DUBAI/CAIRO, Nov 19 (Reuters) - Oil giant Saudi Aramco

said on Wednesday it had signed 17 preliminary deals

with U.S. companies with a potential overall value of more than

$30 billion, during a visit to Washington by the Saudi Crown

Prince.

The projects span liquefied natural gas, financial services,

advanced materials manufacturing and procurement of materials

and services, it said in a statement.

Saudi and U.S. officials touted billions in new investments

and growing financial ties between the two countries on

Wednesday, coinciding with a visit to the White House by Saudi

Arabia's de-facto leader Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

"We expect the multi-billion-dollar MoUs and agreements

announced today to act as a springboard for further progress,"

and to strengthen Aramco's collaboration with American firms,

Aramco's CEO Amin Nasser said in the statement.

The agreements build on previous memoranda of understanding

that were signed during a tour of Gulf countries by U.S.

President Donald Trump in May, when Aramco signed 34 preliminary

deals potentially worth up to $90 billion.

Aramco, which wants to become a major LNG player, especially

in the United States, said that Wednesday's MoUs and agreements

include a tie-up with MidOcean Energy for a potential investment

in the Lake Charles LNG project as well as a deal with

Commonwealth LNG around a liquefaction project in Louisiana.

It also announced tie-ups with other energy companies

including Baker Hughes ( BKR ) and Halliburton ( HAL ), as well

as financial giants Blackstone and JPMorgan ( JPM ).

It did not specify the value attached to the specific deals.