Saudi Aramco's new lease of life

Global media attention on Saudi Aramco's bond sale and acquisition of Sabic obscures progress on routine ventures—like a refinery upgrade and new training techniques

Ras Tanura refinery on the Gulf coast is rooted in the history of Saudi Aramco. It began operations in 1945, just seven years after the first commercial discovery of oil in the kingdom-at the Dammam 7 well. In those days, the refining capacity was 60,000bl/d. Today, processing crude oil from the Abqaiq, Safaniya and Manifa oil fields, it stands at 550,000bl/d, and work is under way to upgrade facilities to ensure that Aramco continues to get value from the plant for many years to come. Driving through the 5 km² (1.9 mile²) maze of silver towers and chimneys that make up the refining complex you come suddenly across a construction site and the frame of a large rectangular-fronted building she