Issue: October 2025
MANAGEMENT ISSUES
Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) is delivering operational excellence and production achievements while building a skilled, motivated and capable workforce that underpins the company’s operational success and Kuwait’s energy future.
COLUMNS
In this month’s First Oil, Editor-in-Chief Kurt Abraham recaps the 2025 Gulf Energy Information Excellence Awards and the technologies driving upstream innovation. He also examines Trump’s Arctic drilling decision, the latest U.S. energy developments, and industry highlights from Houston to Aberdeen in a year of transition and technical progress.
The rapid rise of data centers is reshaping the U.S. energy landscape—and the oil and gas industry is poised to play a central role.
In this month's production column, contributing editor Leonard Kalfayan explores Comitt Well Solutions’ SWIFT System—a breakthrough tool that combines wellbore cleanout and pinpoint restimulation in one efficient operation.
SPECIAL FOCUS: ADVANCES IN DRILLING
This article explores how innovative drilling waste management is reshaping offshore sustainability. By treating waste onsite and leveraging technologies like TWMA’s electric, automated RX series, operators can significantly reduce emissions, enhance safety, recover valuable materials, and align offshore operations with global net-zero ambitions.
This advancement ushers in a new era in drilling performance and flexibility.
NOV’s low thermal conductivity internal pipe coating and two-stage mud chiller extend BHA service life and reduce NPT.
FEATURES
The Middle East’s oil and gas industry is undergoing one of its most significant transformations in decades. From record upstream investments and LNG expansion to AI-driven efficiency and strategic infrastructure monetization, national oil companies are redefining the region’s energy future.
Reactive Downhole Tools, a specialist in well completion and swellable rubber technologies, established its Middle East presence in 2015. Over the past decade, it has become the company’s largest operation, driven by R&D investment, local expertise and strong regional demand.
This major contract award to Allseas is another milestone in TAQA’s North Sea decommissioning strategy. Removal of the 33,000-tonne topside and 12,000-tonne upper jacket will be carried out by the world’s largest heavy lift vessel.
