The Reservoir Rock & Fluids Laboratory of Sinopec Tech Middle East (STME) has recently secured its first commercial testing projects since its establishment. The laboratory is currently delivering core handling and processing services, along with the determination of key petrophysical properties—including porosity, permeability, and fluid saturation analysis—for regional NOCs and IOCs.

The successful commencement of these projects represents a major milestone for STME, demonstrating the effective transition of the laboratory’s development efforts into full operational capability. This achievement confirms that STME’s laboratory testing services have now entered a stage of substantive and sustainable commercial operations.

I.  A Strong Start: Strategic Breakthroughs in High-End Testing

The Reservoir Rock & Fluids Laboratory of STME is the first Chinese institution in Saudi Arabia to provide reservoir rock and fluids services in full compliance with API and ASTM standards, aligning its capabilities with those of leading global oilfield service providers. This achievement represents a breakthrough for Sinopec in the high‑end oil and gas laboratory testing sector across the Middle East.

The laboratory is presently conducting comprehensive core analysis programs, including core handling, processing, sample cleaning, porosity and permeability measurements, and associated analytical work, all carried out in full accordance with API standards.

As the laboratory's first official "field operations," these tasks serve as both a rigorous validation of the facility's hardware and a comprehensive showcase of the technical team’s expertise. All testing data has now entered the review phase, earning high recognition from clients for its precision and rigorous process control.

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II. Technical Excellence: International Standards, Quality, and Safety

Following the signing of the laboratory lease agreement in October 2024, STME completed the construction and full system integration of the 2,200 m² facility within just six months. The site now features specialized, state‑of‑the‑art laboratory capabilities supporting Conventional Core Analysis, Special Core Analysis and Reservoir Fluid Analysis.

In June 2025, the international technical team was finalized. The lab subsequently obtained Saudi government operating qualifications, CCC Plus certification, and three major ISO international standard certifications.

On August 20, 2025, the laboratory was formally inaugurated. During the ceremony, Mr. Ghaithan Al‑Muntasheri, General Manager of the Saudi Aramco EXPEC Advanced Research Center, along with other senior Aramco executives, commended the laboratory’s advanced setup and operational standards. They also reaffirmed Aramco’s commitment to long‑term collaboration on analysis and research projects, emphasizing the facility's strategic importance to future joint initiatives.

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• World‑Class Laboratory Infrastructure: The laboratory is equipped with more than 80 high‑technology instruments spanning both reservoir rock and reservoir fluids disciplines—representing a technical asset base of approximately USD 5 million. This advanced infrastructure positions the facility among the region’s leading laboratories in terms of capability, technical sophistication, and operational excellence.

• Data Integrity: With a robust calibration protocol and more than 40 established Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), the laboratory ensures exceptional accuracy and consistency in all measurements.

III. Future Outlook: Serving Regional Oil & Gas Development

Leveraging the technical expertise of Sinopec Headquarters and its affiliated research institutes, the STME Reservoir Rock & Fluids Laboratory is fully equipped to deliver advanced, high‑resolution reservoir characterization and fluid property evaluation services to the regional market. The facility integrates end‑to‑end analytical workflows across Conventional Core Analysis (CCA), Special Core Analysis (SCAL), and Reservoir Fluids Analysis, all supported by rigorous QA/QC protocols, calibrated instrumentation, and standardized data‑management systems to ensure repeatability and traceability of results.

Looking ahead, the laboratory will continue to expand its SCAL capabilities—including relative permeability, capillary pressure, wettability assessment, and digital rock physics—as well as its competencies in unconventional reservoir evaluation, such as shale petrophysics, nano‑scale pore structure characterization, and complex fluid behavior analysis. By accelerating the localization and deployment of high‑end experimental technologies, Sinopec Tech Middle East aims to deliver robust technical support for enhanced hydrocarbon recovery, optimized reservoir development strategies, and high‑resolution reservoir evaluation across the Middle East.

Business Inquiries

The Reservoir Rock & Fluids Laboratory of Sinopec Tech Middle East is now formally open to external clients. The laboratory provides a comprehensive portfolio of advanced reservoir evaluation services, including:

Conventional Core Analysis (CCA)

Special Core Analysis (SCAL)

Reservoir Fluids (PVT) Analysis

We welcome formal inquiries, technical requests, and collaboration proposals from national and international oil and gas operators, service companies, research institutions, and academic partners.

Contact Information

For all business‑related communications, please contact:

Email: wangzf.sripe@sinopec.com

Phone: +966 559251705