removal of CO2 and H2S from Natural Gas Using
Dr. Mohamed H. Al-Marzouqi
Hollow Fiber Membrane Contactors at ADGAS Field
UAE University
Conditions

3

Japan

Technical and Social Demonstration of Hydrogen
Stations Integrated with Gas Stations Targeting theCommercial Start of Fuel Cell Vehicles (FCV)Dr. Seiji Maeda
JX Nippon Oil & Energy Corporation

Session 2: Groundwater and Wastewater Management
Session Chair:Dr. Muhammad H. Al-Malack (KFUPM/Saudi Arabia)
Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia: Moving Towards Sustainable Use of
Natural Resources

Dr. Majed M. Abueshey
Presidency of Meteorology andEnvironment2

KuwaitWater Security in the Gulf Cooperation
Council (GCC) Countries: The Role of a Uniﬁed
Regional Hydrogeological Database in Assessing
Transboundary Aquifers

Mr. Adnan S.S.S.A. Akbar
Kuwait Institute for Scientiﬁc Research

3

Oman

Usage of Treated Wastewater for Bio-fuelProduction

Dr. Ahmed Al-Busaidi
Sultan Qaboos University

4

Performance of Submerged Fixed-bed Bioﬁlm
Saudi Arabia Reactor Packed with Black Scoria for Municipal
Wastewater Treatment

1

Dr. Saber A. El-Shafai
King Saud University

JCCP NEWS No. 119 September 2014

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9

Session 3: Environmental Challenges for Desalination and Reﬁning Industry
Session Chair:
Mr. Hamed Al Rumhi (Oman Oil Reﬁneries and Petroleum Industries Co./Oman)
1

Saudi Arabia

Effect of Discharges from Desalination Plants on
Coastal Environments in Saudi Arabia

Dr. Mohamed Osman Saeed Musa
Saline Water Conversion Corporation

2

Japan

Application of Ultraﬁltration Membrane System to
Water Recycle System for Oil Industry

Dr. Hisato Aoyama
JGC Corporation

3

Japan

Management of Wastewater and Approach ofExcess Bio-Sludge Reduction for Reﬁnery

Dr. Takanori Fujimoto
Cosmo Oil Co., Ltd.

4

Saudi Arabia The EcoRightTM Biological Treatment Technology

Mr. Nidal Samad
Saudi Aramco

Session 4: Forum: Management of Solid Waste, Wastewater and Gaseous Emissions in Reﬁneries
Moderator:
Dr. Khaled Abdulkader (Saudi Aramco/Saudi Arabia)
Japan

2

Environmental Best Practices in Groundwater
Saudi Arabia Protection for the Oil and Gas Industry in Middle
East

3

KuwaitSustainable Environmental Development throughWastewater Management at KNPC

Mr. Yaqoub Alhaddad
Kuwait National Petroleum Company

4

Qatar

Developing and Implementing a GHG Accounting
and Reporting Program for Reﬁneries

Mr. Yousef A.A.Y. Al-Hussaini
Qatar Petroleum

5

Oman

Mr. Majid Al Saidi
Sohar Reﬁnery Environmental Improvement Projects Oman Oil Reﬁneries and Petroleum
Industries Co.

6

Bahrain

Treatment Performance of the BAPCO Biological
Wastewater Treatment Plant

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Prevention of the Material Degradation of Boilers

Dr. Hiroki Kimoto
Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd.

1

Mr. Philip Reed
Saudi Aramco

Mr. Ali Redha Awadh Ali Hasan
Bahrain Petroleum Company

JCCP NEWS No. 119 September 2014

Topics

Participation in
Middle East Petrotech 2014 in Bahrain
The 9th Middle East Refining and Petrochemicals
Conference & Exhibition 2014 was held over a fourday period from May 18 to 21, 2014 at the International
Exhibition Center in Bahrain.

1. Overview
Petrotech is a large-scale international convention
that is held every two years in Bahrain to promote thedevelopment and exchange of technologies in the oilrefining and petrochemical industries. It is organized andsponsored by state-run oil companies and petrochemicalcompanies in the Middle East region (Saudi Aramco,
BAPCO, ADNOC, QP, KPC, etc.), as well as global oiland petrochemical companies (Axens, Honeywell UOP,etc.). Themed on “Downstream Value Chain Integration
Opportunities,” this year’s event opened on May 18
with a plenary session, in which opening addresses were
given by H.E. Shaikh Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Khalifa,
Chairman, National Oil & Gas Authority (NOGA),
Bahrain; and Mr. Omar Bazuhair, Executive Director,
Refining & NGL Fractionation, Saudi Aramco, Saudi
Arabia. In addition to various sessions and workshops,
the event also featured an exhibition by more than 80
companies. JCCP participated in the exhibition for thesixth time this year, staffed by Yoshishige Tsujimura

Exhibition venue(The Bahrain International Exhibition Center)and Misako Iwase from the Planning & Public Relations
Group in the Administration Department.

2. Objectives of Participating in the
Exhibition
Through participation in the exhibition, JCCP hopes
to introduce JCCP activities to people related to the oil
business in Middle East oil-producing countries and toattendees of the convention and exhibition. At the sametime, JCCP aimed to take advantage of the opportunity
this year to present JCCP’s 30-plus-year history ofMembers of Saudi Aramco at the International Exhibition Center (from left to right):
Mr. Mohammed Al Abdulkarim, Manager of Jazan Reﬁnery and Terminal Projects Department
Mr. Sulaiman Al-Bargan , General Manager of Jazan Reﬁnery
Mr. Abdul-Rahman Al-Subaie, Manager of Riyadh Reﬁnery
Mr. Abdullah Al-Deraibi, Operation manager of Jazan Reﬁnery
Mr. Masataka Sase, CEO & Executive Director of JCCP (third from right)
H .E. Mr. Shigeki Sumi, Japanese Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Bahrain (second from right)

JCCP NEWS No. 119 September 2014

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cooperation in oil-producing countries, and to once again
meet and exchange information with key figures in oilproducing countries who have played an important partin JCCP activities.

3. Exhibition
This being JCCP’s sixth participation in the event,there was greater recognition of JCCP than before, andalso owing to an email notice that was sent in advanceto relevant parties in Bahrain and neighboring countries,
many JCCP alumni took the time to visit JCCP’sbooth. Although the booth occupied a space of only 18
square meters, the steady stream of alumni gave it theatmosphere of a reunion.
Commemorating the 30th anniversary of JCCP

activities, group photos and the names of people who
participated in JCCP activities over the past 30 years
were compiled into an album and made available forbrowsing by visitors to JCCP’s booth. It was a hit withmany alumni, who reminisced about their memories ofJapan, as well as non-alumni, who took interest in not
only JCCP’s training program but also in Japan while
flipping through photos of their colleagues and superiors
in their younger days.
In addition to providing detailed explanations of
JCCP activities, JCCP’s booth also displayed a streaming
video of JCCP activities and interviews with alumni in
Arabic and English, and introduced the beauty of Japanby handing out promotional paper fans printed with
JCCP’s logo on a background of the World Heritage Siteof Mount Fuji and cherry blossoms.

4. Summary
JCCP’s participation in Middle East Petrotech 2014
ended on a high note, with JCCP’s booth receiving a totalof more than 200 visitors over the course of the event.
The fact that many alumni are now senior or
management-class officers in their respective companies,
and also include two generations of family members who
have participated in a JCCP course, was interpreted asclear testament to the relationship of trust that JCCP andoil-producing countries have developed thus far.
JCCP’s booth<by Misako Iwase, Administration Dept.>

TopicsDCS Simulator Briefing
1. Introduction
JCCP offers various types of simulators to provide
training that is as practical as possible. These simulators
consist of a distributed control system (DCS) thatis indispensable to plant operations and a miniatureplant that is used in actual field devices. The DCS
system consists of two simulator models, which aresystematically renewed for improvement to provide
training that measure up to the latest technicaladvancements. One of the simulators, namely theNo. 6 simulator, manufactured by Azbil Corporation,
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was renewed three years ago, and the other, the No.
5 simulator, manufactured by Yokogawa Electric
Corporation, was completed last October. As there havealways been requests from JCCP members regarding
DCS simulators, a briefing and introduction of the
new DCS simulators was held for JCCP members, as
outlined below.

2. Overview of the Brieﬁng
The briefing attracted a larger turnout than expected,
not only from JCCP’s Training Department, but also

JCCP NEWS No. 119 September 2014

Hands-on experience session

from other departments as well. It was organized inthree parts, beginning with an overview of the system,
then providing an explanation of its startup method, andending with a hands-on experience in DCS simulator
operations for those interested. The general descriptionof the system included the history of DCS that dates
back roughly 40 years, the reason why the system iscalled a “distributed” instrumentation control system, an
introduction of an actual field control station and otherdevices that compose the main parts of the system, anddetails of practical training that are provided in JCCP
training programs.
A startup ceremony was provided by activating
the operation that is usually first implemented in DCS
simulator training—that is, the operation to inject water
into the water tank. When water began to be injected
into the three miniature plants practically at the sametime, exclamations of surprise and applause arose fromthe participants.
The following hands-on experience session won
great popularity with a larger number of participants
than expected, in contrast to initial concern that only a
few might be interested. During the session, a pair ofparticipants each sat and practiced in front of the threeoperation desks, with additional participants waiting
their turn.
The hands-on experience provided the same trainingthat is provided to participants of JCCP training programs.
In the operation to adjust the water level in the tank toa target value, some were able to make the adjustment
smoothly in a short amount of time, while others wereable to achieve the target value only after fluctuating
above and below the target, but all participants seemed
to enjoy the simulator exercise all the same.

3. Summary
Some of the participants had heard the term DCS for
the first time, but the fact that they enjoyed the simulator
experience was more than we had hoped for. It was agood opportunity for all JCCP members to become morefamiliar with the DCS simulators. Taking a hint fromthis opportunity, we hope to give closer consideration
to providing an understanding of training facilities to all
JCCP members and to obtain various ideas from them toenhance the effective utilization of all training facilities.
New No. 5 simulator<by Kazuhiro Suzuki, Training Dept.>

JCCP NEWS No. 119 September 2014

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Personnel
Exchange

Regular Course
on Advanced Control Technologies
in the Oil Downstream
1. Introduction
This course aimed to provide a wide range of basic
to applied knowledge of distributed control systems(DCS) and other subjects related to instrumentation
control in plants.
JCCP has two types of DCS simulator models that areconnected to a DCS system and miniature plant. Basedon a renewal schedule for improvement, one model was
renewed three years ago, and the other completed its
renewal last October. Taking the occasion of the renewal,
new functions such as the fieldbus were introduced
to the simulators, as an addition to the conventional
instrumentation system. The course on Advanced
Control Technologies in the Oil Downstream featured
a program that incorporated these new functions, andwas implemented from April 14 to 24, 2014, as outlined
below.

2. Program Overview
2.1 Basic Instrumentation Control(1) Process control theories
The participants first studied an overview of a basic
control function (PID) that is incorporated in DCS
systems, and its tuning methods, through a video andCAI (computer assisted instruction). They then engaged
in a hands-on exercise in operating a DCS simulator togather necessary data according to the tuning method
they studied earlier and compute PID parameters.
(Lecture and practice at JCCP Headquarters)(3) Management of instrumentation devices
Participants learned about the structure and safe
inspection methods of control valves (C/V) through alecture on C/V maintenance management and handson training in C/V disassembly and assembly. (Offsite
training at Azbil Corporation, Shonan Factory)(4) Wireless instrumentation system
Wireless instrumentation system is gradually being
introduced to refineries in Japan. Participants learned
specifically about the basic technology, application anddesign of the wireless system through practical training.
(Offsite training at Emerson Japan, Ltd., Mizushima
Solutions Center)
2.2 Applied Instrumentation Control(1) Process optimization
It is difficult to stabilize an actual process by basic
DCS control functions only. Participants learned thatthese systems, the advanced control system and processoptimization system that utilize optimization tools basedon an even higher process simulator, are effective tosolve the problem. (Lecture at JCCP Headquarters by
Invensys Process Systems, Inc.)(2) Examples for applied APC system
A visit was made to an actual plant to study an(2) Comprehensive study of DCS and related devices
Comprehensive knowledge was provided of thelatest DCS functions, safety instrumented systems(SIS) that are being adopted worldwide, the latest in
instrumentation technologies, such as the fieldbus
system, and other such devices while observing actual
systems and devices first-hand. (Offsite training at
Yokogawa Electric Corporation, Mitaka Headquarters)
Hands-on training using the No. 5 simulator

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JCCP NEWS No. 119 September 2014

was provided about differences in the conventional
communication protocol, the HART protocol, and thefieldbus system, and hands-on training was provided
on the control of an actual fieldbus device, based on an
examination of the defining relationship for reading datafrom the fieldbus device to a DCS, the development ofa screen for monitoring processes, and the definition ofa controller.

Hands-on training using the No. 6 simulator

overview of the APC system, including the backgroundto its development, effectiveness, and development
and maintenance management framework, and specificexamples of applied APC systems. (Offsite training at
Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd., Aichi Refinery)(3) Alarm management
As guidance and standards of alarm management areprovided by a number of different institutions, a general
overview was provided of this guidance and standards, inaddition to functions that are installed in the latest DCS
systems (at JCCP). (Lecture at JCCP Headquarters by
Azbil Corporation)(4) DCS engineering
Hands-on engineering training was provided overtwo days, to allow participants to experience both of
the new DCS simulators. More specifically, a lecture(5) Modernization of instrumentation
This lecture provided a general summary of
the course. In addition to covering recent topics ininstrumentation, such as in regard to the fieldbus system
and wireless instrumentation, it provided notes about themodernization of instrumentation through case examplesof the renewal of instrumentation facilities. (Lecture at
JCCP Headquarters by JGC Corporation)

3. Summary
In this course, greater weight was placed on practicaltraining using DCS simulators compared to previous
implementations of the course, but less time was needed
to complete each hands-on training assignment. Thisis likely due to the participants possessing advanced
skills, and also because the new DCS simulators havebecome more user-friendly than their previous versions.
However, as responses to a questionnaire conductedat the end of the course revealed that participants
desired more time for training in APC, DCS, fieldbuses
and wireless instrumentation, this will be taken into
consideration in improving the course program in the
future.
<by Kazuhiro Suzuki, Training Dept.>

JCCP NEWS No. 119 September 2014

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Personnel
Exchange

CPJ Seminaron Japanese-style HRM/HRD for KNPC
1. Background and Objective
The new generation of young people in a resourcerich, affluent Gulf country like Kuwait is particularly
hard pressed to find employment among the country’s
entire working population, as the upstream industries
they seek offer limited job openings. However, given
an environment in which projects for the constructionof new oil refineries and chemical complexes andexpansion of facility capacities are launched one after theother, measures need to be taken to secure employment
for the national workforce by attracting young nationals
to new downstream projects.
In the upstream sector of the oil and natural gas
industries, the number of direct employment is limitedin scale by the frequent use of contractors comparedto general businesses, and management personnel andspecially skilled engineers are preferentially employed.
When taking this into consideration, future jobs foryoung nationals should be made available in energy
device industries, in which full-time employees assume
central roles in operations, as they do in Japan’s oil
refining and petrochemical industries.
In Kuwait as well, companies that contribute toincreasing domestic employment are concentrated in
the downstream sector, such as the oil refining andpetrochemical industries. The country thus faces the
major challenge of employing and training nationals,
including not only conventional employees but also theParticipants at the March seminar:
At Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd., Aichi Reﬁnery

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increasing numbers of new workers, and of employing
them until their age of retirement under an employment
style much like Japan’s traditional personnel systemrepresented by lifetime employment and seniority-based
advancement, so that it may achieve the nationalization
target in the energy industry.
Kuwait National Petroleum Company (KNPC) istaking this situation as a turning point in the personnel
employment and education system in affluent Gulf
countries, where cheap foreign labor is used toundertake operations and routine work and nationals
are promised executive positions in state-run companies
after acquiring an education, and is aiming to make
improvements in its personnel system.
Based on the above understanding, a customized
course was held on two occasions, from March 3 to 14
and from June 2 to 13, 2014, designed to help KNPC
respond to the anticipated increase in national employees
by formulating a human resource development program
based on lifetime employment and lifelong training
during employees’ course of employment.

