This was arrived at the recently concluded meeting of the ITF GCC Group, in association with Qatar Petroleum’s Research and Technology department.

"It was agreed during the meeting that the companies would share technology roadmaps which will allow ITF to create a prioritized GCC roadmap and stimulate innovative solutions for challenges in the region such as produced water, enhanced oil recovery and energy efficiency," ITF said.

The wider GCC meeting was attended by more than 50 research and development (R&D) representatives from national oil companies (NOCs), international oil companies, service companies and local academia.

It provided a platform for attendees to understand more about local research capabilities and discuss collaborative R&D opportunities across the region.

"This has been a valuable meeting and we look forward to working with ITF again in the future as we progress with a prioritized technology roadmap for the region," according to Dr Nasser al-Mohannadi, Qatar Petroleum 's Research and Technology manager.

ITF is a non-profit organization owned by 32 international oil and gas operators and service companies and it has facilitated the launch of more than 200 joint industry projects from early-stage projects through to field trials and commercialization.

"Our aim is to create a local framework which will sustain success in the Middle East and be the impartial party in facilitating technology projects and innovations," said ITF regional director Ryan McPherson, who chaired the meeting.

Senior R&D professionals from the region's NOCs, including Qatar Petroleum, ADNOC Group, Petroleum Development Oman and Kuwait Oil Company, talked about the need to address technology gaps and challenges in the region and the ways of working more closely together to pro-actively find solutions.