PDO: infrastructure
A 276 kilometre pipeline from the interior fields to the coast was laid in the 1960s, ending at an industrial complex, tank farm and marine terminal at Mina al Fahal near Muscat.
PDO · IECEx
IECEx Mobile Phone for PDO
PDO delivers the majority of Oman's crude oil production and natural gas supply, making it the dominant operator for onshore exploration and production in the Sultanate. The Government of Oman holds 60 per cent, Shell 34, TotalEnergies 4 and Partex 2. If you are specifying an IECEx mobile phone for PDO, this page covers the markings, the approvals and the current certification status of the IS-04Z1.
Pre-launch · certification in progress · Launching Q4 2026
Marking targetEx ib IIC T4Intrinsic safety, Zone 1 / 21 design target · certification in progress
AvailabilityQ4 2026via authorised distributors
Search topicIECEx
DeviceMobile Phone
RouteSpecification
WherePDO
Short answer. The SAMS IS-04Z1 is the intrinsically safe smartphone covered here for PDO: pre-launch, designed for Zone 1 and Zone 21 (marking target Ex ib IIC T4), with certification in progress and no certificate issued.
Current position: certification in progress, nothing issued, launch targeted for Q4 2026. Operator approval runs on its own timeline. Certification status. Place facts reviewed October 2026.
At a glance · IECEx
Checklist: IECEx mobile phone for PDO
| Check | What to look for | IS-04Z1 today |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate of conformity | Number checkable on the IECEx online register | In progress; not issued |
| Standards edition | The IEC 60079 edition the certificate cites | Stated on the certificate when issued |
| Schedule of conditions | Limits of use, batteries and accessories | Published with the certificate |
| Where it applies | PDO: Wellheads and flowlines, Gas processing plants, Oil production and gathering stations | Classified by the site operator |
Product · Oman
The product behind this search: the SAMS IS-04Z1.
SAMS IS-04Z1
An intrinsically safe Android smartphone designed for Zone 1 and Zone 21 hazardous areas in Oman. It is pre-launch: IECEx, ATEX and NEC 500 certification is in progress ahead of the Q4 2026 launch.
- IP68 sealed
- 4,000 mAh battery
- 50 MP camera
- Android 16
- Zone 1 / Zone 21 design target
The organisation · PDO
Petroleum Development Oman: operations and where an Ex phone fits
A short profile of its operations and the kinds of classified area that matter for portable equipment.
Sites and areas
- Marmul
- Saih Rawl
- Saih Nihayda
- Yibal
Classified areas
- Wellheads and flowlines
- Gas processing plants
- Oil production and gathering stations
Supplier approval · PDO
Becoming an approved supplier to PDO
Joint Supplier Registration System (JSRS) certification from the Ministry of Energy and Minerals is a prerequisite before suppliers can be qualified by PDO; PDO's website has a Vendor Corner for registration. The Ex certificate and an organisation's own vendor or engineering approval are two separate timelines; SAMS is working towards both and holds neither today.
Field notes · PDO
More about PDO that matters for portable equipment
PDO: rules and approvals
PDO's headquarters are at Mina Al Fahal in Muscat, and supplier guides say firms generally cannot bid on PDO tenders without prior vendor registration and approval.
PDO: background
PDO's name was shortened to Petroleum Development (Oman) in 1951 after the Dhofar concession lapsed, and the company later operated as Petroleum Development Oman from 1967.
PDO: background
The first commercially significant oil find came at Yibal in April 1962, followed by Natih in 1963 and Fahud, and the first export cargo left Oman on 27 July 1967.
The term · IECEx
What “IECEx” means for a smartphone
IECEx is the international scheme for certifying equipment used in explosive atmospheres. A certificate of conformity is issued by an accredited certification body against a specific edition of the IEC 60079 standards and carries a schedule of conditions of safe use. It is not a legal requirement in most countries on its own, but many national schemes accept it as the technical basis.
The IECEx certificate for the IS-04Z1 is in progress and has not been issued. The marking target is Ex ib IIC T4, the intrinsic safety concept for Zone 1 gas with the hardest gas group (IIC) and a 135 °C temperature class.