2. Seminar Content
The March seminar was attended by 17 participants
and the June seminar by 13 participants. As they were all
managerial personnel related to HRM and HRD, such asteam leader and so on, at KNPC, consideration was given
to introducing Japanese-style practices in comparison

Participants at the June seminar:
At JCCP Headquarters

JCCP NEWS No. 119 September 2014

with KNPC’s HRM/HRD systems. A general outline ofthe program is shown below.
(1) Primary emphasis was placed on the understandingthat there are no HRM rules and practices that arecommon to all companies and organizations, andthat these entities in each country should develop
appropriate HRM practices in light of their country’s
history, climate, culture, way of thinking and codesof conduct.
(2) Japan’s post-war economic growth achieved theworld’s second-highest GDP in 23 years after World:DU ɉ RXWUDQNLQJ *HUPDQ\ -DSDQ·V +50+5'
practices were given as examples that supported
Japan’s growth; however focus was also placed on thechanges that took place thereafter. An improvementof Japanese-style HRM/HRD practices was firstattempted by adopting the management-by-objective
scheme and results-oriented approach in response
to social changes, but extreme introduction of theresults-oriented approach caused various problems
in a large majority of companies and organizationsin Japan. As a result, there is now a trend to correct
the mistake of adopting the results-oriented approachand to restore the conventional HRM/HRD system.
(3) In particular, to provide an understanding of thesuccessful growth of the Japanese economy after thewar, light was first shed on how the thought processes
and codes of conduct of the Japanese people havedeveloped within the country’s 2,000-plus year
history, and emphasis was placed on the importanceof recognizing how they combined with the demandsof the times to form the foundation of Japan’s unique

HRM system (lifetime employment, seniority
system, company unions) and ultimately contributeto postwar reconstruction and rapid growth.
(4) The employment and development of national
workers is a major issue in Kuwait, as it is in otheraffluent oil-producing countries, and “Kuwaitization”
is also an important issue to KNPC. However, as
the labor market in Kuwait is not characterized byhigh mobility as it is in the Western countries but
is more similar to that in Japan, it was explainedthat HRM/HRD systems established by inviting
Western consultants to the country would not function
effectively, and that Japanese-style HRM/HRD
would be more suitable.
(5) Practical on-the-job training aimed to deepen
participants’ understanding of how to introduce
new education/training systems and bring them tosuccess, such as (1) by providing not only knowledgeof HRM systems but also specific case studies ofsmall-group activities and Kaizen activities related
to HRD at Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd. and JX Nippon
Oil & Energy Corporation, and (2) by discussing
issues related to how to formulate and implement
specific education/training programs on HRD at
Meisei University.

3. Summary
The two seminars seemed to be highly well-received
by the participants. Thus, JCCP wishes to extend
continued assistance to KNPC and see through to thedevelopment of an HRM/HRD system that would place
Kuwaiti workers in most job categories at KNPC.
<by Taro Shoji, Training Dept.>

JCCP NEWS No. 119 September 2014

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Personnel
Exchange

CPO Seminaron Corrosion, Maintenance andInspection of Static Equipment forProfessional Engineers from Saudi Aramco
1. Background and Objective
Customized Programs-Overseas (CPO) on
maintenance management, maintenance management
by TPM activities, and safety management have been
held on a continuous basis for Saudi Aramco’s refineryengineers since fiscal 2007. Within this scheme, JCCP
recently received a request for a course on specialized
maintenance and inspection technologies for middlelevel-class engineers and above, from the Professional
Engineering Development Division (PEDD), a division
under the Engineering Services Department at Saudi
Aramco that is responsible for providing educationand training programs to Saudi Aramco’s professional
engineers. In response to this request, JCCP organized
a seminar that aimed to build the technical capacities ofengineers who engage in maintenance and inspection
activities at Saudi Aramco. Based on three themes—
corrosion control technologies for refinery equipment,
facility deterioration evaluation and countermeasures,and inspection technologies—selected from among thetechnical management standards compiled by the Japan
Petroleum Institute (JPI) (and translated into English by
JCCP), the seminar was implemented over a five-day
period from February 9 to 13, 2014 at PEDD, locatedin Saudi Aramco’s Head Office district. The lecturers of

the seminar included Fumihiro Tone and Hiromitsu Saito
from JCCP, Mr. Kiyoshi Sakaino from JGC Corporation,and Mr. Takashi Shimizu from Chiyoda Corporation.
These members were judged and approved by Saudi
Aramco as highly appropriate lecturers for the seminar,
based on a prior screening of their curriculum vitae andan oral examination conducted over the phone.
The participants were a group of 15 engineers
engaged in maintenance and inspection activities at
Saudi Aramco’s various facilities, including refineries,
NGL fractionation plants, gas production plants,
pipelines, and research institute. They were a wideranging group composed of engineers with only a few
years of experience to those with more than 25 years ofexperience.

2. Seminar Content
The seminar opened with a message from Mr. Bassam
Bokhari, Division Head of PEDD, who explained thatthe seminar was realized with support from JCCP, andencouraged the participants to absorb the knowledgeof Japanese maintenance and inspection technologies
related to corrosion and make full use of that knowledge
in future operations. Following Mr. Bokhari’s speech,
Tone (JCCP) gave a lecture entitled “MaintenanceParticipants of the seminar

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JCCP NEWS No. 119 September 2014

management in Japanese refineries,” and discussed thesignificance and purposes of maintenance management.
He also introduced case examples in which facility
design flaws led to corrosion accidents, from amongserious accidents that have occurred at oil complexes
in Japan.
On the second day, Mr. Shimizu (Chiyoda
Corporation) gave a lecture on facility deterioration
evaluation and countermeasures with particular focus
on three issues: deterioration and damage from hightemperature operations (temperatures above 200°C),
environmental embrittlement and cracks (temperatures
below 200°C), and mechanical damage (ductile fracture,
brittle fracture, fatigue fracture). The lecture captured theattention of the participants by incorporating references
to the JPI standard, API and NACE as much as possible,
and actual case experiences.
On the third day, Mr. Sakaino (JGC Corporation)lectured on inspection technologies that are frequently
used in refineries, ranging from the general to thelatest technologies, and introduced specific application
examples to discuss the advantages and precautions ofvarious inspection methods.
On the fourth day, Hiromitsu Saito (JCCP) spoke on
corrosion control technologies for refinery equipment.
Giving particular focus to such topics as corrosionthat occurs in the process from the vacuum distillation
unit to desulfurization unit, material deterioration andother similar types of damage, material improvement
as a countermeasure to inspection damage, andoperational environment measures, he introduced
Japan’s experience, knowledge and technologies thathave been applied to corrosion and other similar typesof damage in Japanese refineries, the improvement ofmaterials as a countermeasure to such damage, andmeasures for operational environments.
On the final day, quizzes that were given every day
during the seminar and graded were returned to theparticipants, and each of the lecturers explained the
major points. On the whole, the participants rated theseminar extremely highly, with no negative feedback
concerning the content and materials of the seminar,or the English proficiency of the lecturers. Moreover,
JCCP received a request from PEDD for continued
implementation of the seminar.

3. Summary
As mentioned above, a quiz was given after eachlecture for the first time in a CPO, to verify theparticipants’ degree of understanding of each lecture.
As it prompted the participants to focus on answering
all questions while referring back to their textbooks,
the quizzes seemed to be an effective way to maintain
concentration and enhance learning among theparticipants.
<by Fumihiro Tone, Training Dept.>

JCCP NEWS No. 119 September 2014

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Personnel
Exchange

Report on the Training Cooperation Program—Saudi Arabia & Qatar—
From February 25 to March 10, 2014, JCCP
Lecturer Fumihiro Tone visited Saudi Arabia and Qatar
as part of a scheme to extend JCCP’s cooperation instrengthening relations for development of humanresources in major oil-producing countries, following
his last visit in November 2013. In Saudi Arabia,
meetings were arranged with key persons in various
relevant departments in Saudi Aramco, the principal oil
company in Saudi Arabia, to explain and exchange views
regarding JCCP regular courses to be offered in fiscal
2014, obtain their views about JCCP’s assistance within
Saudi Aramco’s education program, and explain someof the details being planned as part of the preliminary
preparation for the JCCP alumni meeting scheduled to beheld in fiscal 2014 in Saudi Arabia. In Qatar, a meeting
was held to discuss the schedule for implementing a
training program at Qatar Petroleum.

1. Saudi Arabia 5L\DGK5HÀQHU\In a meeting with Mr. Abdulrahman Al Subaie,
Manager; Mr. Abdulaziz M. Al-Shugair, MaintenanceSuperintendent; and Mr. Raad E. Al-Ali, PlanningSuperintendent, a discussion was held regarding themethod and dates for implementation of a maintenancerelated seminar at the Riyadh Refinery. To clarify theeffectiveness of a planned implementation of regular
maintenance, the refinery members requested theMr. Abdulrahman Al Subaie, Manager, Riyadh Reﬁnery(second from left)

20 s 0ERSONNEL %XCHANGE 0ROGRAMS s

seminar to be designed to identify onsite problems
and problem areas based on comparisons between thescope of regular maintenance at the Riyadh Refineryand in Japan so that future improvements could be
made. They expressed a particular desire to address thecritical path. Through the meeting and subsequent email
correspondence, the two sides agreed to initially send aJapanese expert during the regular maintenance period at
the Riyadh Refinery (April 30 – May 1, 2014) to identify
onsite issues, and thereafter organize a five-day seminarfrom June 1 to provide comparisons between the scopeof regular maintenance at the Riyadh Refinery and inJapan and examine improvement measures from theissues that have been identified.
(2) Professional Engineering Development Division(PEDD)A review of the evaluations of CPO-22-13(implemented Feb. 9 – 13) was held with Mr. Rashid
Kaleel Rahman, Supervisor, Program Development, who
acted as JCCP’s counterpart for the seminar. The PEDD
members who participated in the seminar gave extremely
high marks to the seminar itself as well as the textbook,and higher-than-average marks to the presentation skillsof the lecturers. Mr. Rahman further noted there is a goodchance for a seminar to be implemented again next fiscal
year. As PEDD held a committee meeting this past June
to discuss next fiscal year’s programs, he said a similarseminar as this recent CPO will probably be registeredfor implementation next fiscal year.
(3) Professional Development Department (PDD)
A meeting was held with the new director of PDD,
Mr. Abdullah Z. Al-Otaibi, for discussions aimed
at maintaining friendly relations between PDD and
JCCP. PDD plays a large role in the human resource
development of all Saudi Aramco employees who areuniversity graduates or higher, and is thus in chargeof receiving and approving/rejecting applications
for training programs inside and outside the country,
keeping records of results, etc. with regard to all PDD
employees who are university graduates or higher.
The training of high school-graduate employees is

JCCP NEWS No. 119 September 2014

Mr. Abdullah Z. Al-Otaibi, Director, PDD (right)

undertaken by the Industrial Training Department (ITD),
which also sends participants to JCCP regular courses.
Mr. Al-Otaibi expressed his wish to further solidify theties of cooperation that have so far been establishedbetween PDD and JCCP, and said he will continue tosend participants to JCCP programs. In particular, Mr.
Al-Otaibi noted that he feels JCCP regular courses
are effective in promoting information exchanges andcreating cooperative ties among the participants, as theybring together participants from multiple countries.
 +5'HYHORSPHQW'LYLVLRQ5HÀQLQJ 1*/
Fractionation
Refining & NGL Fractionation established the HR
Development Division within the department this fiscal
year, to cover the overall development and trainingof human resources in the department. JCCP’s Tone
thus met with Mr. Rafat M. Sagah, who was appointed
Superintendent of the new division. Mr. Sagah explainedthat as he has been placed in charge of training units at

Mr. Rafat M. Sagah, Superintendent, HR Development
Division, Reﬁning & NGL Fractionation (center)refineries and other facilities owing to the establishmentof the new organization, he will designate Mr. Rayyn S.
Tayeb, Supervisor (A), Manpower Development Unit,
to be JCCP’s counterpart.
According to Mr. Sagah, exposure to Japaneseculture and customs through training at JCCP has
provided a significant experience and has brought manychanges to all employees who have attended a JCCP
regular course. As a new training framework has been
established, he said that an application has been filed forthe implementation of a CPO on Japanese-style HRM
and HRD intended for the staff of Refining & NGL
Fractionation’s HR and Training Units, and that he will
also be among the participants of the seminar.

2. Qatar
Corporate Training Department, Qatar Petroleum
A meeting was held with Dr. Abderrazak Bella Baci,Head, Program Development & Evaluation, to discussa proposal for a customized program in response to arequest from Qatar Petroleum for a training programon issues regarding earthquake responses in refineries.
In regard to the FY2014 course schedule, Dr. Baciexpressed an interest in the new course on strategic
management, but noted the long course duration andsaid five days or so would be more realistic for QP
employees to attend.

3. Summary
The recent visits to three departments at Saudi Aramcoand the Corporate Training Dept. at Qatar Petroleum
identified strong expectations of JCCP training activities
and desires for continued cooperation. There seems to

Dr. Abderrazak Bella Baci, Head, Program Development &Evaluation, QP (right)

JCCP NEWS No. 119 September 2014

s 0ERSONNEL %XCHANGE 0ROGRAMS s 21

be a strong underlying trend coming from the Middle
East countries’ experience in interacting with various
Asian countries through business, to rediscover Japan inrecognition of its consistent manufacturing quality andhuman nature backed by culture. Given this situation,
we will strengthen our commitment to continue making
steady efforts to keep in frequent contact and cooperatewith JCCP counterpart departments in each country.
<by Fumihiro Tone, Training Dept.>

Personnel
Exchange

Report on the Training Cooperation Program—Qatar & UAE—
To contribute to human resource development in oilproducing countries, Koichi Io, Operations Department,
and Fumihiro Tone, Training Department, visited Qatar
and UAE from May 3 to 8, 2014. Specifically, they aimed
to provide advice concerning measures for improvementof the operation of training frameworks and training
content, strengthen relations with key persons in
the HRM/HRD departments at Qatar Petroleum andTasweeq in Qatar and ADNOC and TAKREER in UAE,
and identify needs in each company.

