The move follows a deal signed between the two firms in July to build one of the world’s largest solar power plants.
The project site preparation as well as grading work by a local community contractor (LCC), which is owned and operated by Omanis, started one month ahead of schedule.
Expected to reduce CO2 emissions by over 300,000 tons annually, the Miraah plant will feature GlassPoint Solar concentrating solar power (CSP) technology which enables production of steam from solar energy. This steam is used in heavy oil production.
The solar thermal facility is designed to produce an average of 6,000 tons of steam a day that will be used in thermal enhanced oil recovery (EOR) to extract oil at the Amal field.
PDO managing director Raoul Restucci said: "Miraah will provide a substantial amount of the steam demand at Amal, reducing our reliance on natural gas to make steam.
"The gas saved can be used by other industries to support Oman’s diversification and economic growth strategies."
Featuring 36 glasshouse modules, the project is planned to be built in four phases with first stream generation scheduled in 2017.
GlassPoint president and CEO Rod MacGregor said: "Miraah will be 100 times larger than our solar pilot at Amal, which has been operating successfully for nearly three years now.
"Miraah will generate significant value for the Sultanate by creating new opportunities in supply chain development, manufacturing capacity, employment and training."
The use of solar for oil recovery is a part of a plan to develop PDO’s viscous oil portfolio while reducing natural gas consumption.
Miraah will save 5.6 trillion British Thermal Units (BTUs) of natural gas each year, the amount of gas that could be used to provide residential electricity to 209,000 people in Oman.
PDO is a joint venture between the Oman Governmentis with 60% stake, Shell Group with 34%, Total 4% and Partex 2%.
Image: The new solar plant allows production of steam, which will be used to extract oil. Photo: courtesy of satit_srihin/ FreeDigitalPhotos.net
