ADNOC Announces $548Mln Contract for New Main Gas Line

A picture shows the headquarters of UAE's state oil company ADNOC in Dubai on July 27, 2022. (AFP)
A picture shows the headquarters of UAE's state oil company ADNOC in Dubai on July 27, 2022. (AFP)
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ADNOC Announces $548Mln Contract for New Main Gas Line

A picture shows the headquarters of UAE's state oil company ADNOC in Dubai on July 27, 2022. (AFP)
A picture shows the headquarters of UAE's state oil company ADNOC in Dubai on July 27, 2022. (AFP)

The Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) announced Monday awarding a AED2.01 billion ($548 million) contract to build a new main gas line at its Lower Zakum field offshore of Abu Dhabi.

The award will increase Lower Zakum field’s gas production capacity from 430 million to 700 million standard cubic feet per day (MMSCFD), supporting ADNOC’s plans to enable gas self-sufficiency for the United Arab Emirates and cater for increasing global energy demand.

The new pipeline will cater for the increased volume of associated gas produced by Lower Zakum field as the field’s oil production capacity increases to 450,000 barrels of oil per day by 2025.

ADNOC Upstream Executive Director Yaser Saeed al-Mazrouei, said: “This contract award will enable us to produce more gas as we increase production capacity from Lower Zakum field.”

It will support ADNOC’s integrated gas masterplan, which is driving competitive gas recovery to enable gas self-sufficiency for the UAE and industrial growth, while also helping to meet the increasing global demand for energy.

The project will be completed in 2025 and will see the construction of a new subsea pipeline that will run 85 kilometers from Zakum West Super Complex to Das Island.

It also includes provisions to construct, install and test a new platform at the super complex, as well as a new gas receiving facility at Das Island.

Natural gas is playing an increasingly important role in the energy transition as both a feedstock and a fuel as it burns with significantly lower-carbon intensity than coal.

With this award, ADNOC Offshore and its strategic international partners have invested more than $5 billion in recent weeks in the long-term development of Abu Dhabi's offshore operations.

The awards included contracts worth more than $3.4 billion awarded to ADNOC Drilling to accelerate offshore growth activities and a $1.1 billion contract awarded to ADNOC Logistics and Services to enhance offshore operations.



Egypt Launches Intensive Program to Drill 75 Oil Wells in Eastern Desert

A Zohr gas field platform in Egyptian waters. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
A Zohr gas field platform in Egyptian waters. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Egypt Launches Intensive Program to Drill 75 Oil Wells in Eastern Desert

A Zohr gas field platform in Egyptian waters. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
A Zohr gas field platform in Egyptian waters. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Egypt’s Ministry of Petroleum announced the launch of an intensive drilling campaign in the Gulf of Gharib fields, located in the Eastern Desert, as part of its strategy to boost domestic oil production and reduce reliance on imports.

According to a statement on Saturday, the General Petroleum Company (GPC), a state-owned enterprise, has begun operating the first of three modern rigs—each with a capacity of 1,000 horsepower. The rigs are expected to significantly enhance drilling efficiency and reduce operational costs.

The ministry stated that GPC aims to drill 75 new oil wells over the next 12 months, with the goal of adding 7,500 barrels per day (bpd) to current output and raising total production from the Gharib fields to 9,000 bpd.

Mohamed Abdel Meguid, Chairman of GPC, noted in a report to the Ministry of Petroleum and the Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation that the new rigs offer faster drilling speeds, high operational efficiency, and greater mobility between sites. This, he said, would enable the company to implement its drilling plans at lower costs and higher efficiency.

The drilling campaign aligns with the ministry’s broader strategy to maximize the value of national resources, support state-owned companies, and enhance energy security through increased local production.

Separately, the ministry also announced three new oil and gas discoveries in the Western Desert, achieved by Khalda Petroleum Company in partnership with Apache. The discoveries are expected to yield approximately 12 million barrels of oil equivalent, with 4 million barrels recoverable.

Initial tests showed daily production rates of 2,750 barrels of oil and condensates, along with 20 million cubic feet of natural gas. The volume of associated gas is currently under evaluation.

These results reflect the positive impact of recent pricing reforms that incentivize gas development. Without these adjustments, the ministry said, gas production from Khalda could have declined to 380 million cubic feet per day. Instead, output is expected to rise to 500 million cubic feet.

In addition, Minister of Petroleum Karim Badawi met with senior executives from BP to discuss ongoing investments and recent discoveries in the Mediterranean. The two sides pledged to accelerate development of the North King Mariut and Fayoum-5 discoveries and expand cooperation under their long-standing partnership.

Badawi stressed Egypt’s commitment to fostering a supportive investment climate in oil and gas, while also expanding renewable energy to enhance energy security and economic growth.