Page 8 - MEOG Week 05
P. 8
MEOG PerFormanCe MEOG
Sharjah makes first gas discovery in three decades
Uae
ThE Sharjah National Oil Corp. (SNOC) and its partner Eni have announced the successful new discovery of natural gas and condensate onshore in Sharjah. The discovery, named ‘Mahani’, comes within the rst year of the partnership and represents the rst onshore discovery of gas in the Emirate since the early 1980s.
Mahani-1 was drilled to a total measured depth of 14,597 feet (5,000 metres) and the well has tested gas at ow rates of up to 50mn stand- ard cubic feet (1.42mn cubic metres) per day, together with associated condensate. e size of the discovery will be further evaluated in “due course”, with additional drilling expected, SNOC said.
e Mahani-1 exploration well, located in the Area B concession, is the rst exploration well drilled by SNOC following the acquisition of a new 3D seismic survey covering the terri- tory, the national energy company said today in a statement.
“ e launch of the International Competitive Exploration Licensing Round by the Sharjah National Oil Corporation on behalf of Sharjah Petroleum Council in 2018 has enabled new and valuable strategic partnerships. is discovery is a promising development for SNOC and meets our commitment to make reliable gas supplies available throughout the United Arab Emirates,” said his Excellency Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi, president of SNOC.
“Sharjah provides strategic energy infrastruc- ture to help the nation meet the growing demand for energy by residential, industrial and utility
consumers.”
e Italian oil and gas company won three
concessions in Sharjah’s rst-ever competitive bid in January 2019. SNOC, which launched the bidding round in 2018, awarded Eni three onshore exploration concessions - Areas A, B and C.
“I am delighted that the rst exploration well to be drilled in Sharjah by SNOC is a gas discov- ery. is is the rst onshore Sharjah discovery in 37 years and marks the beginning of an exciting time for SNOC and for Sharjah’s energy sector,” hatem Al Mosa, chief executive of SNOC, said. “We look forward to further collaboration in the future.”
SNOC, the operator of area B, and Eni each hold a 50% stake in the concession, whose agree- ment was signed in early 2019. e two compa- nies are also partners in Concession Areas A and C, which are both located onshore Sharjah. “Mahani-1 represents the rst exploration suc- cess for Eni in the UAE,” the Italian oil major said in a statement on its website.
e joint venture has started studies to “fast- track the exploitation of these new resources, leveraging on the synergies with the existing facilities and infrastructures while nalising the evaluation of the discovery,” Eni said.
e discovery will bring about a “major trans- formation” in Sharjah’s industrial and commer- cial sectors by providing energy resources and attracting top global companies to invest in var- ious sectors in the emirate, Sheikh Ahmed bin Sultan Al Qasimi said.
P8
w w w. N E W S B A S E . c o m Week 05 05•February•2020
