GlassPoint Solar, a leading provider of solar steam generators for enhanced oil recovery (EOR), has announced the appointment of Glenn Griffith as vice president for its Oman projects.

With more than three decades in the upstream oil industry, Griffith will lead project execution for GlassPoint in the Sultanate, including its solar EOR project with PDO – a joint venture between Shell, Total and Oman.

"Solar EOR is a compelling solution for the global oil industry, and GlassPoint has demonstrated a clear cost advantage over other solutions. No other solar technology has addressed oilfield specific needs," said Griffith.

"The glasshouse design protects the system from harsh Middle Eastern desert conditions and produces direct steam with unmatched energy density," he added.

“The Middle Eastern market, rich in sunshine and heavy oil, but with limited gas supplies, is especially well positioned to adopt GlassPoint’s solar steam technology. I’m excited to join GlassPoint in this growing sector and drive solar enhanced oil recovery throughout the region.”

Griffith joins GlassPoint from Occidental Petroleum’s (OXY) giant Mukhaizna project, where he successfully insured continuity of operations through a complete surface-facilities transition bringing production from 8,000 barrels of oil per day (bpd) to 125,000 bpd.

During this transition, steam generation grew from zero barrels of steam per day to over 400,000 barrels of steam per day.

Prior to OXY, Griffith led the surface facilities team for AERA's pioneering work in steaming tight formations of diatomite, opening up production of more than 11 billion barrels of original oil in place in California.

"Glenn has extensive engineering, project management and surface construction experience rooted in two of the world's largest oil companies,” said Rod MacGregor, president and CEO of GlassPoint.

“He brings a depth of capability and oilfield knowledge that no other solar steam provider can offer, underscoring our leadership position in solar EOR,” he added.

PDO’s solar EOR facility will use concentrated thermal energy from the sun to produce low-cost, emission-free steam that will be fed directly into PDO’s existing steam distribution network.

The PDO project, located in southern Oman, will begin construction this year and span more than four acres at completion.-TradeArabia News Service