1. Qatar
1.1 Qatar Petroleum, Corporate Training
Department
JCCP’s previous counterpart at Qatar Petroleum was

replaced by a new member in October 2013, so thiswas the first chance for JCCP members to meet withthe present counterpart, Ms. Fatima Mohamed Al-Ali,
Assistant Manager, Vocational Training, A/AssistantManager, Professional Learning. Ms. Al-Ali said that as
JCCP regular courses harbor no problems whatsoever,
and are highly rated by all participants, she intends tocontinue sending QP employees to participate in JCCP
regular courses. The JCCP members, in turn, explainedthat should Qatar Petroleum have any request for a
special course, JCCP would be happy to consider its
implementation as a customized program.
7DVZHHT+HDG2IÀFH
A meeting was held with Mr. Abudulla Al Abdulmalek,
Executive Director ‒ Administration Directorate, and Dr.
Majid Ibrahim, Head of Learning and Development, toconfirm the final content of an “information exchange
program for young generation,” which has been exploredin detail since last fiscal year. As no problems wereconfirmed in the program content, preparations were
begun for implementation of the program from December
2 to 12, 2014 as the first choice for receiving young
employees from Tasweeq. Meanwhile, a suggestion wasmade to set the dates from January 25 to 29, 2015 forsending young employees from Japan to stay in Qatar.
Both sides agreed to finalize the details by mid-July.

2. UAEAt Tasweeq:
Mr. Abudulla Al Abdulmalek, Executive Director‒
Administration Directorate (second from right), andDr. Majid Ibrahim, Head of Learning and Development(far left)

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+57$.5((5+HDG2IÀFH
A meeting was held with Mr. Ahmed Herzallah,
Head, Career Development Section, and others in the

JCCP NEWS No. 119 September 2014

At TAKREER:
Mr. Ahmed Herzallah, Head, Career Development Section(second from right)

At ADNOC:
Mr. Mohamood Al Mulla, Head, Coordination Department,
Marketing Research & Business Support Division (far left)

section to discuss customized programs (CPO) that
JCCP has been implementing annually. A CPO on
maintenance activities had been scheduled for 2014, butwhen JCCP proposed the seminar in January, Takreer’sannual schedule for training had already been planned,
and the CPO could not be accommodated in the 2014
schedule. Thus, in a discussion held once again, a CPO
on corrosion, maintenance and inspection of static
equipment was agreed to be implemented in 2015.
Additionally, a general description was given of a TPM
course in response to a request for a CPO featuringclassroom lectures intended for refinery operators. Bothsides agreed to respectively consider the above seminarcontent and discuss details at a later date.

explanation to JCCP’s emergency assistance programfor UAE and an overview of expenses accompanying
its implementation. Both ADNOC officers expressed
their appreciation for the scheme, although they said
they have no specific requests at the moment. It is thus
necessary to consider ways to present and promote
training proposals for receiving participants to Japan in
the form of a CPJ seminar.

$'12&
A meeting was held with Ms. Salama Al Mansoori,
Training Specialist and JCCP’s counterpart in the
HRM department, and Mr. Mohamood Al Mulla,Head, Coordination Department, Marketing Research& Business Support Division, to provide a background3. Summary
The implementation of human resource development
programs such as the emergency assistance program for
ADNOC is expected to be concentrated during the period
from January to March 2015. At present, a customized
program related to the environment is being arranged,
and will be strongly promoted hereafter.
With respect to cooperation with the human affairs
department in state-run oil companies in each country,
the necessity of holding regular interviews was strongly
felt, to ensure adequate responses.
<by Fumihiro Tone, Training Dept.>

JCCP NEWS No. 119 September 2014

s 0ERSONNEL %XCHANGE 0ROGRAMS s 23

JCCP Regular Courses CompletedTR-1-14

Future Advanced Technology for Petroleum Industry
April 7 – April 24, 2014

Lecturer: Bunsuke Kariya

Content:

New Business Strategies in Japanese Oil Companies;
World Energy Situation and New Energy;
Class Discussion 1: Current Efforts for Technology
Development; Profitability Improvement Simulation
by JCCP Refinery; Hydrogen Society;
Petroleomics (the technology for characterizing crude
oil and its products at the molecular level); Class
Discussion 2: Future Energy Vision of Your Country

Site visits:

Cosmo Oil Co., Ltd. (Central Research Laboratory);<9 countries / 14 participants>
Sanyu Plant Service Co., Ltd. (waste treatment
factories and research center); Japan CCS Co., Ltd.
(Tomakomai Demonstration Site); Fuji Oil Co., Ltd. (Sodegaura Refinery); Fuel Cell and Solar
Energy Demonstration House; Ebina Hydrogen Refueling Station; Chugai Technos Corporation(Tsukuba Bio-frontier Center)

Countries:

Indonesia, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Myanmar, Nigeria, Sudan, Thailand, Vietnam

TR-2-14

Advanced Control Technologies in the Oil Downstream
April 7 – April 24, 2014

Content:

Petroleum Industry in Japan; Outline of Information
and Control Systems in Japan; PID Tuning Methods;
Process Control Practice with Distributed Control
System (DCS); Latest DCS and Instrumentation;
Safety Instrumented System; Engineering Practiceon DCS; Advanced Process Control;
Process Optimization; Fieldbus Engineering;
Modernization of Instrumentation

Site visits:

Yokogawa Electric Corporation (Mitaka
Headquarters); Azbil Corporation (Shonan Factory);
Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd. (Aichi Refinery);Emerson Japan, Ltd. (Mizushima Solution Center)

Countries:

TR-3-14

Lecturer: Kazuhiro Suzuki<12 countries / 17 participants>

Indonesia, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Libya,
Myanmar, Nigeria, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, Uzbekistan, Vietnam

Petroleum Marketing
May 13 – May 30, 2014

Lecturer: Masayuki Jimbo

Content:

Petroleum Industry in Japan; Refinery Shipping
System of Petroleum Products; On-site Observationof the Facilities; Endless Price War in Retail Market;
Oil Flow to Mass Consumers; Latest Service Station
Facilities; Integrated Refueling System; Facilities
and Safety Refueling Operation; Distribution ofPetroleum Products; Facilities and Safety Measures;
New Automobile Fuel; Business Expansion to
Non-oil Field; Management by Rational Thinking<9 countries / 21 participants>
Process; Workshop “Advanced Negotiation”;
Workshop “Financial Accounting”; Workshop “Procurement”; Workshop “Oil Derivatives”;
Workshop ”Decision Making Process of Crude Oil Buyers”

Site visits:

Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd. (Tokuyama Complex); Fujitani Inc. (depot, service stations);
San-ai Oil Co., Ltd. (Haneda Airport Branch); Tatsuno Corporation (Yokohama Factory);
JX Nippon Oil & Energy Corporation (Head Office)Countries:

Cambodia, Indonesia, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Myanmar, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Vietnam

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JCCP NEWS No. 119 September 2014

TR-4-14
Content:

Upgrading Processes of Heavy Oil
May 13 – May 30, 2014
Outline of Upgrading of Heavy Oil;
Hydrotreating and Hydrocracking Catalyst;
Thermal Cracking Process; IGCC Technology and
Selection of Heavy Oil Upgrading Process;
FCC & Resid-FCC Process Technology;
Hydrotreating and Hydrodesulfurization Process
Technology; FCC Catalyst Reaction Theory;
Thermal Cracking (Delayed Coker, Flexi Coker)
Unit and FCC Unit; Operation and Troubleshooting
and Decreasing Effect in Heavy Oil Production;
Developed HDS & FCC Catalyst and Its Theory;
Process and Characteristics of RFCC and VRHDS
Unit; Evaluation Technology and Its Results for
HDS Catalyst & FCC Catalyst; Process Simulator
Practice of FCC Start-up & Operating Trouble Examples;
Linear Programming and Production Planning for Reﬁnery

Lecturer: Takaaki Yuasa<11 countries / 15 participants>

Site visits:

JGC Catalysts & Chemicals Ltd. (Kitakyushu Operation Center);
Nippon Ketjen Co., Ltd. (Niihama Division);
JX Nippon Oil & Energy Corporation (Negishi Refinery)Countries:

Indonesia, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Myanmar, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Qatar, Sudan, Vietnam

TR-5-14

Advanced Field Devices and Control
May 27 – June 13, 2014

Lecturer: Kunio Kawashima

Content:

Latest Control System and Wireless Instrument;
Outline of Level Gauges and Practice;
Outline of On-line Analyzer; Review of Process
Control Theory Using Dynamic Simulator;
Review of Process Control Theory Using
Wet-Simulator; Outline of Emergency Shutdown
System; Control Valve Engineering; Vibration
Measurements and Diagnosis; Reﬁnery Information
and Control System; Instrument Maintenance;
Outline of Flow Meters and Practice; Latest System;
Outline of Transmitter & Control Valve and Practice;
Latest Instrument Engineering

Site visits:<11 countries / 16 participants>
Yokogawa Electric Corporation (Mitaka
Headquarters); Endress+Hauser Yamanashi Co., Ltd.
(Yamanashi Factory); DKK-Toa Corporation (Tokyo Engineering Center);
Shinkawa Sensor Technology, Inc. (Hiroshima Factory); Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd. (Chiba
Refinery); Oval Corporation (Yokohama Operation Center); Azbil Corporation, (Shonan
Factory)Countries:

Iraq, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Libya, Myanmar, Nigeria, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Vietnam,
Yemen

JCCP NEWS No. 119 September 2014

s 0ERSONNEL %XCHANGE 0ROGRAMS s 25

TR-6-14
Content:

Advanced Technologies in a Transforming Energy Market
June 5 – June 20, 2014
This course is newly designed for managers orexperts in corporate planning, energy efﬁciency,
renewable energy and new business development.
This new course is focused on energy policy,
renewable energy, technology innovation andinnovative business model. Participants studied
technologies and business regarding high efﬁciency
power generation, solar & wind power, smart
community, fuel cell & hydrogen technology
and CCS (Carbon Capture and Storage). In theworkshop, they prepared their own project plans
for their countries by utilizing Japanese advanced
technologies.

Lecturer: Tetsuo Arii

<10 countries / 18 participants>

Site visits:

The Institute of Energy Economics, Japan (IEEJ); New Energy and Industrial Technology
Development Organization (NEDO); Honda Motor Co., Ltd.; Sharp Corporation;
Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd.; Fukuoka Prefecture; Kita-Kyushu Smart Community Creation
Project; JX Nippon Oil & Energy Corporation; Hitachi Ltd.; JGC Corporation;
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.; Chiyoda Corporation

Countries:

Kuwait, Myanmar, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Thailand, UAE, Vietnam

TR-7-14
Content:

Maintenance Management
June 10 – June 27, 2014
Petroleum Industry in Japan; MaintenanceManagement in Japanese Reﬁneries; Corrosion
and Fouling Control for Petroleum; Manufacture
and Inspection Technologies for Turbine andBoiler; Manufacture Technology and Material
Characteristics of Stainless Steel Tubes &Pipes; Maintenance Technology and Reliability
Management for Plant Pumps;
Project Management; Maintenance Management;
Risk & Reliability Management; Inspection
Management System; Maintenance Management& Technology as Contractor; Operational Practices
and Maintenance of Mechanical Seals; Safety andReliability of Aged Plants; Plant Life Cycle Engineering

Lecturer: Masami Funayama<10 countries / 15 participants>

Site visits:

Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems Co., Ltd. (Nagasaki Plant); Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal
Corporation (Steel Tube Works); Torishima Pump Mfg. Co., Ltd. (Takatsuki Works);JGC Corporation (Yokohama Headquarters); Sankyu Inc. (Maintenance Centre);
Eagle Burgmann Japan Co., Ltd. (Niigata Factory)

Countries:

Indonesia, Iraq, Kuwait, Myanmar, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, UAE, Uzbekistan, Vietnam

26 s 0ERSONNEL %XCHANGE 0ROGRAMS s

JCCP NEWS No. 119 September 2014

TechnicalCooperation

Joint Project on the Removal of Mercury
from Natural Gas (Oman)Natural gas is a fuel that releases less carbon dioxide
per unit energy consumption compared to oil and coal,and is imported in the form of liquefied natural gas(LNG). As it is not as widely distributed as oil, it is an
important source of energy to a country like Japan thatis dependent on foreign imports to satisfy most of its
energy needs. Moreover, it poses minimum risk in termsof geopolitics, and is also important from the perspectiveof diversifying energy sources.
However, natural gas contains large amounts ofmercury, which must be removed to prevent corrosionof natural gas facilities. Mercury must also be removed
from natural gas as it is a metal that has been restricted inrecent years due to its strong toxicity to living organisms.
Today, LNG production plants in operation around theworld are equipped with mercury removal units, which
use mercury removing agents made of expensive zeolitematerials that have short lifecycles. For this reason, LNG
production plants are strongly seeking the developmentof low-cost, long-life mercury removing agents.
Taking this situation into consideration, JCCP
launched the “Joint Project on the Removal of Mercury
from Natural Gas (Oman)” as a FY2013 project, as
outlined below.
1) Period of implementation: April 2013 – March 2014
2) Overseas counterpart: Sultan Qaboos University(SQU)
3) Participating companies: Cosmo Engineering Co.,
Ltd.; Hagio High Pressure Containers Co., Ltd.
4) FY2013 project activities(1) Removal of impurities from natural gas(2) Manufacture of a laboratory testing apparatus(3) Performance evaluation of adsorbents using thelaboratory testing apparatus
JCCP and SQU also held a Memorandum of
Agreement (MOA) signing ceremony for implementationof the joint JCCP-SQU project in fiscal 2013.
The signing ceremony took place in the mainbuilding of SQU on November 3, 2013. On the Japaneseside, members of JCCP were joined by the Japanese
Ambassador to Oman and executive officers from
Cosmo Engineering Co., Ltd. and Hagio High Pressure

Containers Co., Ltd. The Omani side included executive
officers of SQU and members of the royal family. Local
newspapers in Oman printed an article on the ceremony,and contributed to spreading information and increasing
public recognition of JCCP activities in Oman.
The following achievements were made in fiscal
2013.
(1) Removal of impurities from natural gas
An examination was made into the composition ofnatural gas mined and refined at Petroleum Development
Oman (PDO)’s Saih Nihayda Gas Plant. The plant
operates a mercury removal unit (MRU), which was
confirmed to reduce mercury concentration from 15 –60 μg/Nm3 at the inlet to 20 – 100 ng/Nm3 at the outlet.
PDO’s standard for mercury concentration at the outletof the mercury removal unit is 5,500 ng/Nm3.
(2) Performance evaluation of adsorbents using alaboratory testing apparatus
The performance of adsorbents was tested using
nitrogen gas or methane impregnated with mercury as
model gas. Three types of activated carbon (HG-1, HG-2,
HG-S) and activated carbon HG-W were examined asadsorbents for removing impurities from natural gas.
As a result of the above examination, two tests were
implemented: one using an adsorbent containing HG-S
only, and the other using an adsorbent containing HG-W
and HG-S at a 1:1 volume ratio.
Since the gases used in the laboratory test containmercury, there was concern that it would adhere to
the inner walls of the gas cylinder. Thus, the impact of
mercury adhesion to the inner walls of the gas cylinder
was examine and assessed. As a result, traces of mercury
were found adhered to the walls of the gas cylinder, butsince the amount was extremely small, the impact of any
adhesion of the mercury content in the natural gas in thecylinder was judged to be negligible.
(3) Manufacturing of the laboratory testing
apparatus
A laboratory testing apparatus was manufactured withreference to the gas throughput and operational pressure

JCCP NEWS No. 119 September 2014s 4ECHNICAL #OOPERATION s 27

of the mercury removal unit in operation at PDO. Withconsideration given to safety, the conditions for thelaboratory test were set at a pressure of 0.1 MPa and a
per-column flow rate of 2.0 NL/min. After transporting
natural gas obtained from the Saih Nihayda Gas Plant
to SQU, it was fed into a column filled with mercury
adsorbent, and the concentration of mercury content
in the gas was measured both at the inlet and outlet toconfirm the ability of the adsorbent to adsorb mercury.
The laboratory testing will be continued until the

beginning of fiscal 2014, to evaluate the ongoing
performance of the adsorbents that were introduced,
and to assess and examine breakthrough time. Basedon the results of the above, the volume of adsorbent to
be introduced to the actual mercury removal unit will
be decided. Furthermore in fiscal 2014, a pilot unit will
be designed and manufactured, and during fiscal 2015,
the pilot unit will be installed in a gas field in Oman toevaluate its adsorbent performance using actual gas.
<by Yukio Nobayashi, Technical Cooperation Dept.>

Technical
Cooperation

Special Cooperation Study on
Technical Support of Introduction ofFormation Water Treatment for Refineries
in Southern Region of Iraq
“Study on Technical Support of Introduction ofFormation Water Treatment for Refineries in Southern
Region of Iraq” was implemented as a special
cooperation project for Iraq funded by the FY2013 METI
subsidy, with the participation and cooperation of theWater Reuse Promotion Center and Swing Corporation.

