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Saudi Aramco finds new gas fields in four regions

Published: 7th Mar, 2022

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.

Shale gas:

  • Shale gas refers to natural gas that is trapped within shale formations.
  • Shales are fine-grained sedimentary rocks that can be rich resources of petroleum and natural gas.
  • Sedimentary rocks are rocks formed by the accumulation of sediments at the Earth's surface and within bodies of water.
  • Common sedimentary rocks include sandstone, limestone, and shale.

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).
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