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ARZANAH OILFIELD DECOMMISSIONED
After nearly twenty years of production, the offshore Arzanah oilfield, west of Abu Dhabi, has been decommissioned, it has been announced. Operated by the Zakum Development Company, ZADCO, Arzanah produced its last oil from the AZ-19 well on September 30, according to a statement by the company's General Manager in the latest issue of the in-house monthly magazine ZADCO Zoom. A decommissioning of the oil production and processing facilities is now under way, and is expected to be completed by January next year, while the oil facilities themselves will be removed from Arzanah island during the course of 1999. Water injection facilities and supporting utilities on Arzanah island will, however, remain operational to meet requirements of the nearby Satah field. The Arzanah field was first discovered in 1973 by a consortium of foreign oil companies led by American independent Amerada Hess, and commenced production in 1979. Production was gathered for export in a specially-moored tanker, while support facilities were built on the nearby island of Arzanah, 180 km north west of Abu Dhabi and 65 km north of Jebel Dhanna. With production declining, Amerada Hess decided in 1993 to relinquish its concession, and operations in the field were taken over by ZADCO at the beginning of 1994. Initially, plans to produce oil from two nearby undeveloped fields, Dalma and Hair Dalma, offered the possibility of maintaining the Arzanah field and the island facilities in operation as a potential processing centre, according to ZADCO. After study, however, it was decided not to bring Dalma and Hair Dalma into production, while low oil prices and the need for further investment in Arzanah rendered the field no longer commercially viable. A special task force comprised of representatives from ADNOC, ZADCO, ADMA-OPCO and NPCC is now supervising the decommissioning process. According to industry sources, ADNOC is undertaking a detailed impact assessment study as part of the decommissioning process. The purpose, the sources said, is to ensure that the decommissioning is carried out in accordance with the stringent Health, Safety and Environment, HSE, regulations of ADNOC, which require that no harm should be caused to wildlife and the environment. Prior to the construction of oil industry facilities, Arzanah island was an important breeding site for seabirds and marine turtles. (The 'Emirates News' )
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TELE-MEDICINE LINKS SOON AT MAFRAQ
A sophisticated tele-medicine system will soon be set up at Al Mafraq Hospital near the capital, linking it to the famous Mayo Clinic in Rochester, USA. A team of experts from Mayo Clinic are scheduled to arrive in the capital today to commission the modern system and establish tele-medicine links with the American hospital, an official at the Health Ministry said yesterday. The system will enable transfer of data on patients under treatment in the UAE for review by specialists at Mayo Clinic, who could then suggest further treatment options. The system will also facilitate video conferencing as well as patient consultation and follow-ups with experts at the Mayo Clinic. The sophisticated equipment to be installed includes high frequency cinematic images which will enable transfer of angiogram and ultra sound pictures for study by experts at the American hospital. The focus initially will be on cardiac diseases and other aspects of heart ailments, it is learnt. Tele-medicine systems are also to be set up later at Al Jazeira Hospital in the capital and at Tawam Hospital in Al Ain. These systems will also be set up in association with the Mayo Clinic. The equipment and connections for all these three projects is estimated to cost nearly $ 1 million in view of the sophisticated nature of the systems to be installed, the official said. Mayo Clinic, based in Rochester, Minnesota, is among the top rated hospitals in USA. The Ministry of Health has in the past few years, evinced a lot of interest in tele-medicine in order to update the knowledge of local medical experts through exchange of information with specialists abroad. The authorities also are of the view that telemedicine could reduce the number of patients currently going abroad for treatment as this was an expensive exercise. Getting the opinion of experts from abroad without having to actually transport patients is being considered as an effective long term option. (The 'Emirates News' )
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SITES FOR NEW EXCAVATIONS IN AL AIN
The Department of Antiquities and Tourism in Al Ain is to carry out archaeological excavations on western field sites where recent explorations have brought to light several findings dating back to the Iron Age (1000 BC). The excavations will focus on a location some 15 kilometres from the city where surface evidence confirms the site was occupied some 5,000 years ago, Dr Walid Yassin, archeological adviser at the Al Ain Museum, told Khaleej Times Bida bint Saud and Falaj bint Saud, a system of transporting water from aquifers to gardens through tunnels and channels, are the latest findings from the Iron Age, Dr Yassin said. He said this period's culture was different from those of other ages. The findings from that period, currently exhibited at the Al Ain Museum, came from the archeological sites of Garn bint Saud, Hili 2, Rumailah, and Qusais. Features of the Iron Age are manifested at a number