Formation water gushing forth

28 s 4ECHNICAL #OOPERATION s

1. Background
Iraq boasts the world’s fifth-largest oil reserve (150billion barrels according to 2012 year-end BP statistics),
and faces large expectations to produce increasing
amounts of crude oil. As the oil industry requires large
volumes of water, Iraq has conventionally depended on
the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers to supply the industry’s
water needs, but it is now hard-pressed to secure
alternative water resources, given the recent decreasein river water volume accompanying the constructionof dams upstream in neighboring countries and water
quality deterioration in the southern region.
Fortunately for Iraq, large volumes of formation water
have been confirmed in the country, and the Ministry of
Oil-Iraq is considering using formation water as a newwater resource to avert a crisis in water supply to oilfields. The formation water that the ministry has targeted
has been gushing forth continuously for 30 years, andits abundance has been actively confirmed throughgeological surveys. However, since formation watercontains sulfate and has a rather high concentration of salt,
it cannot be used as is, and must be treated in some way.
Under this situation, Petroleum Research &Development Center (PRDC), an establishment of the

JCCP NEWS No. 119 September 2014

Ministry of Oil-Iraq, requested JCCP’s cooperation indeveloping and introducing an effective water treatment
technology in 2012, and JCCP spent a year implementing
a cooperation study.

a TDS (total dissolved solid) concentration of several
thousand milligrams per liter. They had a relatively
high concentration of sulfate ions, and contained certain
amounts of organic substances, as well.

2. Objective

Q Establishment of water quality target
In addition to examining the water quality offormation water, the water quality of industrial waterused in Iraq’s oil industry was also examined as reference
for establishing a water quality target for treated water.

The study aims to propose a water treatment
technology that is applicable to treating and recycling
formation water in the southern region of Iraq to SouthOil Company (SOC), a national oil company governedby the Ministry of Oil-Iraq, in response to a request fromthe ministry for implementation of a cooperation study
toward this goal.

3. Content and Progress
The following activities were conducted in fiscal
2013: information was collected on the water quality ofindustrial water in the oil industry; the target quality oftreated water was clarified based on that information; asurvey was conducted on the actual state of formationwater; the properties of formation water were confirmed
based on an analysis of water quality; a table test was
performed using formation water; and treatment processes
were examined and presented to the Iraqi side based on
the results of the water quality analysis and table test.
Q Water quality analysis
Water quality was analyzed twice, roughly one monthapart. Five-liter samples for analysis were collected in
Iraq, first in June, and next in July. The samples collected
in June arrived in Japan in approximately two weeks, andthose collected in July arrived one month later.
As a result of analyzing the water quality of thesamples in Japan, they were found to be brackish with

External appearance of a water sample package

Q Examination of treatment processes
In order to achieve the target water quality, formationwater needed to be subjected to desalination treatment.
In consideration of the volume of water to be treated,
as well as ease of operational management, proventrack record in Iraq, and other such factors, desalination
treatment using an RO (reverse osmosis) membrane unit
was decided to be adopted.
However, when performing desalination using an
RO membrane unit, the RO influent water must satisfy
stringent water quality requirements to maintain stable
operations, and proper pretreatment tends to be necessary
whenever the RO method is adopted. Thus, to examine
appropriate pretreatment methods, formation water was
once again sent to Japan from Iraq to perform a table test.
In the table test, a treatment method that has been
mainly approved to have a physicochemical effectwas selected and adopted for pretreatment of the RO
membrane unit.
Q Selection of a treatment process
After analyzing water quality, selecting a pretreatment
process based on a table test, and examining theeffectiveness of desalination using an RO membrane
unit, a treatment was selected as shown in the flow
diagram below.
To maintain stable RO operation and increase water
recovery rate in the RO treatment process, a desalination
process that would increase water recovery rate wasincluded as a process that could ensure both good water
quality and stable operations, although stable operations
would be affected to a slight degree.
Q Consultation with the Iraqi side
During this fiscal year’s survey period, face-toface technical meetings were held three times while
exchanging information and views with the Iraqi side
via email as necessary. In the technical meetings, the

JCCP NEWS No. 119 September 2014s 4ECHNICAL #OOPERATION s 29

The selected treatment ﬂow

Japanese side reported on the method and results of thewater quality analysis and the significance thereof, as
well as the method and results of the table test and theunderlying principle of the treatment flow derived from it.
After active exchanges of questions and answers, the Iraqi
side ultimately reached an understanding of the Japaneseside’s views and accepted the proposed treatment flow.
The two sides then finalized the design requirements for apilot plant, and will be taking it to the demonstration stage.

4. Future Plans
The study will be developed and launched as a joint

project for Iraq this fiscal year, with plans to manufacture
a 100m3/d pilot plant in Japan based on the proposed
treatment process. Thereafter, Iraqi engineers will be
invited to Japan to attend a technical training programto acquire knowledge of the concept of treatment,
maintenance management methods, etc. Then, after
transferring the pilot plant to Iraq, a demonstration
operation will be conducted in Iraq, and the operational
data will be shared between the two countries towarddemonstrating the effectiveness of the treatment flow.
The project is scheduled to be completed next fiscal year.
<by Hironao Naganuma, Technical Cooperation Dept.>

After the consultation meeting

Consultation meeting

30 s 4ECHNICAL #OOPERATION s

JCCP NEWS No. 119 September 2014

TechnicalCooperation

The 15th Kuwait-Japan Joint Symposium
The 15th Kuwait-Japan Joint Symposium was heldon January 20 and 21, 2014 under joint organization
by Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR),
Kuwait National Petroleum Company (KNPC) and Japan
Petroleum Institute (JPI). The symposium has been held
annually in Kuwait, initially with KISR as partner, andwith the addition of speakers from KNPC from the 5th
symposium. At this year’s symposium, the number of
speakers from KNPC surpassed the number from KISR
for the first time. Furthermore, speakers from Kuwait Oil
Company (KOC) and a catalyst company in Kuwait also
gave presentations, and contributed to the diversity ofthe symposium with the participation of both researchers
and business operators.
The Japanese side not only presented technicalpapers, but also captured the interest of Kuwaiti
companies with even more practical presentations
themed on “advancements in petroleum refining
processes,” which included the troubleshooting of actual
cases of manufacturing facility corrosion in the refineryand procedures for operational optimization.
The names of the Japanese speakers and theirpresentation themes are shown below.

(2) Dr. Toshimitsu Suzuki, D.Eng., Professor
Emeritus, Kansai University“Highly selective oxidative dehydrogenation of
SURSDQHWRSURS\OHQHµ(1) Prof. Keiichi Tomishige, Dr. Sci., Dept. of Applied
Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering,Tohoku University
Keynote lecture: “Natural gas conversion tosynthesis gas by methane reforming using Ni
FDWDO\VWVPRGLÀHGZLWKQREOHPHWDOVµ

As the guests of honor, Mr. Ahmad S. Al-Jemaz,
Deputy CEO, Mina Abdullah Refinery, KNPC, andMr. Shigeru Yamamoto, First Secretary, Economic& Commercial, Japanese Embassy in Kuwait, also
participated in the symposium.

(3) Dr. Masayoshi Soga, D. Eng., Professional
Engineer (Resource), Senior Manager, Energy
Economics Research Dept., JX Nippon ResearchInstitute, Ltd.
 ´3RVVLELOLW\WKDWWKHJOREDOUHÀQLQJV\VWHPFRXOGVXSSO\ORZVXOIXUIXHOLQµ(4) Mr. Yuji Kato, Rotating Equipment EngineeringGroup, Technical & Engineering Center, Idemitsu
Kosan Co., Ltd.
“Utilization of regenerative repair for rotating
HTXLSPHQWµ(5) Dr. Kenji Katoh, D.Eng., Material Specialist,
Lloyd’s Register Group Limited“Development of corrosion-resistant steel
for cargo oil tank of crude oil tankers and its
LQWHUQDWLRQDOVWDQGDUGL]DWLRQµ

Seminar scene

JCCP NEWS No. 119 September 2014s 4ECHNICAL #OOPERATION s 31

Technology and Kuwait’s Ministry of Higher Education
during Prime Minister Abe’s visit to Kuwait, and said
the emphasis that was placed on cooperation in thescientific research sector is worthy of mention and an
indication that JCCP’s many years of activities havebeen recognized by the governments of both countries.
Mr. Yoshida said he is convinced that the symposiumand cooperation projects that have been implemented by
KISR and JCCP to date will further strengthen relations
between Kuwait and Japan.
(From the left): Prof. Keiichi Tomishige, Graduate School ofEngineering, Tohoku University and leader of the Japanesedelegation (representing the Japanese speakers);
Mr. Shigeru Yamamoto, First Secretary, Japanese Embassyin Kuwait;
Mr. Ahmad S. Al-Jemaz, Deputy CEO, Mina Abdullah Reﬁnery;
Dr. Meena Maraﬁ, Executive Director,
Petroleum Research Center;
Mr. Morihiro Yoshida, Managing Director of JCCP

<Opening Speeches>
Mr. Shigeru Yamamoto:
Mr. Yamamoto first offered his congratulations on
the holding of the 15th Kuwait-Japan Joint Symposium,then reported on the results of the meeting between Prime
Minister Shinzo Abe and His Highness Prime Minister
Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak during Prime Minister Abe’svisit to Kuwait in 2013. Specifically, Mr. Yamamoto
spoke about the agreement that was included in the
joint statement issued after the meeting, which promised
bilateral cooperation in diverse areas including the energy
sector, and raised expectations for Japan’s contribution
to Kuwait’s oil industry through joint implementationof the project by Kuwaiti and Japanese oil companies.
Mr. Morihiro Yoshida, Managing Director of JCCP:
Mr. Yoshida mentioned the Memorandum ofUnderstanding on mutual cooperation of education
institutions that was exchanged between Japan’s
Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and

The two-day symposium inspired active exchangesof views between the speakers and audience, at times
turning into heated discussions, and ended with a closing
speech by Dr. Meena Marafi, Executive Director,
Petroleum Research Center, as summarized below.
<Closing Speech>'U0HHQD0DUDÀ
Dr. Marafi called on both the speakers and audienceto think beyond the success of this symposium andconsider all possible areas for improvement, in orderto develop this symposium into a forum for promoting
mutual knowledge and experience through collaboration
between the researchers’ world of academia and thepractical world of companies. She also expressed her
wish to see further development of the symposium inthe future by strengthening diverse networks so that the
symposium could provide a meaningful opportunity tobuild an even better future in the oil industry.
The symposium highlighted Kuwait’s strong interestand high expectations of Japan’s technologies, andprovided the realization that JCCP activities have played
an important role within the concerted efforts of diverse
Japanese institutions to establish cooperative ties with
Kuwait.
<by Keiko Ebihara, Technical Cooperation Dept.>[Day One] Monday, January 20, 2014
Opening Addresses:
Mr. Ahmad S. Al-Jemaz, Deputy CEO, Mina Abdullah Reﬁnery, Kuwait National Petroleum Company
9:00-9:30

Mr. Shigeru Yamamoto, Commercial Attaché, Embassy of Japan in Kuwait
Prof. Keiichi Tomishige, Head of Delegation, The Japan Petroleum Institute
Mr. Morihiro Yoshida, Managing Director, Japan Cooperation Center, Petroleum

9:30-10:15

Keynote Lecture: “Natural gas conversion to synthesis gas by methane reforming using Ni catalysts modiﬁed with
noble metals” (Prof. Keiichi Tomishige, Tohoku University, Japan)

10:15-10:45

Coffee Break

32 s 4ECHNICAL #OOPERATION s

JCCP NEWS No. 119 September 2014

10:45-12:00

SESSION 1: Catalyst and Process Development; Chairperson: Dr. Hassan Al-Rabiah

10:45-11:10

Paper 1

“State-of-the-art ‘Catalyst systems’ for heavy oil processing”
Hasan M. Qabazard, Kuwait Catalyst Company, Kuwait

11:10-11:35

Paper 2

“Inﬂuence of support and supported phases on catalytic functionalities of hydrotreating catalysts”
Mohan S. Rana, Kuwait Institute for Scientiﬁc Research, Kuwait

11:35-12:00

Paper 3“Highly selective oxidative dehydrogenation of propane to propylene”
Kenta Fukudome and Toshimitsu Suzuki, Kansai University, Japan

12:00-13:00

Prayer Time & Lunch Break

13:00-14:20

SESSION 2: Green Initiatives in Reﬁning Industry; Chairperson: Dr. Toshimitsu Suzuki

13:00-13:25

Paper 4

“Possibility that the global reﬁning system could supply low sulfur fuel in 2020”
Masayoshi Soga, JX Nippon Research Institute Ltd., Japan

13:25-13:50

Paper 5“Non-oxidative treatment methods on spent hydroprocessing catalysts”
Narjes Ghaloum, André Hauser, Sakeena Al Sairaﬁ, Hanadi Al Sheeha, Kuwait Institute for ScientiﬁcResearch, Kuwait

13:50-14:15

Paper 6

“Petroleum reﬁning processes emission sources: major contributing processes and ways of
mitigation”
M.S. Al-Rashidi, S.M. Al-Salem and A.R. Khan, Kuwait Institute for Scientiﬁc Research, Kuwait

14:15-14:40

Paper 7

“The establishment of the R&D Center — KIPRC”
Rachid Chedid Sablit, Khairyah Kheefan Al-Hamad, Kuwait Oil Company, Kuwait[Day Two] Tuesday, January 21, 2014
8:30-10:40

SESSION 3: Advancements in Corrosion Mitigation; Chairperson: Mr. Saad Al-Dhaﬁri

8:30-8:55

Paper 8

“Development of corrosion-resistant steel for cargo oil tank of crude oil tankers and its
international standardization”
Kenji Katoh* and Seiji Nishimura**, *Lloyd’s Register Group Limited, **Nippon Steel & Sumitomo
Metal Corporation, Japan