In PDO. IECEx is the route most visiting international contractors know, which matters in a producer whose partners include international energy companies. A reviewer would look for the certificate of conformity and its schedule of conditions, then compare the stated gas group, temperature class and equipment protection level with the job. The IS-04Z1 IECEx file is still in progress.
The route · specification
Specifying an IECEx mobile phone for PDO
A short checklist for anyone writing or reviewing the specification, with the IS-04Z1 status against each point.
Check on the paper
- Marking
- Equipment group, category, protection concept, gas group and temperature class, matched to the area drawing.
- Certificate and schedule
- A certificate number, issuing body and the schedule of conditions, not a brochure claim.
- Standards edition
- The IEC 60079 or national standard edition the certificate was issued against.
Check for the IS-04Z1
- Marking target
- II 2 G Ex ib IIC T4: a target, not yet a certificate.
- Certificate status
- IECEx, ATEX, UKEX and NEC 500 in progress; none issued.
- Operator approval
- Separate from the certificate and handled with the site operator.
Questions · PDO
Frequently asked questions
Can PDO buy the IS-04Z1 today?
Not yet. The IS-04Z1 is pre-launch and its certification is still in progress ahead of a Q4 2026 launch. No unit goes into a classified area before the certificate covering it exists. The datasheet, the certification schedule and safe-area evaluation units are available now.
What does an IECEx mobile phone for PDO cost?
SAMS has not published a price. Any figure you are offered for an uncertified Ex phone should be treated with caution; written indicative pricing is available for a defined quantity and site.
Does the IS-04Z1 hold an IECEx certificate?
No. The IECEx certificate is in progress and has not been issued. SAMS will publish the number when it exists.
How does PDO approve suppliers?
Joint Supplier Registration System (JSRS) certification from the Ministry of Energy and Minerals is a prerequisite before suppliers can be qualified by PDO; PDO's website has a Vendor Corner for registration.
Is intrinsically safe the same as explosion proof?
Not exactly. Explosion proof is a broad everyday term; intrinsic safety is one protection concept, which limits energy so ignition cannot occur. Flameproof (Ex d) is a different concept that contains an explosion. The IS-04Z1 is intrinsically safe by design.
Where does PDO work involve Zone 1 areas?
Typically at wellsites, production stations and gas processing plants in the interior concession area, and at the Mina al Fahal coastal terminal and tank farm. The operator issues the hazardous-area classification for each facility, so ask for the zone, gas group and temperature class before selecting equipment.
Is PDO the only major operator in Oman?
PDO is the largest onshore exploration and production company and delivers most of Oman's crude oil and gas supply, but other operators and OQ's refining and petrochemical businesses also run hazardous-area sites. Each organisation sets its own supplier and equipment rules, so confirm with the one that controls your site.
How would the phone cope with desert heat on remote concession sites?
The IS-04Z1 is IP68 rated against dust and water and carries a 4,000 mAh battery, but ambient temperature limits will come from the final certificate and datasheet. Do not assume operation beyond the stated temperature range. IP68 is not explosion protection. Check the temperature class against the area before use.
Related guides
Keep exploring
More on PDO, and on other places in Oman.
Explosion-Proof Mobile Phone for PDOSame place, different guide
Intrinsically Safe Mobile Phone for PDOSame place, different guide
ATEX and IECEx Mobile Phone for PDOSame place, different guide
IECEx Mobile Phone Supplier for PDOSame place, different guide
ATEX and IECEx Mobile Phone Supplier for OQElsewhere in Oman
Oman market guideCertification route and regulators
All guides for OmanEvery route we cover
Certification statusWhat is in progress
Enquiry · PDO
Ask about the IS-04Z1 for PDO, Oman
Tell us what you need to equip and where. The SAMS team answers by email with the datasheet and where each certification route stands.
Enquiry · PDO
Launching Q4 2026
Planning for PDO?
Send the zone and gas group of your site and we will reply with the datasheet and schedule.