Background of Saudi Aramco Essay Example

Background of Saudi Aramco Essay The story of Aramco’s beginnings and the journey the company has taken to become the largest oil company in the world is as remarkable as the journey that has brought Saudi Arabia to its current standing in the community of nations. Aramco is a company characterized by resilience and the courage to take bold steps that have made it a key player in global energy security (Saudi Aramco 2012). The journey of the company is tied to the transformation the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has undergone to become a modern-nation state and a key player in the geopolitical sphere of not only the Arab world but also globally. Having began as merely an oil producing companies that was no different from other companies in the industry at the time, Aramco has steadily grown to become the fully integrated global energy enterprise that it is today with partnerships spreading to various parts of the world including Asia, Europe and North America (Saudi Aramco 2012). Aramco’s journey began with the signing of an oil concession agreement with the Standard Oil Company of California on May 29, 1933 which paved way for the beginning of aerial surveys the following year. In 1935, the first oil well was drilled and a new pier was erected at al-Khobar at a time when more proven oil finds were located in Bahrain, Iraq and Persia. In 1936, the Texas Co. made a 50% acquisition of the concession and launched operations in Bahrain. By 1939, various wells had been drilled and for the first time, an oil tanker transported the first load of petroleum from Saudi Arabia. Aramco was officially on its way to becoming the corporation it is today (Saudi Aramco 2012). We will write a custom essay sample on Background of Saudi Aramco specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Background of Saudi Aramco specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Background of Saudi Aramco specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer By the beginning of the 1940s, the company was producing about 15,000 bpd and its workforce had grown to nearly 4,000. 1940 began with the discovery of the Abqaiq oil field but during the early years of the 1940s, the company faced some difficulties including the closure of its refinery at Ras Tanura in 1941 and suspension of field mapping in 1942. 1943 witnessed growth of innovation in the oil and gas industry due to the shortages occasioned by the World War II and Casoc was renamed Aramco in 1944 with headquarters in San Francisco and an amazing journey of remarkable growth began. As of 1949, Aramco had increased its productivity to 500,000 bpd. In 1946, the company commissioned its administration building in Dhahran and the decade ended with the completion of the Trans-Arabian Pipeline enabling Saudi Arabia to export its oil through the Mediterranean Sea (Saudi Aramco 2012). In 1951, the Safaniya offshore oil field was discovered and the following year, Aramco moved its headquarters to Dhahran. In 1954, the company’s production reached 1 million bpd transforming Aramco into an oil production powerhouse (Saudi Aramco 2012). Exploration work at Rub’ al-Khali began in 1955 and by 1958; the company’s production had topped 1 million bpd. The close of the 1950’s saw two Saudi nationals joining Aramco board as more Saudis assumed managerial positions within the company. In 1961, the company hit yet another milestone when it exported liquefied gas from its Ras Tanura facility for the first time. By 1962, production of crude oil had hit the 5 billion barrels mark and the following year, the company patented its oil sweetening technology. In 1965, Aramco’s oil production reached 2 million bpd and the discovery of the Shaybah oil field further boosted the company’s productivity. The company closed the decade with the commissioning of an offshore gas-oil separation plant at the Safaniya oil field, the first of its kind in the history of Aramco (Saudi Aramco 2012). Photo 2: Aramco’s first offshore gas-oil separation plant at the Safaniya oil field commisioned in 1969 [Source: Aramco] During the 1970s, the Saudi Government began the acquisition process aimed at changing Aramco into a fully government owned company or a national oil corporation (NOC). It is a decade that would witness rapid growth in the oil and gas industry as Aramco was operating three of the largest oil and gas projects in the world (Saudi Aramco 2012). The company had officially taken the lead in oil and gas production and taken its rightful place in the global energy security landscape. In 1973, the Government acquired a 25% stake in Aramco followed by a further acquisition of 35% in 1974 bringing the Government’s ownership of the Aramco to 60%. The same year, the Ju’aymah offshore crude oil terminal was commisioned and in 1976, Aramco became the first oil company in the world to reach an output of 3 billion barrels in one year, a fete that had not been achived by any other company (Saudi Aramco 2012). In 1980, the Saudi Government completed acquisition of the remaining 40% ownership of Aramco but the decline in oil prices would force the company to rethinkk its strategy (Saudi Aramco 2012). By this time, the governemt owned 100% stake at Aramco and despite the hardships in the global oil market, Aramco made significant strides. For example, the Exploration and Petroleum Engineering Center (EXPEC) was opened in 1983. Having fully acquired the company, the Saudi Government transformed Aramco into Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Saudi Aramco) and in 1989, the company found oil at Hawtah marking the beginning of a decade that would witness massive invention and investment in the oil and gas industry (Saudi Aramco 2012). Picture 3: Aramco’s Operations Coordination Center, the largest of its kind in the Oil and Gas industry [Source: Aramco] Aramco began its expansion strategy in earnest with the 1991 acquisition of a 35% stake in S-oil refinery and harbor, Onsan, Republic of Korea (Saudi Aramco 2012). The following year, the company’s exploration efforts yielded discovery of oil in the central part of the country having drilled its first well at Midyan. In 1993, Aramco’s merger with Samarec was completed and the following year, Aramco acquired a 40% stake in Petron, a company based in the Philippines and in 1996, Aramco entered its first European joint venture. In 1999, the company completed the refurbishment of the Ras Tanura refinery before opening a Research Development Center (RDC) to spearhead innovation in the oil and gas sector (Saudi Aramco 2012). Picture 4: Refurbished and upgraded Ras Tanura refinery [Source: Aramco] During the 2000s, Aramco established partnerships with various international companies with focus on gas production as well as patenting of technology developed by the company’s RDC. On top of this, Aramco embarked on the largest capital expansion in the company’s history aimed at ensuring stability and reliability. To this end, the company commissioned Hawiyah gas plant in 2001 and in the following year, Aramco acquired Texaco’s stake in Motiva (Saudi Aramco 2012). This was followed by the opening of the Haradh gas plant in 2003 before further expansion plans in 2004 led to rge acquiition of stake in Showa Shell which enabled the company to raise its output by a further 800 thousand bpd. In 2005, Aramco entered into a joint venture with Sumitomo Chemical Company. 2007 saw Aramco enter into yet another equity venture, this time in China with the Fujian Refining and Petrochemical Co. Ltd. In 2008, Aramco celebrated its 75th year in the oil and gas industry and the following year, the company completed its expansion program raising its capacity to 12 million bpd (Saudi Aramco 2012) but with actual production averaging 9. 1 million bpd in 2011.