8:55-9:20

Paper 9“Understanding the interactions between corrosion layers and inhibitor ﬁlms in ﬂow conditions”
Abdulmuhsen Akbar*, Xinming Hu**, Chun Wang**, Richard Barker** and Anne Neville**,*Kuwait Institute for Scientiﬁc Research, Kuwait, **University of Leeds, UK

9:20-9:45

Paper 10“Challenges in restoration of a titanium steam condenser”
Mohammed Moyeenuddin, P.K. Mukhopadhyay and Hussain Al-Shammari, KNPC Shuaiba Reﬁnery,
Kuwait9:45-10:10

Paper 11

“A novel fracture mechanics technique for the determination of susceptibility of engineering
materials to stress corrosion cracking”
Rihan Omar Rihan, Kuwait Institute for Scientiﬁc Research, Kuwait

10:10-10:40

Coffee Break

10:40-11:55

SESSION 4: Failure Investigation; Chairperson: Dr. Kenji Katoh

10:40-11:05

Paper 12

“Experience of super austenitic stainless steels in LNG import facility”
Saad Al-Dhaﬁri, Thammer Al-Ansari and K. Laxma Reddy, KNPC Mina Al-Ahmadi Reﬁnery, Kuwait

11:05-11:30

Paper 13

“Premature failure of upper PA/BFW heat exchanger tubes in delayed coker unit”
Ali Radhi Saad Al-Azemi, KNPC Mina Abdullah Reﬁnery, Kuwait

11:30-11:55

Paper 14

“Failure of DEA lean/rich exchanger in gas sweetening unit”
Saad Al-Dhaﬁri and Ravi Mohan Gupta, KNPC Mina Al-Ahmadi Reﬁnery, Kuwait

11:55-13:00

Prayer Time and Lunch Break

13:00-14:40

SESSION 5: Corrosion Management; Chairperson: Dr. K. Ravindranath

13:00-13:25

Paper 15

“Managing corrosion in bleed and high pressure ﬂash gas lines containing NH4HS”
Hiren Harishkumar Zala and Bader M.A. Al-Harbi, KNPC Shuaiba Reﬁnery, Kuwait

13:25-13:50

Paper 16

“Utilization of regenerative repair for rotating equipment”
Yuji Kato and Yoichi Tokita, Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd., Japan

13:50-14:15

Paper 17

“Monitoring of stagnant and low ﬂow lines in petroleum reﬁneries”
Faisal Al-Refai, Vinod Kumar Bhatia and Sandeep Patil, KNPC Mina Abdullah Reﬁnery, Kuwait

14:15-14:40

Paper 18

“Corrosion management in small bore drains and vents”
Sunil Kumar Birla and P.K. Mukhopadhyay, KNPC Shuaiba Reﬁnery, Kuwait

14:40

Closing Remarks
Dr. Meena Maraﬁ, Executive Director, Petroleum Research Center, Kuwait Institute for ScientiﬁcResearch, Kuwait

JCCP NEWS No. 119 September 2014s 4ECHNICAL #OOPERATION s 33

TechnicalCooperation

Joint Project on Treatment andUtilization of the Oilfield-produced Water
in Oman Phase II
Oilfield-produced water (oily wastewater that is
generated in association with the production of crudeoil) accounts for the largest ratio of waste matter that is
generated in the process of crude oil production. In thecase of Petroleum Development Oman (PDO), a major
crude oil production company in Oman, the amountof produced water that is pumped up with crude oil isroughly eight times the amount of crude oil produced,
and is increasing yearly as crude oil is pumped up. Oil
droplets contained in produced water are extremely small(30μm or smaller in diameter) for the most part, andcannot be completely separated using existing gravity oil
separators. For this reason, the Omani government has
prohibited the discharge of produced water into shallow
aquifers (100-200m underground), calling instead for it
to be discharged into deeper aquifers (approx. 1,000m
underground). Due to this change, large pumps withgreater motor power have become necessary, and thecost of discharging produced water has risen, creatinglarge demand for treatment technologies that would
treat produced water even further so that it could be
used aboveground.
In some oilfields in southern Oman, produced watercontains a relatively low concentration of salt of around

4,000 – 7,000 mg/L. Therefore, if the oil content insuch produced water could be adequately removed, thetreated water could be used as irrigation water. As asingle oilfield alone produces some 250,000 m3/day of
produced water, corresponding to roughly the averageamount of water supplied daily to the capital city ofMuscat, produced water could be considered a latentwater resource that is available in abundance. Thus,
securing new water resources such as by recycling
oilfield-produced water while also maintaining
existing water resources is indispensable to sustainable
development in Oman.
The objective of this study is to treat oilfieldproduced water in Oman using low-cost wastewater
treatment technology, and to perform a pilot test for theeffective utilization of the treated water. The effective
utilization of oilfield-produced water would resolve thewaste issue accompanying oilfield development, andcontribute significantly to the sustainable development
the country seeks, by creating a new water resource.
In consideration of the above, JCCP launched the
Joint Project on Treatment and Utilization of the Oilfieldproduced Water in Oman Phase II as a FY2013 project,as outlined below.

Flow of the pilot plant used in the study

34 s 4ECHNICAL #OOPERATION s

JCCP NEWS No. 119 September 2014

1) Implementation period: April 2013 – March 2014
The project commenced in 2011, slated to end in
FY2013.
2) Overseas counterpart: Sultan Qaboos University(SQU)
3) Participating company: Shimizu Corporation
4) Activities during FY2013:(1) Examination of effective removal methods for
produced water using EOR technology(2) Treatment test of EOR-applied water using apilot plant(3) Coagulation-flotation treatment using twophase swirling flow microbubbles(4) Cultivation of algae using EOR-applied
produced water and treated water
A pilot plant was installed on campus at SQU as
described below to examine the treatment of oilfieldproduced water and other related issues.
The following is an overview of results achieved
during FY2013.
(1) A laboratory test was performed to compare theperformances of polyaluminumchloride (PAC),
which has been conventionally used as a coagulant,
and aluminum sulfate (AS). As a result, it was
confirmed that AS is effective for coagulation
sedimentation of viscous produced water like thewater in question in Oman.
(2) EOR-applied produced water was collected in June,
August and December, and a continuous treatment
test was performed using a pilot plant. Additionally,
the coagulation sedimentation effect of AS was

confirmed in the case where polymer is used as athickener in the EOR process.
(3) After supplying raw water to the coagulation
mixing tank and sufficiently mixing it with AS, it
was supplied to the filtration tank at low pressure,and high-polymer coagulant was fed to the flotation
tank so as minimize destruction of the floc. Throughthis process, it was confirmed that good oil content
and SS content could be separated from produced
water.
(4) It had already been confirmed that produced
water with low salt concentration could be
used as agricultural irrigation water. However,consideration needed to be given to possible healthhazards if a thickener is to be used in the EOR. If
algae could be cultivated, the possibilities of using
thickened produced water would expand. Throughthis fiscal year’s examination, it was found that theconcentration of thickener in the EOR agent has no
impact on the development of algae.
The activities implemented during FY2013 confirmedthat oilfield-produced water that has been subjected to an
EOR process could also be treated continuously even if
a thickener has been applied, if an appropriate agent isused and the treatment method is improved. Additionally,
the necessary information was acquired for scaling up
the project, and a cost estimate was created.
The project ended in fiscal 2013, but it is expected
to strengthen future relations with Oman and contributeto deepening ties between Japan and Middle East oilproducing countries.
<by Yukio Nobayashi, Technical Cooperation Dept.>

JCCP NEWS No. 119 September 2014s 4ECHNICAL #OOPERATION s 35

TechnicalCooperation

Progress Report on
the Joint Study for Catalytic Polymerization
Unit Improvement in QP Refinery
During fiscal 2013, JCCP implemented the “Joint
Study for Catalytic Polymerization Unit Improvement
in QP Refinery” with the Mesaieed Refinery, operated
by Qatar’s national oil company Qatar Petroleum, andmade a proposal for improvement based on the resultsof the study.

1. Background
Qatar is an oil-producing country in the Middle
East region with a population of approximately 1.7
million. It exports LNG, crude oil and oil products,
and has proven reserves of some 25.9 billion barrels of
crude oil, estimated to have a reserves-to-production
ratio of around 45 years. Of the roughly 1,569,000
barrels of crude oil that the country produces per day,approximately 28%, or 440,000 barrels/day, is exported
to Japan, making Qatar the third-largest supplier of crude
oil to Japan, after UAE. With respect to natural gas,
Qatar boasts the world’s largest proven reserve. Having
production facilities with the capacity to produce morethan 93 million tons/year of natural gas, the country has
also established deep ties with engineering companies
in Japan.
QP’s Mesaieed Refinery consists of three principal

Presentation at the ﬁnal debrieﬁng meeting

36 s 4ECHNICAL #OOPERATION s

systems: Refinery 1, Refinery 2, and a condensaterefinery. The group of crude oil distillation units thatcomprise the 10,000b/d Refinery 1 were built in 1974,
and those comprising Refinery 2 were additionallybuilt in 1984 with a 70,000b/d capacity, along withnew downstream facilities. Thereafter, import/export
facilities were installed in 1989, and a group of
condensate distillation units (condensate refinery) werebuilt in 2001. Moreover, accompanying these facilities,
various additions have been made over the years toachieve high efficiency.
To contribute to the Mesaieed Refinery’s initiatives
for further development, JCCP has implemented
a series of technical cooperation projects with therefinery as its counterpart since fiscal 2004. They haveincluded studies on flare gas reduction technology,
studies on LPG recovery efficiency improvement,
support for countermeasures against corrosion/fouling,and studies on operational improvement of naphthahydrodesulfurization units in refineries, among others.
Based on the relationship of trust that has evolved
continuously through such projects, JCCP has once
again agreed to implement the project described below
in fiscal 2013, in response a request from QP.

Participants of the ﬁnal debrieﬁng meeting

JCCP NEWS No. 119 September 2014

2. Overview
1) Implementation period: April 2013 – March 2014
2) Overseas counterpart: Qatar Petroleum (QP)
3) Participating company: Cosmo Engineering Co.,Ltd.
4) Objective: Operational improvement of the
FDWDO\WLFSRO\PHUL]DWLRQXQLWDWWKHUHÀQHU\At QP, gasoline base material and product LPG are
produced from light olefins that are generated in theresidue fluid catalytic cracking (RFCC) unit. However,the production of LPG with product specifications
requires a larger amount of auxiliary feedstock hydrogenfor hydrogenation than initially planned. As mattersstand, an excessive amount of LPG accompanies theoff-gas from the hydrogenation unit that is used in
the refinery as fuel gas, and is compromising product
LGP yield. Furthermore, the high vapor pressure of
product LPG is also posing a problem with their safe
and stable storage, and there has thus been a need for
operational improvement toward achieving greater
LPG yield. In response to this need, JCCP implemented
a countermeasure assistance project for operational
improvement of the catalytic polymerization unit at
QP’s Mesaieed Refinery, based on the experience andtechnologies for operational improvement accumulated
by Japan’s oil industry. Through this project, JCCP has
not only contributed to increasing operational efficiency
at the Mesaieed Refinery, but is confident that it has
adequately transferred Japan’s oil refining technologies
and know-how related to operational improvement to
Qatar Petroleum.

3. Summary
As a result of a survey and examination of operational
status conducted jointly with QP, it was found that thecatalytic polymerization unit at the Mesaieed Refinery
has the following issues.
  7RDFKLHYH/3*ZLWKSURGXFWVSHFLÀFDWLRQVLQWKH
catalytic polymerization unit, a far larger amountof auxiliary feedstock hydrogen than the design
amount was consumed for hydrogenation in thehydrogenation unit.
(2) The reaction temperature that was set to increaseROHÀQ FRQYHUVLRQ UDWH LQ WKH K\GURJHQDWLRQ XQLW
had a smaller margin than the polymerization
reaction-causing temperature, so there was concern

regarding the risk of the polymerization reaction
deactivating the hydrogenation catalyst.
(3) Among the auxiliary feedstock hydrogen forhydrogenation mentioned in (1) above, the large
amount of hydrogen discharged from the top of the
product LPG separator was accompanied by LPG,
thereby undermining product LPG yield.
(4) Exhaust gas was drawn out from the top of the
product LPG separator in order to maintain safe
LPG vapor pressure in the storage tank, and thisalso contributed to undermining LPG yield.
The following proposals were made in regard to theabove problems.
(1) Judging by the result of analysis of the hydrogenation
catalyst extracted from the hydrogenation unit,
the decline in catalyst activity is thought to becaused mainly by catalyst poisoning by chloride
compounds.
(2) It is most likely that the chloride compounds
are derived from by-product hydrogen from acontinuous regeneration-type catalytic reformer
that is the source of hydrogen for hydrogenation,
but further efforts should be made to identifying thesource of the chloride compounds by implementing
an analysis of the feedstock LPG system andhydrogenation system.
(3) The analysis result mentioned in (1) above also
includes sulfur compounds. Although they are
not as strongly poisonous to catalysts as chloride
compounds, the source of sulfur compounds
VKRXOGDOVREHLGHQWLÀHGIURPWKHSHUVSHFWLYHRI
the lifecycle of high-cost hydrogenation catalysts.
(4) At present, chlorine removal is performed
after mixing feedstock LPG and hydrogen forhydrogenation, but there is concern that organic
chloride compounds are generated from catalytic
action on the chlorine removal adsorbent. Since
adsorption treatment by adsorbents becomesGLIÀFXOW RQFH RUJDQLF FKORULGH FRPSRXQGV DUHgenerated, an inquiry should be made with a
Chlorine Guard absorbent manufacturer andconversion made to a chlorine adsorbent that does
not synthesize organic chlorine.
(5) As hydrogen-rich gas from a continuous
regeneration-type catalytic reformer is also
probably used as the source of hydrogen forunits such as naphtha, kerosene and diesel oilhydrotreaters, consideration should also be given to

JCCP NEWS No. 119 September 2014s 4ECHNICAL #OOPERATION s 37

the removal of chloride compounds on the reformerside.
(6) Even if the activity of hydrogenation catalysts
is restored and the amount of hydrogen forhydrogenation is decreased, it would probably
still be necessary to maintain a certain amountof hydrogen venting from the top of the product
LPG separator to control the product LPG vapor
pressure, so any drop in LPG yield caused by the
LPG accompanying the vented hydrogen is likely
inevitable.
(7) To curb the drop in LPG yield as mentioned in (6)above, the installation of a fractionating column is
recommended in place of a product separation tank.
(8) In addition to the present vapor-phase hydrogenation,
there is also liquid-phase hydrogenation, which
has become more prevalent in recent years. Fromvarious aspects, the adoption of liquid-phasehydrogenation should also be considered as an
option.

Debrieﬁng session with QP

A final report was prepared based on the above
survey and examination results, and a final debriefing
meeting was held with the attendance of members fromvarious departments of the Mesaieed Refinery. The factthat active discussions took place among members fromdifferent departments during the presentation could also
be interpreted as an indication that the content of the
proposals was highly beneficial to QP.
<by Masatoshi Yokotsuka, Technical Cooperation Dept.>

Technical
Cooperation

Study of Environmental Measures
for Crude Oil Shipping Terminalin Middle East Area (Saudi Arabia)
This study was implemented as a JCCP TechnicalCooperation Project funded by a subsidy of the Ministryof Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) for projects
in oil-producing countries, with the participation of JX
Nippon Oil & Energy Corporation and JFE Engineering
Corporation.