of extensively excavated sites with substantial mud-brick architecture such as Bint Saud settlement. Many other sites, both graves and settlements, have been marked in the area, Dr Yassin said. He said expansion of settlements during the Iron Age was generally attributed to the invention of falaj irrigation technology. He said the discoveries would boost the city's chances of winning a notable title in "Nations In Bloom '98", an international competition for cities involving creative techniques used in preserving architectural features, to be held in Al Ain in December. Dr Yassin said the UAE's archaeological record encompassed a historical past which indicated that the region was a strategic, well resourced, and important part of the cultural mosaic of ancient Asia. "From the number of archaeological sites discovered in the region, mainly from the Bronze and Iron Ages, one can conclude that the region was originally an oasis, visited and inhabited by people for several thousands of years," he stated. (The 'Khaleej Times')
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NEW COINS TO MARK 35 YEARS OF NBD
The UAE Central Bank yesterday issued a limited number of commemorative silver coins of Dh50, Dh25 and Dh1 denominations to mark the 35th anniversary of the National Bank of Dubai (NBD). The bank said yesterday the Dh50 and Dh25 coins would have the name of the country inscribed in Arabic and English along with the denomination. The obverse of the coins depict the new headquarters of the NBD circumscribed by the inscription 'The National Bank of Dubai 35th Anniversary' in Arabic and English. The new coins will be sold through the NBD at face value, said the bank. (The 'Khaleej Times')
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PHOTOGRAPH FETCHES DHS 720,000
A signed and framed photograph of General Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid
Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and UAE Minister of Defence, riding with
his son, Shaikh Rashid bin Mohammed, raised a whopping Dh720,000 for charity
at the Paddock Party on Saturday. Abdullah Al Rostamani outbid Ahmed Al
Shaffar in a spiralling auction for the coveted picture which was gifted
to the Dubai Golf and Racing Club by freelance photographer Gilly Wheeler.
The unexpected price - the starting bid for the picture was Dh 25,000 -
pushed the evening's takings to Dh975,350, which was then topped to a million
when Channel 4FM chipped in with Dh25,000 after the last item was sold.
Another signed photograph of Gen. Shaikh Mohammed with golfing star Greg
Norman was also auctioned along with several other items, including Emirates
tickets for the Melbourne Cup, framed photograph of Silver Charm, the 1998
winner of the Dubai World Cup, and Real Quiet, winner of the Kentucky Derby
1998, signed by trainer Bob Baffert and the winning jockeys, and autographed
wings of Ferrari Formula One cars. (The 'Khaleej Times')
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ARABIAN HORSE AUCTION SALE DATE RESCHEDULED
In accordance with the directives of President His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and under the direct supervision of Sheikh Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, President of the UAE Equestrian and Racing Federation, the 2nd auction sale of Pruebred Arabian horses will now be held on December 7. The auction, which was scheduled for November 7, has been rescheduled so as to hold it in the same week as the World Endurance Championship. The UAE is hosting the World Endurance Championship on December 10 and the holding of the sale during the championship week gives it a very high profile. The federation's move will ensure the best participation, both from the UAE and the visiting international delegates and competitors. The sale provides an opportunity to the prospective owners to select a horse of their choice at a competitive price. The federation has made arrangements to offer Purebred Arabian horses of all ages, some already in training and others suitable to be trained, for any one or more of the following: pleasure riding, long-distance riding, jumping, endurance and flat-racing. The federation has sent invitations to all owners in the UAE and abroad to nominate their horses for the auction sale. Over 90 top class horses has already been entered for the auction sale. This auction comes as part of the federation's efforts to involve more citizens in this glorious sport and also to popularise and spread equestrianism. (The 'Emirates News' )
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TURKEY PROPOSES TO BUILD CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL IN UAE
The building of a children's hospital in the UAE is one idea being considered by Turkish officials here as a means of expanding relations. Turkish Ambassador Ercan Ozer said a children's hospital would be one way to encourage investors from Turkey. Tourism is another area with considerable potential. The number of tourists from the UAE to Turkey has been increasing annually to about 12,000 last year. "Since we do not have any political or economic problems, relations between Turkey and the UAE are excellent. The only problem is that both countries do not know enough about each other," Ozer said. On the business side, the UAE and Turkey are putting the final touches on a treaty for the protection of investment. "We are working to have a Turkish-UAE business council and trade centre," he said. A permanent business showroom is also planned. (The 'Gulf News' )
