Aramco and stc announced today the launch of Dammam 7, a new supercomputer among the top ten most powerful in the world. The supercomputer presents new opportunities in both exploration and development and enhances Aramco’s decision-making on exploration and investment decisions. This is the next step in Aramco’s digital transformation, complementing a suite of advanced technologies that are reshaping core operations, driving efficiencies and reinforcing its industry leadership in geoscience.

Developed at Dhahran Techno Valley in partnership with Solutions, a subsidiary of stc Group, and CRAY, a Hewlett Packard Enterprise subsidiary, Dammam 7 has 55.4 petaflops of peak computing power, allowing it to process and image the world’s largest geophysical datasets.

The Dammam 7 supercomputer, named after the first oil well discovered in Saudi Arabia, will push beyond the traditional boundaries of exploration and production through cutting edge technology. Sophisticated imaging and deep-learning algorithms will allow it to run very detailed 3D earth models, improving the Company’s ability to discover and recover oil and gas while reducing exploration and development risks. It will further enhance decision-making for exploration and development of conventional and unconventional hydrocarbon resources, as well as guide future investments in production and resource allocation.

Aramco President & CEO, Amin H. Nasser, said: “The Dammam 7 supercomputer is named after the first commercial oil well discovered in 1938. It will help us with breakthroughs as part of our long term “Discovery and Recovery” strategy in our Upstream business. This technology that processes complex data faster will enable new discoveries and enhanced recoveries, which are crucial to both ensuring the availability of adequate supply to meet the demand for energy and to cut costs while boosting productivity. Continuous investment in innovative technology is an essential enabler of our Company’s long-term growth strategy, and Dammam 7 is another step in our plan to invest in the right technology that drives production efficiency and resilience.”

stc Group CEO, Nasser S. Al-Nasser, said: “The inauguration of the supercomputer data center in Aramco will open up new horizons in exploration, which will have a significant impact on data digitization and quality. These are in line with the digital transformation plans of the desired national outlook, and we are proud to have worked with locals to establish Dammam 7 Center.”