1. BackgroundAs the background to launching the project, the crude
oil delivery department and environment department at
Saudi Aramco previously submitted a proposal to thecompany’s management for recovery of VOC (volatileorganic compounds) that are discharged by tankers whenshipping crude oil. In response, the management gave its
approval to promote examinations and countermeasuresfor VOC recovery, and the two departments began a joint

38 s 4ECHNICAL #OOPERATION seffort to pursue the proposal. Information about thisinitiative reached JCCP, and led to the implementationof the project.
JX Nippon Oil & Energy Staging Terminal
Corporation’s Kiire Terminal functions as a crude
oil stockpiling terminal, as well as a staging terminalthat temporarily receives crude oil from the Middle
East and ships it to affiliated refineries. During thetransfer of crude oil, gas containing VOC (mainly LPG
fractions), which has caused urban ozone, used to bedischarged from the hold of the tankers. The JX Group
has thus developed a ground-installed VOC recovery
unit called Tanker Vapor Recovery (TVR) unit, whichcharacteristically cools crude oil and uses the crude oil
as a VOC adsorbent to enhance VOC recovery rate, andbuilt and placed it in operation at the Kiire Terminal.

JCCP NEWS No. 119 September 2014

2. Progress of the Project
Taking into consideration that large supplies of crude
oil are exported from the Middle East oil-producing
countries to Japan, JCCP launched a project in FY2011
that aims to introduce TVR technology to the Middle
East region, to help prevent air pollution using acommercially proven unit developed in Japan, and tocontribute to promoting environmental countermeasuresin oil-producing countries.
In FY2011, a demonstration test of an improved
TVR unit (TVR combined with a membrane separator
to increase VOC recovery rate) was performed at theKiire Terminal using a small-scale facility. Saudi Aramco
stipulates a prescribed VOC recovery rate, but the
FY2011 test verified that Saudi Aramco’s requirement
would be satisfied.
In FY2012, efforts were made to develop a shipboard
VOC recovery unit for tanker vapor recovery on singlepoint mooring (SPM) such as at Saudi Aramco’s Juaymah
Terminal. As the VOC recovery process was planned
to be installed onboard a seaborne ship, waves were
expected to cause large fluctuations during the winterwhen the coastal regions are hit by extreme weather.
This created the concern that if a conventional adsorption
tower were introduced to the floating VOC recovery
process, it would be affected by wave fluctuation and not
be able to achieve proper VOC adsorption performance.
As a result, it was considered preferable for the shipboard
TVR process to incorporate technology that can maintain
VOC recovery rate without being easily affected by thefluctuation of waves, and a demonstration test using newtechnology was performed to collect the necessary andsufficient data for designing a commercial unit.
By December 2012, a proposal was submitted toorganizations in Saudi Aramco involved in the selectionof a VOC recovery process, and FY2012 came to a close
while waiting for Saudi Aramco to establish a selection
process.
In June 2013, an inquiry was made to Saudi Aramco
regarding the status of deliberation of a selection
process, but their response stated that adoption of the
TVR technology had been deferred at the first candidate
terminal. To satisfy the recovery rate requested by Saudi
Aramco, an apparatus that utilizes new technology
developed in the FY2012 project was proposed, but adifferent system backed by a better track record was
ultimately chosen.
At a different terminal, it was said that the decision onwhether or not adopt the TVR technology would be madein September, but when Saudi Aramco was asked about
the situation in October, it revealed that the selection
has been delayed, and that there is little possibility of aconclusion being reached by the end of FY2013.

3. Future Plan
From a subsequent survey, it was found that themarket for the TVR plant itself, excluding the vessel,
is worth about 100 billion yen in the Middle East Gulf
countries. As shipping facilities are predominantly of
the SPM type installed on the water, the shipboard
installation specification that was newly developed in
FY2012 is expected to become the mainstream. Since
the shipboard TVR comprises a new market, efforts for
its development are expected to be made going forward.
<by Tsuyoshi Ota, Technical Cooperation Dept.>

TVR at the Kiire Terminal

JCCP NEWS No. 119 September 2014s 4ECHNICAL #OOPERATION s 39

TechnicalCooperation

Study on the Promotionof a VOC (Volatile Organic Compound)
Recovery Unit for Service Stations (SS)
1. Overview
At gasoline service stations, liquid gasoline inevitably
vaporizes and dissipates into the air when filling cars andwhen offloading gasoline from lorries to the undergroundstorage tank of the service station. When you fill yourcar by yourself, you have probably noticed a swaying
haze rise up from the filler cap as you fill the fuel tank.
This is gasoline vapor.
Gasoline and other such volatile chemical substancessuch as toluene, xylene, ethyl acetate and various organic
chemical compounds that transform into a gaseous state
when exposed to the atmosphere are collectively called
volatile organic compounds (VOC), and are consideredhealth- and environment-damaging pollutants. VOC, inparticular, are known to cause air pollution by producing
irritating photochemical oxidants in the presence ofnitrogen oxide (NOx) and sunlight. Furthermore, VOC
are also a source of concern as a secondary cause ofsuspended particulate matter (SPM) and PM2.5 (SPMZLWKSDUWLFXODWHVWKDWDUHVPDOOHUWKDQƫP ZKLFKKDV
become a controversial subject in recent years.
International initiatives are being taken to reduce VOC
emissions, including in the EU, where a requirement
has been imposed on large service stations to install
VOC recovery units by 2018. In Japan, voluntary
VOC reduction initiatives have conventionally been
implemented. Meanwhile, the revised Air Pollution Act

Fueling island at SS949(photo provided by JX Nippon Oil & Energy Corporation)

40 s 4ECHNICAL #OOPERATION s

has stipulated an even stricter emission regulation in
2006, and Tokyo and some other local governments havemade VOC reduction compulsory by local ordinance.
Gasoline vapor is not only a source of odor andair pollution, but could also become a source of fire if
ignited, not to mention a loss of gasoline itself to theservice station owner.
The project thus aimed to explore the possibility of
introducing to the Middle East and Southeast Asia arecovery unit (VRU) that liquefies and recovers gasoline
vapor at service stations.
The project was begun in fiscal 2011, and is being
implemented under the leadership of JX Nippon Oil &Energy Corporation. In fiscal 2013, a demonstration
unit was operated at a service station in Abu Dhabi toacquire data, and an attempt was made to optimize theVOC recovery unit. At the same time, the possibility of
implementing the project in Middle East oil-producing
countries other than UAE and in Southeast Asia was also
surveyed and examined.
In general, two stages of VOC recovery at service
stations are commonly employed. Stage 1 is recovery
during the offloading of gasoline at the service
station (recovery of gasoline vapor emitted from theunderground storage tank of the service station when
offloading gasoline from the lorry to the undergroundtank), and Stage 2 is recovery when pumping gasoline
into cars (recovery of gasoline vapor emitted from carfuel tanks when filling the tank with gasoline at theservice station). Stage 1 VOC recovery is further divided
into two methods. One method is to have the delivery
lorry recover the gasoline vapor from the undergroundstorage tank (the lorry transports the gasoline vapor
back to the oil terminal and changes it back into liquidform), and the other is to install a recovery unit in theservice station and return the gasoline vapor back into
the underground storage tank in liquid form. This project
adopted the method of installing a recovery unit that uses
silica gel as an adsorbent in a service station, to return
gasoline vapor back into the underground storage tankof the service station in liquid form.

JCCP NEWS No. 119 September 2014

The VRU that was transferred to SS949(photo provided by JX Nippon Oil & Energy Corporation)

2. Test Operation in Abu Dhabi
In fiscal 2012, a VOC recovery unit was initiallyinstalled in SS970 and data were acquired, but ADNOC
Distribution (the affiliate dedicated to distribution/marketing by the state-run oil company ADNOC in Abu
Dhabi), the counterpart in the project, instructed thedemonstration unit to be moved to a different service
station (SS949) for safety reasons, in 2013. Thus, theexisting VOC recovery unit was moved from SS970 toSS949 in fiscal 2013, as instructed.

3. Evaluation of the Test Operation Result(1) Evaluation from the environmental perspective
Currently, UAE has no environmental regulations
and standards concerning VOC emission. Therefore,
comparisons were made against Japanese standards. In
Japan, VOC emission from service stations is regulated
by local ordinance of large cities such as Tokyo. Japan’s
Air Pollution Prevention Act also regulates VOC
emission from refineries and tanks in oil terminals, butdoes not provide for VOC emission from service stations.
(2) VOC emission standards for service stations
regulated by local ordinance (Tokyo, etc.)
Although recovery rate did not reach 98%, the figure
originally targeted, the requirement of installing a VOC
recovery unit with an 80% or higher recovery rate inservice stations has been satisfied.
(3) Evaluation of economic viability
During the three-month demonstration period,
9,247 kg of hydrocarbons were recovered using the VOC

Joint inspection prior to commencing demonstration
operation(photo provided by JX Nippon Oil & Energy Corporation)

recovery unit. When assuming a gasoline vapor densityof 700 kg/kl, the amount of gasoline recovered equals
13.21 kL, worth a total of 21,136 AED (gasoline unit
cost calculated at 1.6 AED/L).

4. Introduction to Countries Other than
Abu Dhabi
Through surveys conducted in the project, it was
found that service stations operated by Kuwait Petroleum
Company (KPC) have already begun Stage 1 VOC
recovery at oil terminals from several years ago, like in
UAE, and the installation of facilities for Stage 2 VOC
recovery (recovery of gasoline vapor that is emitted
when gasoline is pumped into cars at service stations)has also been completed.
In Qatar and Bahrain, commercial vapor recovery
was considered not to be economically viable, as there
are few service stations in these countries (70 in Qatar,
16 in Bahrain).
The surveys thus revealed that VOC recovery
initiatives are already being pursued in Middle East
countries where gasoline recovery is judged to beeconomically viable, while in Asia, needs for VOC
recovery are expected to grow hereafter in South Korea
and China, as VOC emission regulations have justrecently been established, and potential markets are also
expected to emerge in Indonesia and other countries
where no emission regulations yet exist.
While the project came to a close in fiscal 2013, a planis underway to implement a VRU introduction project inIndonesia with the incorporation of new ideas.
<by Sadao Wada, Technical Cooperation Dept.>

JCCP NEWS No. 119 September 2014s 4ECHNICAL #OOPERATION s 41

TechnicalCooperation

Progress Reporton the Special Cooperation Program on
Research & Development of Evaluation of
FCC Additives and HDS Catalysts
for Vietnam
During fiscal 2013, JCCP provided technical assistanceto two subsidiaries of Vietnam’s state-run oil company
Petrovietnam (PVN)—Vietnam Petroleum Institute(VPI) and PVPro (Research & Development Center for
Petroleum Processing)—through implementation of
the “Research & Development of Evaluation of FCC
Additives and HDS Catalysts,” as a special cooperation
program for Vietnam.

1. Background
Vietnam has 4.4 billion barrels of proven crude
oil reserves (OGJ report as of January 2012) and thethird-largest crude oil reserves of all countries in the
Asia-Pacific region, but there is potential for thisamount to increase if exploration and development ofoffshore oilfields is strengthened. Vietnam’s crude oil
production may have dropped slightly from before,
but even so, the country still produces 330,000 b/d,and is one of few countries in Asia that produces oil
independently. Furthermore, Vietnam has maintained ahigh economic growth rate of around 6 to 7% over the
past decade, despite a slight slowdown in recent years,
and is expected to be an important oil-producing country
and trade partner to Japan in the future. Petrovietnam, inparticular, is one of Japan’s most important counterparts(CP), as it controls major oil businesses in Vietnam. As a

Discussion at PVPro

42 s 4ECHNICAL #OOPERATION s

direct cooperation project with Petrovietnam’s research
departments VPI and PVPro, this project is expected tomake a large contribution to Vietnam.
Petrovietnam presently operates the Dung Quat
Refinery with a capacity of 150,000 b/d, which isplanned to be increased in the future. The refinery’s
main cracking unit is the RFCC (residue fluid catalytic
cracking) unit. The company also has plans to construct
the Nghi Son Refinery with a 200,000 b/d capacity inthe near future, to be equipped with an RFCC unit andan RDS (residue desulfurization) unit for pretreatmentof residues. PVPro thus requested JCCP’s guidance inevaluating FCC additives and HDS catalysts. The request
reflected Vietnam’s wish to actively introduce Japanesetechnologies to enhance technological capabilities andrefinery efficiency in Vietnam’s promising oil-refining
industry.
Given the above background and request, PVProand JCCP agreed to implement the following activities
in fiscal 2013.

2. Overview
1) Implementation period: April 2013 – March 2014
2) Overseas counterpart: VPI (Vietnam Petroleum
Institute); PVPro (Research & Development Center
for Petroleum Processing)3) Participating company: JGC Catalysts andChemicals Ltd.
4) Activities
The project was implemented in Vietnam as part of
JCCP’s special cooperation program for oil-producing
countries, with PVPro, the R&D department ofPetrovietnam, as the counterpart. It aimed to transfer
to PVPro technologies for the evaluation of two types
RI FDWDO\VW WKDW DUH QHHGHG IRU VWDEOH DQG HIÀFLHQW
operations of an RFCC unit: FCC additives, which
are added to FCC catalysts; and HDS catalysts, which

JCCP NEWS No. 119 September 2014

are loaded into the RDS unit for pretreatment before
sending residues to the RFCC unit.
In fiscal 2013, the final year of the three-year
project, PVPro engineers were invited to Japanon two occasions to attend a training program on
evaluation technologies for the two types of catalyst
at JGC Catalysts and Chemicals, and to learn about
the latest technologies related to oil refining catalysts
through lectures. Engineers from JGC Catalysts
and Chemicals were also sent to PVPro on two
occasions to provide onsite technical guidance using
the company’s process units. Furthermore, members
from the management class at VPI, an institution
ranked above PVPro, and Petrovietnam were invited
to Japan to exchange views on the status and degreeof contribution of the project. At the end of the fiscal
year, a review meeting was held in Vietnam with theattendance of all parties concerned, to summarize andshare the results of the project in fiscal 2013.

3. Summary
The transfer of technologies for the evaluation of
FCC additives, which are added to RFCC catalysts, andHDS catalysts, which are used in the RDS unit prior toprocessing residues in the RFCC unit, was carried out
through the following events.
(1) Invitation of PVPro engineers to Japan
PVPro engineers were invited to Japan to receive
even more practical training on FCC and HDS catalyst
evaluation technologies at JGC Catalysts and Chemicals,
and to discuss the latest oil refining catalyst technologies.
(2) Visits to PVPro by Japanese engineers
Engineers from JGC Catalysts and Chemicals visited
PVPro on two occasions to provide technical guidanceon FCC and HDS catalyst evaluation technologies.

Meeting with JGC Catalysts and Chemicals Ltd.

