When most oil producing countries were still struggling to reduce production and maintain prices, Kuwait chose a more ambitious path - to build an oilfield innovation valley with nearly $400 million. Kuwait Oil Company has officially awarded the Ahmadi Innovation Valley project to Schlumberger Oilfield East Limited, with a winning bid amount of 118 million Kuwaiti dinars, approximately 385 million US dollars, approved by the KPC Senior Procurement Committee. AIV is positioned as an advanced research and innovation center, equipped with professional facilities and technical teams, focusing on applied research in the Kuwaiti oil and gas industry.

The top five bidders, Schlumberger, emerged victorious

In February 2026, KOC signed a memorandum of understanding with five international oilfield service giants, namely Schlumberger, Baker Hughes, Weatherford, Halliburton, and NESR, to pave the way for project development. In the final bidding, Schlumberger won with 118 million dinars, Halliburton offered 126.6 million dinars, Baker Hughes offered 83.5 million dinars, and NESR75.9 million dinars. Schlumberger's bid fully met the technical and commercial requirements and ultimately won.

It is worth noting that although Halliburton offered the highest price, the technical compatibility and comprehensive solution advantages enabled Schlumberger to win the order. This also reflects that KOC places more emphasis on long-term technological collaboration rather than simply price competition when choosing partners.

Not only building a laboratory, but also a strategic bet

KOC CEO Ahmed Jaber Aidan has made it clear that the AIV project will enable Kuwait to keep pace with the global energy revolution, ensuring sustainable industry development and achieving operational excellence through investment in advanced technology. This statement reveals the underlying logic of the project: Kuwait is not just building a laboratory, but is building technological competitiveness for the post oil era. Keywords: Middle East news, oil projects

In the global oilfield service market, Schlumberger has won this trust with its profound technical accumulation and localized service capabilities. The landing of AIV means that Kuwait is transitioning from selling oil to selling technology - perhaps this is the real bargaining chip for oil producing countries to weather the cycle.Editor/Cheng Liting