Bouncing Back- KhPD's Story of Resilience and Recovery from the 2019 Attack

Abstract The Khurais Central Processing Facility (CPF), a cornerstone of Saudi Aramco's oil production infrastructure, sufferred adron attack on September 14, 2019, causing significant damage, disrupting operations and posing a serious threat to the global oil supply. This incident tested the resilience and recovery capabilities of the Khurais Producing Department (KhPD) and Saudi Aramco at large. This paper provides an overview of the recovery efforts at Khurais, focusing on emergency response, crisis recovery strategy, integration of IR 4.0 technologies, rapid production restoration, and innovative repair techniques. This paper includes insights and practical lessons for the Oil & Gas industry on managing crisis situations and ensuring operational resilience. The Khurais oil field, one of the largest in the world, plays a crucial role in Saudi Arabia's oil production capacity. The facility's ability to produce 1.5 millions of barrels of oil per day makes it a vital asset in the global energy landscape. The attack tested Saudi Aramco's operational resilience and crisis management capabilities.