Members of the review meeting at PVPro(3) Invitation of management-class personnel toJapanManagement-class personnel from PVPro, VPI
and Petrovietnam were invited to Japan to meet withmanagement-class officers at JCCP and JGC Catalysts
and Chemicals and share views on the significance andresults of the project.
(4) Review meeting
At the end of the fiscal year, members involved in the
project, including the Petrovietnam Group, gathered at
VPI and PVPro to summarize the FY2013 activities of the
project and to discuss and share views on its achievements.
Through the above activities, PVPro acquired theability to evaluate FCC catalysts on its own, where it had
previously relied on licensors and catalyst makers. By
being able to accurately evaluate equilibrium catalysts at
the Dung Quat Refinery and assess the operational statusof the refinery’s FCC unit, the project also achieved thegoal of enhancing evaluation technologies at PVPro.
Furthermore, the project deepened understanding of
FCC and HDS catalysts, and prompted PVPro to makeindependent efforts to examine catalysts and otherwise
engage in other applications of the technology.
In the final review meeting, the enhancement ofevaluation technologies at PVPro was recognized as
an achievement of the project, not only by PVPro, thedirect beneficiary of the technical guidance, but also
by members of VPI. Also in the final review meeting
held at VPI, which included the attendance of a numberof members from PVN, the parent company, members
shared the awareness that VPI and PVPro’s technologicalcapabilities have been enhanced through the project.
Lastly, both VPI and PVPro expressed their deep
appreciation for the project, demonstrating that Japan’s
technical support has been beneficial.
<by Masatoshi Yokotsuka, Technical Cooperation Dept.>

JCCP NEWS No. 119 September 2014s 4ECHNICAL #OOPERATION s 43

TechnicalCooperation

2nd International KACST-KAUST-JCCP
Workshop on Surface and Subsurface
4D Monitoring
1. Introduction
JCCP engaged in a joint project with King Abdulaziz
City for Science and Technology (KACST) to develop
ground deformation assessment technologies, whichlasted until fiscal 2012. From fiscal 2013, it launched the“Joint Project on CCS Monitoring Technology for theUnderground Storage of CO2 Produced in Oil Refineries”
based on the precursor study with the participation of
Kawasaki Geological Engineering Co., Ltd. (See JCCP
NEWS No. 118 for details.)
As part of the project, KACST, King Abdullah
University of Science and Technology (KAUST)
and JCCP jointly held the 2nd International KACSTKAUST-JCCP Workshop on Surface and Subsurface
4D Monitoring on the KAUST campus in the suburbs of
Jeddah, over a three-day period from March 4 – 6, 2014.
The first workshop was held by KACST and JCCP
in January 2012 on the KACST campus in Riyadh, andthe second workshop held after two years was jointly
sponsored by three parties, namely KACST, JCCP and
KAUST, with the new addition of KAUST.
KAUST was established in 2009 as a graduate
university, and in 2013, welcomed Dr. Jean-Lou
Chameau, formerly president of the California InstituteDr. Jean-Lou Chameau, President, KAUST;
Mr. Morihiro Yoshida, Managing Director of JCCP;
Dr. Khalid Al-Damegh, Director, KACST

44 s 4ECHNICAL #OOPERATION s

of Technology (Caltech), which ranked the first in theWorld University Rankings for 2013-2014, as the newpresident of KAUST. Under the sponsorship of the
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah Bin
Abdulaziz Al Saud, the university is pursuing the goalof achieving the status of leading institution for scienceand technology not only in the Islamic world but also
in the entire world, and mustered top-level researchers
from around the globe.

2. Surface and Subsurface 4D Monitoring
Technology and CCS
What is surface and subsurface 4D monitoring
technology? Put simply, in cases where the target site canbe directly accessed, surface and subsurface monitoring is
the act of analyzing how sound waves and vibrations are
directly and actively transmitted, using underground radar,a seismic vehicle or observation wells on land or a seismic
survey vessel at sea, and assessing subsurface conditions
by changes in conductivity detected by electrical logging.
In cases where the site in question cannot be directly
accessed or is located in a vast desert or sea, surface andsubsurface conditions are assessed through remote sensing
technology employing a radar satellite or an airplane.

Dr. Chameau giving an opening speech

JCCP NEWS No. 119 September 2014

Poster session

Countries around the world are pursuing studiesof 4D monitoring technology with hopes of utilizing
it not only for resource exploration and reservoir
management, but also for monitoring landslides andground subsidence, and eventually predicting volcanic
eruptions and earthquakes. During the cold war era,various monitoring and detecting technologies wereused, such as the synthetic aperture radar technology(particularly InSAR interferometric synthetic apertureradar technology) that was developed to detect hidden
underground missile silos, and airborne multi-sensors andother submarine detection technologies including MADmagnetic anomaly detection technology. However, withthe end of the cold war, efforts were directed to apply
these technologies to civil use for resource exploration,
disaster prevention and other peaceful purposes. Thisin itself could certainly be considered one of the
fruits of peace. Furthermore, with the emergence of
4D technology, it would become possible to monitor
chronological changes through continuous monitoring
and to assess surface and subsurface conditions by timelapse analysis.
In oil and gas exploration, geophysical exploration
surveys, seismic surveys and 3D analysis are costly
business that requires an enormous fund. However,once oil or gas is discovered and production begins, it
is rarely possible to implement such surveys again andcapture time-lapse changes to assess ground behavior
once production starts. This is because the economic
advantages of examining changes in existing oil andgas fields cannot surpass the advantages of performing
geophysical exploration surveys, seismic surveys and3D analysis for a completely new development project.
Meanwhile, CCS is pointless if the behavior of

CO2 that is injected underground cannot be monitored.
Moreover, since CCS produces no output of value like oiland gas production, it is necessary to minimize costs asmuch as possible. This is even more so today, given thedrop in market prices in emissions trading. Conversely,
the ability to monitor subsurface conditions continuously
at low cost is attracting the interest of oil companies thathave been spending large amounts on seismic surveys
and 3D analysis and turning their attention to the possible
use of 4D technology to monitor subsurface behavior in
crude oil and gas reservoirs with an ultimate target set
on EOR (enhanced oil recovery).

3. Overview of the Workshop
The workshop began on March 5 with opening
speeches given by Dr. Jean-Lou Chameau, President,
KAUST; Dr. Khalid Al-Damegh, Director, Oil & Gas
Research Institute, KACST; and Mr. Morihiro Yoshida,
Managing Director of JCCP.
In their speeches, they stressed the significance ofholding the workshop in Saudi Arabia for the second

Audience listening with keen interest

JCCP NEWS No. 119 September 2014s 4ECHNICAL #OOPERATION s 45

ThemeSpeaker

Organization

1[Keynote Presentation 1]
Full waveform inversion applied to 4D hydroacoustic
tomography

Hitoshi Mikada

Kyoto University

2

Interferometric migration for 4D monitoring

Gerard Schuster(Danglian Zhan)

KAUST

3

The interpretation of time-lapse data obtained byseismic ACROSS source operated in Al-Wasse water
pumping ﬁeld in Saudi Arabia

Junzo Kasahara

Tokyo University ofMarine Science andTechnology

4

Unraveling waveform inversion with an eye on timelapse seismics

Tareq Al-Khalifa

KAUST

5

Elastic anisotropies of core samples under very highconﬁning pressure from multi-channel elastic wave
velocity measurement

Hisao Ito

University of Tokyo

6

InSAR observations of volcanic and seismic processes in
the Middle East

Sigurjón Jónsson

KAUST

7

Advanced InSAR for reservoir monitoring and modeling

Alissio Rucci

TRE Italy

8Long-term surface deformation monitoring and analysis
in water-dissolved gas production areas by time-lapse
SAR interferometry

Shuichi Rokugawa

Japan Agency for
Marine-Earth Science andTechnology (JAMSTEC)

9

Characterizing aquifer and fault hydromechanicalproperties at basin-scale using InSAR-derived grounddeformation

Estelle Chaussard

University of California,
USA

10[Keynote Presentation 2]
Paradigm change in large-scale subsurface
imaging using 3D inversion of airborne and marine
electromagnetic data

Michael S. Zhdanov

University of Utah, USA

11

Deep diagnostic technologies for reservoir mapping andmonitoring at a new scale

Alberto F. Marsala

Saudi Aramco

12Seismic and electromagnetic modeling and inversion tomonitor CO2 geological storage

Jose Marcione

OGS, Italy

13

Permanent monitoring with buried land hydrophones
and geophones in a desert environment

Andrey Bakulin

Saudi Aramco

14

Field data observation and numerical study with apermanent seismic source ACROSS towards hydrocarbon Mamoru Takanashi
reservoir monitoring

Japan Oil, Gas andMetals National
Corporation (JOGMEC)

15

Marchenko below a complex overburden

Joost van der Neut

Schlumberger

16

Time-lapse monitoring of deep volcanic processes:
Lessons from the 2007 SEA-CALIPSO experiment on
Montserrat, BWI

Larry D. Brown

Cornell University, USA

17

Improving time-lapse seismic repeatability: Otway site
permanent geophone array ﬁeld trials

David Lurnley

University of Western
Australia

18

Time-lapse seismic monitoring of CO2 injection at
Ketzin, Germany: 3D surface and subsurface downholeobservations

Stefan Luth

Uppsala University,
Sweden19

Scrutinizing CO2 sequestration: A case study coupling
InSAR and geomechanical modeling to monitor spatial
and temporal characteristics of CO2 injection at In Salah,
Algeria

Andrew Shepherd

University of Leeds, UK

Poster Session (KAUST Library)

46 s 4ECHNICAL #OOPERATION s

JCCP NEWS No. 119 September 2014

technology were presented by Dr. Junzo Kasahara,
Professor at Tokyo University of Marine Scienceand Technology (Advisor at Kawasaki GeologicalEngineering Co., Ltd.), in his presentation titled “Theinterpretation of time-lapse data obtained by seismic
ACROSS source operated in Al-Wasse water pumping
field in Saudi Arabia.” Mr. Masaru Takanashi from
JOGMEC also made a presentation on oil reservoir
monitoring using the ACROSS technology.
The workshop thus provided a forum for introducing
and boosting awareness of Japan’s ACROSS technology
to the international community.
Wrap-up discussion by the speakers

4. What Next?
time in two years, in a larger scope than the firstworkshop with the participation of experts in surface andsubsurface ground deformation assessment and resource
exploration, as well as experts in disaster prevention andother relevant fields. Mr. Yoshida also expressed how he
was pleased that the first workshop was not a one-shotsuccess but led to the holding of the second in responseto strong requests from the previous participants.
Following a preliminary offshore inspection tour
on March 4, the workshop featured two days ofpresentations and poster sessions on March 5 and 6.
Worthy of special mention is that the results of the
KACST-JCCP joint project on the ACROSS (Accurately
Controlled Routinely Operated Signal System)

The workshop provided presentations and active
questions and answers on technologies for assessmentof ground deformation, and promoted informationexchanges on innovative technologies in the field.
Those who participated in both the first and second
workshops uniformly noted that the first workshop was
highly meaningful, but that the second was even better,with upgraded presentations and interactive discussions.
JCCP would like to thank everyone at KAUST and
KACST who have made behind-the-scenes efforts tomaterialize the workshop, which closed with a charged
air of expectation for implementation of the thirdworkshop.
<by Sadao Wada, Technical Cooperation Dept.>

JCCP NEWS No. 119 September 2014s 4ECHNICAL #OOPERATION s 47

Corporate
Cooperation

Our Technical Cooperationin Oil-Producing Countries
and Expectations of JCCP
■ Second Contributory Article: Cosmo Oil Co., Ltd.
Dr. Hiroaki Hara
Assistant Manager, International Cooperation Center
Cosmo Research Institute

1. History of Technical Cooperation by
Cosmo Oil
Cosmo Oil’s history of technical cooperation
dates back to 1978, even before JCCP’s founding(Nov. 1981). It was a time when the world had finallybegun recovering from the first oil crisis of 1973.
Oil refineries and petrochemical plants were being
built throughout the world, and Japan’s engineering
industries had begun to seek what we now refer to
as global business expansion. As requested by theseengineering industries, the oil industry in Japan
provided operational guidance and helped optimize
the operations of full turnkey construction facilities. It
also provided assistance in designing facilities and inconstructing grass-roots refineries based on its refinery
operation technologies, and significantly expanded its
scope of business. Maruzen Oil Co., Ltd., one of the
precursors of Cosmo Oil, led the industry in establishingan international cooperation department, and actively

engaged in the designing of refineries and petrochemicalplants throughout the world, including Nigeria (Warri
Refinery), East Germany (PCK Schwedt Refinery)and Iran (IJPC, (then) Bandar Shahpur), providing
operational support, and receiving foreign trainees.
Such advanced initiatives were implemented by threecompanies at the time, with the addition of then-Showa
Oil Co., Ltd. and then-Kashima Oil Co., Ltd. It was theinternational technical cooperation initiatives of thesecompanies that eventually led to JCCP’s founding,as described in detail in 20-Year History of JCCP (inJapanese; published March 2002 by JCCP). As if tocoincide with JCCP’s founding, oil-related projects
were launched in Mexico, Thailand, Bahrain andvarious other countries around the world. These projects
included the construction of facilities and operational
guidance in a single package. Then as now, there was theunderstanding that the construction of facilities does not
end with the construction itself, but involves many otheraspects, such as establishing operations and operating
conditions suited to the situation in the country. Thus,
the number of participants to training programs related
to operational guidance soared, and JCCP’s activities
expanded.

2. Participation in JCCP Activities

Group photo taken at the PCK Schwedt Reﬁnery
in East Germany

48 s #ORPORATE #OOPERATION s

Cosmo Oil took the occasion of its founding in April
1986 to commence technical guidance to major state-run
oil companies through JCCP’s expert service and training
programs. The first two years consisted of cooperation
offered to Indonesia only, but dedicated efforts weremade to strengthen relations with various state-run
oil companies and to uncover business opportunities.

JCCP NEWS No. 119 September 2014

Providing operational support at the PCK Schwedt Reﬁnery
in East Germany

Thereafter, training programs were also offered to
Middle East oil-producing countries, but the largest
number of projects and programs was implemented fororganizations in Southeast Asia and China.
During the several years following the commencementof JCCP activities, Cosmo Oil sent some 50 to 60 Japaneseexperts to oil-producing countries, and received as manyas 170 to 200 foreign participants annually to training
courses in Japan. Compared with the situation today,
the programs then were considerably larger in scope. A
larger number of experts were able to be sent, and a larger
number of participants were able to be received, as there
were approximately four times more staff members,
when combining both international cooperation staff
and their assistants. The dispatch of experts was not
only appreciated by oil-producing countries, but wasalso well regarded by Cosmo Oil Group’s departments
and refineries as an effective means for invigorating
employees. In fact, internal materials from back thenreveal that more than 70% of refinery operators at Cosmo
Oil who were dispatched overseas expressed a desire toengage in overseas operations again. The materials also
show that training programs were highly rated for theireffectiveness by oil-producing countries. In these ways,
Cosmo Oil’s cooperative relationship with oil-producing
countries deepened rapidly after JCCP’s founding.
Meanwhile, the advancing ages of people engaged ininternational cooperation had been a concern since then,and there were expectations for the recruitment of young
employees. Unfortunately, however, the collapse of the
bubble economy thereafter prompted the downsizing ofrefineries, and along with an increase in the mandatory
retirement of members of the international cooperation
department, the number of experts sent overseas andparticipants received from overseas has steadily declined

to this day.
Cosmo Research Institute first participated in a JCCP
technical cooperation project in fiscal 2001, and played
a role in a study on environmental conservation at theBandar Abbas Refinery in Iran.
Thereafter, the Cosmo Oil Group formed a consortiumwith Toyo Engineering Corporation and launched a
project for introduction of a flare gas recovery facility
to the Ruwais Refinery, operated by Abu Dhabi Oil
Refining Company (TAKREER), from fiscal 2005 to
2008. Cosmo Oil Co., Ltd. also owns a flare gas recovery
facility, and knew that it requires the installation of alarge gas holder, but the Ruwais Refinery did not havesufficient area on its site. Thus, after repeated discussions
with the refinery staff, a different type of compressor was
employed as a new system that forgoes a gas holder, andby also making some adjustments to the control system,a flare gas recovery unit was successfully installed within
the limited area of the Ruwais Refinery site.
This project was highly evaluated by both Japan and
UAE, and received the Japan Petroleum Institute Award
for Technological Progress. The consortium invited
Mr. Fareed Mohamed Al Jaberi from TAKREER to theaward ceremony and celebrated the achievement of the
project, which made it possible to reduce approximately
7,000 tons of carbon dioxide per year by allowing gasthat had conventionally been treated as flare stack to be
used effectively as fuel.
In February 2011, Abu Dhabi Oil Co., Ltd., asubsidiary of Cosmo Oil, signed a new concessionagreement for renewal of the concession for the three oilfields that it was operating in UAE and for acquisition ofan additional concession area. We believe the acquisitionof such a large-scale concession was made possible inpart by the steady establishment of cooperative ties
through JCCP activities.
In addition to the above, more than a dozen Cosmo
Oil employees have participated in JCCP’s expert
training program and resided long-term at an overseas
research institution to improve their language skills andfurther their specialized knowledge. After returning toJapan, these employees have assumed active roles intraining programs both overseas and in Japan.

