Viking Completion Technology has commissioned an API-certified manufacturing, testing and service facility in Dhahran, one of only two plants in Saudi Arabia holding the full complement of API Q1, 14A, 11D1, 19AC and 14L licenses required to locally produce subsurface safety valves, packers, seal assemblies, sliding side doors and landing nipples.

The plant operates through a new joint venture entity formed with Abdulrahman Algosaibi Holdings (AGH), the local group whose portfolio includes Intelligent Energy Services (i-Energy) and Extreme Precision Company (XPRECISION). Viking announced the venture as the culmination of five years of investment aimed at positioning the company as a key completion-equipment supplier in the Kingdom.

What does local certification change?

The licenses cover manufacture of safety valves, packers, seal assemblies, sliding side doors (SSDs) and landing nipples to end-user specifications inside Saudi Arabia. Viking previously supplied this equipment to Saudi customers from outside the Kingdom; the company now holds both the API credentials and the commercial vehicle to deliver locally manufactured products direct, which Viking says mitigates lead times and potential logistics issues.

The Dhahran facility complements Viking's Dubai base, which has carried the company's international supply operations for nearly 30 years and until now handled all equipment deliveries to Saudi customers.

Who said what?

Willie Morrison, Managing Director at Viking Completion Technology, framed the certification and entity launch as a turning point for the company's Saudi position.

"Achieving API-certified status and launching our Saudi Arabia entity is a huge milestone for our dedicated team, which I am immensely proud of, and would not have been possible without the support of our Joint Venture partner," Morrison said. "With AG Holding's local manufacturing capability, Viking is ideally placed to deliver as an In Kingdom Total Value Add supplier in line with the key objectives, social and economic requirements and strategic importance of the Saudi 2030 vision."

Abdulrahman Algosaibi, Chairman at AG Holding, pointed to the facility's assembly, testing and make-up capabilities — and to a three-year field track record that preceded the API certification.

"This new facility is fully equipped with the latest capabilities for assembling and testing products, as well as for make-up and testing of completion assemblies. Skilled and experienced field personnel have been responsible for successful trial tests in Saudi Arabia over the last three years, meaning that in addition to our API Certification, we also have a wide range of catalogued products currently supplied from Out of Kingdom," Algosaibi said.

He confirmed the commercial roadmap: over the next 12 months Viking will run further trials while supplying several new product variations. He added that AGH is "proud to be part of such a significant development for Viking in nearly three decades of operating" and looks forward to welcoming customers to the Dhahran site.

What is the watch item?

The next 12 months. Viking has committed to further in-Kingdom trials and first deliveries of new product variations from the Dhahran plant during that window, which will show whether the joint venture converts its certification position into sustained orders from Saudi operators under In Kingdom Total Value Add (IKTVA) procurement rules.

For completion-equipment buyers in the Kingdom, the practical effect is a second domestically licensed source for API-spec safety valves, packers, seal assemblies, SSDs and landing nipples — and a supplier that can now quote locally manufactured lead times rather than Out of Kingdom delivery schedules.