Context

Saudi Aramco (Saudi Arabian Oil Company) has discovered several new natural gas fields.

About

The new gas fields:

• Central region - Shadoon
• Southeastern region - Shehab and Shurfa
• Northern border with Iraq - Umm Khansar
• Eastern region – Samna
• Two of the gas fields, Samna and Umm Khansar, are “non-conventional”.
• Non-conventional deposits, also known as shale, are usually trapped in tight pore spaces, requiring special extraction techniques.

Facts & Figures about Oil and gas in Saudi Arabia:

• The oil and gas sector accounts for nearly 50% of Saudi Arabia’s GDP and 70% of its export earnings (OPEC)
• About 60% of Saudi Arabia’s total gas production comes from four fields: Ghawar, Safaniya, Berri and Zuluf. Associated natural gas produced at the Ghawar Oil Field alone accounts for almost 50% of total production (EIA)
• Electricity demand increased by a compound average growth rate of 6% between 1990 and 2016 due to population growth and industrial sector development
• Iran, Qatar and Saudi Arabia are the three largest gas producers in the Middle East, accounting for 34%, 27% and 17% of the region’s output, respectively
• Iran and Saudi Arabia are expected to account for 70% of the total consumption increase in the Middle East by 2025 (IEA).