3. Current Initiatives by the Cosmo Oil
GroupToday, the Cosmo Oil Group implements technicalcooperation projects, expert dispatch programs and

JCCP NEWS No. 119 September 2014

s #ORPORATE #OOPERATION s 49

training programs in Japan mainly in partnership with
Middle East oil-producing countries. The Group not
only has interests in UAE, as discussed in the previous
section, but also engages in oil development in Qatar,based on the belief that interpersonal ties are just as
important as technologies to maintaining friendly
relations with these countries. In this respect, JCCP
activities are extremely advantageous in establishing
personal connections, as they provide opportunities for
direct interaction with people in oil-producing countries.
Furthermore, since the number of employees who canengage in international technical cooperation is limited,
we will continue to maintain our friendly relationships
with these countries as priority partners, and contributeto securing stable supplies of crude oil for Japan.
The Cosmo Oil Group is also an active participant in
JCCP’s international cooperation activities. In particular,
Cosmo Research Institute has had the honor of serving
as chairman of the survey committee for the Survey
on Downstream Trends in Oil-producing Countries
over the past several years. In this capacity, we have
surveyed technical issues and cooperation needs invarious countries, with the aim of discovering seeds offuture activities that JCCP might pursue in its efforts tocontribute to Japan’s oil and engineering industries. The
focus of the survey varies by fiscal year, but surveys of
emerging nations provide us with important reference
for investigating new crude oil suppliers and export
destinations for oil products.

4. The Cosmo Oil Group’s Future Direction
and Expectations of JCCP
According to results of the above-mentioned Survey
on Downstream Trends in Oil-producing Countries,

Gas ﬂaring eliminated from the ﬂare stackat the Ruwais Reﬁnery in Abu Dhabi (central stack)

50 s #ORPORATE #OOPERATION ssome countries in the Middle East are considering
making a transition from exporting crude oil to exportingoil products by upgrading their refineries, while others
are pursuing plans for the construction of oil andpetrochemical refineries and petrochemical complexes.
Therefore, with respect to facilities and other hardware,
the Middle East can be said to be making steadierprogress than Japan in incorporating the latest cuttingedge technologies. Under this situation, an important
issue lies in what type of technical cooperation Japan
can provide, or is expected to provide.
One expectation is promotion of Japan’s cooperationin addressing environmental impacts that have alreadybegun to appear in the Middle East region accompanying
the increase in environmental load brought about bylarge investments. Many state-run oil companies in
the Middle East use their abundant funds to perform
environment assessments through the services of Westernconsultation companies, but as these consultationcompanies naturally seek profit, they frequently tend to
propose new investment opportunities. In contrast, JCCP
member companies may not be able to provide hardware
cooperation such as for the introduction of large facilities
through JCCP projects, but we believe we have large
potential to provide software cooperation in the formof operational support and inspection and maintenancetechnologies following the introduction of such large
facilities. As many Japanese companies have their own
voluntary regulations in addition to legal regulations,this type of environmental management framework has
also captured the interest of state-run oil companies in
the Middle East. In addition to the above, we hope tointroduce and transfer environmental and energy-saving
technologies that have been cultivated by the Cosmo OilGroup over many years.
Another expectation of JCCP is for business expansionin emerging oil-producing countries. In recent years
following the Arab Spring, unstable political situations
are constantly ongoing somewhere in the Middle East,
including the aggravation of the Iraqi situation. As aresult, the diversification of crude oil procurement has
become a serious concern to the Cosmo Oil Group,
which has largely depended on Middle East crude oil.
Through JCCP activities, we wish to strengthen relations
with countries that have potential to become new crude
oil suppliers or export destinations of oil products.
The Survey on Downstream Trends in Oil-producing
Countries targets countries other than Middle East
countries depending on fiscal year, and conducts hearings

JCCP NEWS No. 119 September 2014

of present situations and technical issues in thosecountries, thereby providing extremely helpful reference
for cultivating new counterparts. Since JCCP already has
a high profile in many oil-producing countries, we hope
it will turn its attention to strengthening relations withemerging oil-producing countries in the future.

5. Summary
Japan is a country that lacks its own energy resources.
Thus, it faces an ongoing challenge in maintaining
friendly relations with oil-producing countries. It isalso important for Japan to establish relationships withemerging oil-producing countries from the perspectiveof diversification of energy sources.
During the early years of international technicalcooperation by the Cosmo Oil Group, one of theobjectives was to uncover new business opportunities.
However, given the limited number of technicalcooperation personnel today, it has become difficult toacquire large projects that might lead to greater businessperformance. Under this situation, it is extremely
meaningful and we are highly appreciative that there
is an increasing number of people who feel friendly

Visit to the Thanlyin Reﬁnery by the JCCP Oil Downstream
Survey Program 2013 in Myanma

toward Japan in state-run oil companies in oil-producing
countries owing to JCCP’s long years of technicalcooperation with these countries. Such interpersonal ties
are a product of steady efforts, which private companies
seeking direct profit are hardly able to afford.
Thus, we wish to continue our participation in JCCP
activities and take advantage of the opportunities tomaintain friendly relations with oil-producing countries
and establish personal connections with emerging oilproducing countries.

JCCP NEWS No. 119 September 2014

s #ORPORATE #OOPERATION s 51

Graduates’ Voices
Ms. Aek-orn Pramotekul
Assistant Manager, Human Resource Development Division,
The Bangchak Petroleum Public Company Limited
Graduate of a regular course on Personnel Management(Nov. – Dec. 2013)

It is with great honor and pleasure that I contribute
this message to JCCP NEWS. I had the opportunity
to participate in a JCCP course on Human Resource
Development. It was one of the best programs that I haveever attended. It enriched my experience and broadened
my competencies by studying and sharing perspectives
with participants from various countries.
The program has benefited me in fulfilling my job.
First, I gained an understanding of the importance of
teamwork. At all companies and facilities we visited,
I realized that human resource development in Japanis based not only individuals, but also on team andgroup contribution. I am convinced that this is the mostimportant key to the success of the Japanese people andthe country of Japan. The power of teamwork produces
better results, and team success equals job success. I try
to apply this best practice to my division.
The second best practice I gained is on-the-job
training (OJT). OJT emphasizes “learning by doing”
under the guidance and instruction of a senior advisor(senior staff with 3 to 5 years’ experience). In addition toacquiring knowledge through textbooks, necessary skills
and expertise are acquired through hands-on experience.
I also gained an understanding of Japanese culture.
I was especially impressed with Japan’s culture ofworking, which gives senior citizens opportunities toengage in light jobs, such as tourist information staff
who explains about Japanese history and Japan to young

people and tourists. Such opportunities allow seniorcitizens to take pride in themselves. I did not learn about
this in the classroom, but on my own by making trips tomuseums and other important places during the weekend
when we had no class.
I was able to enjoy my stay in Japan, thanks to an
introductory session on Japanese culture and lifestyle
we received at the very beginning of the course, whichbroadly introduced us to the Japanese language, various
institutions and facilities in Japan, the routes of JR trains,and how to use public transportation.
Another important aspect of the course was that I wasable to expand my network of connections with HRD
professionals in many countries by sharing case studies
and mutually providing job-related advice to each other.
As they say, the more you give, the more you gain. I am
thankful for the friends I made.
There is one thing I pledged during the course. Thatis, I pledged to share the benefit that I gained from thecourse and apply it to my company.
I am certain that everyone who participates in a JCCP
program will enhance their knowledge, experience andfriendship, as I have.
Lastly, I am sincerely grateful to have had theopportunity to take part in such an invaluable program,and am proud to say that I am a JCCP alumni.
Arigato Gozaimasu.

Materials from a debrieﬁng meeting held after participating in
the JCCP regular course

52 s 'RADUATES 6OICES s

JCCP NEWS No. 119 September 2014

Personnel Changes
Outgoing Personnel

Incoming Personnel

SpecialCounselor
Eiji HIRAOKA(September 1, 2014)

Counselor

Mitsuyoshi SAITO(June 30, 2014)

Training Dept.

Minoru HORIKE

Toshinobu ISHIKAWA(March 31, 2014)(April 1, 2014)

Shintaro MIYAWAKI

Kunio KAWASHIMA(March 31, 2014)(April 1, 2014)

Kazuhiro SUZUKI

Shinji MARUMO(June 30, 2014)(April 1, 2014)

Hiromitsu SAITO

Kazuhiro WAKAMATSU(June 30, 2014)(April 1, 2014)

Eiji TSUKAMOTO

Eiji IWAMATSU(June 30, 2014)(July 1, 2014)

Takaya SUZUKI(July 1, 2014)

JCCP NEWS No. 119 September 2014

s !NNOUNCEMENTS s 53

Outgoing Personnel

Incoming Personnel

Hideki NOMURA

Masaya TSUKIDATE(March 31, 2014)(April 1, 2014)

Masahiko SHIBATA

Nobuyuki NAKAJIMA(March 31, 2014)(April 1, 2014)

Yukiteru WATANABE

Osamu NONAKA(April 30, 2014)(April 1, 2014)

Technical
Cooperation
Dept.

Tadayuki HATTORI(July 1, 2014)

Administration
Dept.
Yoshishige TSUJIMURA(April 1, 2014)

54 s !NNOUNCEMENTS s

JCCP NEWS No. 119 September 2014

Announcements

Please Help Us Update Our Roster
Thank you for reading JCCP NEWS as always.
JCCP has reached a significant milestone in its history and celebrated 30 years of operations in 2011. In
commemorating this achievement, we extended our deepest appreciation to you all for your support and cooperationin our activities.
All of you who have participated in a JCCP training program in the past (graduates) are a precious asset to
JCCP. We therefore wish to take this occasion to confirm your current addresses and update our roster of former
participants so that we may reconnect and maintain contact with you into the future.
Our current roster mostly shows information that you provided at the time you participated in a JCCP training
program, and could be outdated by now. If there have been any changes in your affiliation (position), email address,
or any other contact information, we ask that you provide the latest information on the attached form and return theform to JCCP’s Planning & Public Relations Group. Those of you who return the form to us are entitled to receive
the latest issues of JCCP NEWS and announcements and invitations to exhibitions and reunions.
Also, if you know of anyone who is a former participant but is not receiving copies of JCCP NEWS, or anyone
who wishes to update his/her contact information, we would appreciate it if you would forward this message andthe attached form to that person.

Please Send Us a Message as Alumni
Future issues of JCCP NEWS will feature a new section for messages from alumni. Please send us the latest
news about what you are up to or photos that you wish to share with others. The Planning & Public Relations
Group looks forward to hearing from you.
Thank you for your cooperation.

Registration Form for JCCP Course Graduates
Please fill in the form below and return it to JCCP.
Please contact us if you wish to obtain the form in MS Word format.
E-mail: planning@jccp.or.jp or FAX: 81-3-5396-6006
1.
2.

Full NameCountry(Current place of residence)3.

Nationality

4.

Name of Organization/
Company

5.

Reﬁnery/Department/Section

6.

Title/Position

7.

Mailing Address

8.

Telephone

9.

Email

11. Telephone

10. Fax(mobile)12. Date of Birth(This is necessary to eliminate
redundant registrations)

13. JCCP Course you haveattended in the past

Course No.:
Course Title:

Signature __________________________________Year:

Date __________________________

JCCP NEWS No. 119 September 2014

s !NNOUNCEMENTS s 55

Update or Change of Address
Cancellation of Subscription
If there have been changes in your mailing address, affiliation or any other contact information, or if you wish
to cancel your subscription, please fill out the following form and return it by FAX or E-mail to JCCP’s planningand Public Relations Group.
Email: planning@jccp.or.jp or Fax: 81-3-5396-6006
Also contact us if you wish to obtain the form in MS Word format.

Date:

Country:
Change of Address

Cancellation of Subscription

Old Address
1. Full Name
2. Title/Position
3. Afﬁliation
4. Telephone/FAX
5. Mailing Address
6. E-mail Address
New Address
1. Full Name
2. Title/Position
3. Afﬁliation
4. Telephone/FAX
5. Mailing Address
6. E-mail Address

56 s !NNOUNCEMENTS s

JCCP NEWS No. 119 September 2014

Thank you for reading JCCP NEWS.
If you have any comments or feedback about this newsletter,
please free to contact us by e-mail.
Your feedback is appreciated.
Planning & Public Relations Group, Administration Department
E-mail: planning@jccp.or.jp

Editorial Postscript
I am pleased to bring you our latest issue of JCCP NEWS.
In March, the Second JCCP Alumni Meeting (reunion of training course
participants) was held in Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia, with the attendance ofmore than 200 mainly from Saudi Aramco and other organizations. An article
on this lively event is provided in this issue of JCCP NEWS, and illustrates
a general picture of how JCCP activities have taken root in oil-producing
countries, along with other articles featured in this newsletter.
In April and July, there have been changes in full-time board members,
as well as changes in personnel, with large numbers both leaving and joining(From the right) Yamanaka, Hagishima,
Iwase, Tsujimura
the organization.
Also in April, Masumi Kitahara, who has long been a part of the JCCP
NEWS editorial team, has transferred to the Operations Department, and two new members have filled her place.
We are a variegated mix of men and women, young and old, but as we will put our heads together to continue tobring you information-filled issues of JCCP NEWS, we hope you will favor us with your kind support and guidance.
Yoshishige Tsujimura
Planning and Public Relations Group
Administration Dept.

JCCP NEWS No. 119 September 2014

s !NNOUNCEMENTS s 57

Japan Cooperation Center, Petroleum (JCCP)
Headquarters
Sunshine 60 Building 58F, 3-1-1 Higashi-Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo 170-6058, Japan
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JCCP NEWS No. 119 September 2014