The Sin Of Nadab & Abihu Essays - Book Of Leviticus, Kohanim

The Sin Of Nadab & Abihu Essays - Book Of Leviticus, Kohanim The Sin of Nadab & Abihu Verse: (Lev. 10:1) And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron took either of them his censer, and put fire therin, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the Lord, which he commanded them not. (King James) The Sin of Nadab & Abihu: An Exegesis There is no clear consensus as to what sin Nadab and Abihu committed as detailed in verse 10:1 of the book Leviticus, in the Hebrew bible. Some commentators like to take into consideration material previously mentioned, some like the literal view of the story, others try to narrow the possibilities to come to a conclusion, while still more understand it all as simply a figurative tale. But in truth, few if any of the explanations this exegesist looked through seemed satisfactory, but blended together, and analyzed individually, they did form a far more satisfactory intrepretation of my own. The story is that Aaron, the newly consecrated Israelite High Priest had two sons, Nadab and Abihu, who were consumed by God for offering 'strange fire' before him. This occruance took place during the Octave-day celebrations which were taking place for the opening of the just completed Tent Of Meeting, or Tabernacle. Sacrifices, and prayers were to take place each day with special ritualistic rules in the preparation and performance of each. The priests were chiefly responsible for the running of events, and as most scholars agree Nadab and Abihu at the time of their death were priests, and so were presumably performing their priestly duties. Where the break in agreement occurs is with the question that naturally arises: What did Nadab and Abihu do wrong? The answer to this question lies in the context of the verse, the bigger picture involved. This does not, however, mean that it is clear enough so one can realize it with a read through or two. To best comprehend the situation, an understanding of the verse must be realized. The realization in this case is best accompolished through a translation of the verse from the original Hebrew that can put a clear picture of the happenings taking place. Unfortunately such a translation is not available. The King James is to poetic to be vivid, and the RSV changes the true meanings of words too much to be respected. Similar arguments could be put for the other translations out there. Faced with such a dillema, one must undertake the translating upon himself: "Then took Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each his censer and placed in them fiery coals, and put on them incense and sacrificed before the Lord with strange fire, which he had not commanded them." With this translation it is clear that the action is taking place with a specific sequence, in an event that has to be taken into consideration. Furthermore, it clarifies the problem with the 'strange fire' to explain that the fire was strange because it wasn't what God had commanded to be done. It is admitted, however, that this translation does not answer any questions beyond what any sentence can at any time answer. It is just a tale of events, and as any sentence studied individually would be, is a bit obscure. The whole picture must be taken into consideration. As for some explanation of the terms used: A censer is a pan used to carry coals. It has practical used even today in the middle east. The incense was a mixture of sweet herbs and spices as prescribed in Exodus 30:34. The one phrase that needs to be further developed is the hebrew 'esh zara' or 'strange fire'. The word esh as used here refers to fiery coals, but it has nevertheless compelled many scholars try to interpret it, mostly to fit their own theoretical views. In its present form esh zara, simply means a fire taken from an unauthorized source. This is what had made it strange and unholy for use in the Tent of Meeting. The use of the word zara which means strange, is a bit puzzling. Only a handful of times has the this form of strange been used in the Torah. Three other places other than Lev. 10:1 it's been used to

The Basic Beliefs and Ideas of Aristotle Assignment

The Basic Beliefs and Ideas of Aristotle - Assignment Example This essay discusses Greek philosopher Aristotle, who was the most brilliant student of Plato. After completing his education, he made his own school known as Aristotle’s Lyceum in Athens that can provide quality education to all students. Aristotle’s major beliefs and ideas were based on different subjects including poetry, mathematics, logic, music, biology, zoology, government, ethics, politics, linguistics, theatre, metaphysics and rhetoric. This Greek philosopher was the most prominent figure in the western history. He has influenced the perception of the western civilization and world at the micro level. His notable ideas that famous all around the words includes Passion, Syllogism, Golden mean, Reason and Logic. He is the first founder of two principals’ logic and biology. In addition this, Aristotle produces the new perception about the diversity of human beings known as Aristotle’s Enhanced Hierarchy of Beings. This hierarchy makes a chain and sta rts from least to the greatest. It includes primary matter, four elements, inanimate objects, organic objects, animals, humans and God. Also, he gave different ideas for optics, chance and spontaneity, universals and particulars, classification of living things, the influence on Hellenistic drugs, empirical research program and much more. Aristotle beliefs and ideas remarkably changed the perception of western and world and played a huge role in the development of the world. His influential, philosophical and theological thinking still has a great impact on Christians.