In response to COVID-19, Schlumberger’s M-I SWACO business unit in Broussard, Louisiana, is using part of its manufacturing facility to produce hand sanitizer.

The facility is a leading manufacturer of oilfield blended chemical products and has supporting services that include quality control laboratories, an extensive supply chain and a logistical network. It has products in all major production treating application segments including emulsion control, corrosion inhibition, scale prevention, paraffin control, gas hydrate inhibition and solids dispersion.

“By adjusting the manufacturing processes at the facility in Broussard, to date, more than 2,000 gallons of hand sanitizer have been manufactured and donated to community health centers, frontline responders and local authorities as well as our own locations in Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, North Dakota and Texas,” says Karin Fisher, Plant Manager.

Teamwork and collaboration across business functions expedited the setup of production at the facility. This included qualification of raw materials, facility registration and documentation in accordance with guidance from regulatory authorities.

Producing hand sanitizer involves blending the raw materials according to the approved formulation from the World Health Organization (WHO) which includes isopropanol, the main ingredient of hand sanitizer.

“Health and safety are always a priority at Schlumberger,“ notes Alen Corak, North America Offshore, Drilling Operations Manager and Acting Manager Director for North Gulf Coast, who is the team leader for this initiative. “With the impact of COVID-19, we are committed to helping our local communities,” he continues, “and I am proud of the way our teams quickly collaborated to produce hand sanitizer for donation to frontline responders.”

There are plans to increase production and donate hand sanitizer to other communities across the company’s operations. The company is also considering other community outreach projects. Watch this space for updates.

Learn more about how Schlumberger locations worldwide are supporting their communities in response to COVID-19 here.