Corrosion costs billions of dollars each year. It can also cause serious injuries and loss of lives. The results of corrosion are felt in many and diverse industries. The Gulf region is home to much of the world’s oil production capacity, both onshore and offshore, both sweet and sour. There is also a large capital investment in oil refining, gas production and liquefaction, sea water injection, and chemical manufacturing. To make all this possible, the region has a massive infrastructure incorporating water desalination, power generation, communication, highways, buildings, bridges, and shipping. Due to its wide temperature ranges, high humidity, high salinity seawater and soils, and corrosive atmosphere in some areas, the area produces a unique corrosion environment. Because of the broad approach necessary to resolve problems involving corrosion, the sessions will present a diversity of papers covering a wide range of topics.

The Bahrain Society of Engineers, in collaboration with NACE International Saudi Arabia Section, held the First Middle East Corrosion Conference in 1979. Since this original conference, each additional conference has shown an increased interest in the area of corrosion.

The Tenth Middle East Corrosion Conference in March 2004 attracted a total attendance of about 380, with 42 exhibition booths, and 72 technical papers from 20 countries.

The Eleventh Middle East Corrosion Conference is organized by The Bahrain Society of Engineers, the West Asia & Africa Region and the Saudi Arabia Section of NACE International. It will be held from February 26 to March 1, 2006.

Scope:

Papers and case studies are invited on current techniques and new developments under each session. Experiences applicable to industrial sectors critical in the Middle East, such as oil production, gas production and processing, refining, petrochemicals, marinetransportation, desalination, power generation, and concrete degradation, are particularly welcome.