HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--National Oilwell Varco, Inc. (NYSE: NOV) today announced that it is expanding the operations of its Fiber Glass Systems business unit with a new composite pipe manufacturing facility located near the city of Dammam, Saudi Arabia.

“Our decision to localize manufacturing operations in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia demonstrates our commitment to provide industry-leading products and services for our customer base in the Middle East,” commented Clay Williams, NOV’s Chairman, President and CEO. “We have collaborated with key regional clients who recognize the benefits of composite line pipe in critical, high-pressure oil and gas applications and who value NOV’s strong regional presence.”

The facility will establish NOV as Saudi Arabia’s first local manufacturer of high-pressure spoolable composite pipe and will further enhance the Company’s ability to provide lightweight, corrosion-resistant, engineered solutions from its global team of experts supported by 12 manufacturing facilities around the world.

The new, state-of-the-art, manufacturing complex will produce spoolable and jointed pipe, including the flagship line of Fiberspar™ spoolable products, STAR™ Glass Reinforced Epoxy high pressure line pipe, and downhole tubing and casing. Operations are expected to begin in the first quarter of 2018.

About National Oilwell Varco

National Oilwell Varco is a worldwide leader in the design, manufacture and sale of equipment and components used in oil and gas drilling and production operations, and the provision of oilfield services to the upstream oil and gas industry.