The Sharjah National Oil Corporation (SNOC) has announced the discovery of a new natural gas and condensate field in Sharjah, UAE. This is the first land discovery of gas in the emirate in the last 37 years.
SNOC and its partner, Italy’s Eni, said that the natural gas and condensate field, called Mahani, has flow rates of up to 1.4 million standard cubic metre per day, along with the liquids associated with it. The Mahani well was drilled at a total depth of 4449 m and encountered gas with associated condensate within the thamama formation.
According to a statement from SNOC, the Mahani exploration well, located in the Area B Concession, is the first exploration well drilled by SNOC following the acquisition of a new 3D seismic survey covering the territory. SNOC, which is the operator of Area B, and Eni both hold a 50 per cent stake in the discovery as part of a Concession Agreement that was signed in early 2019.
Sheikh Ahmed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah and Chairman of Sharjah Oil Council said that the Mahani discovery fulfils the Emirate’s commitment to make reliable and sustained gas supplies available throughout the UAE.
Sharjah provides strategic energy infrastructure to help the nation meet the growing demand for energy by residential, industrial and public utility consumers and this will also help attract more investments into Sharjah’s industrial sector, according to him.
Sultan Al Qasimi also noted that the discovery supports Sharjah’s development process and will work to bring about major transformation in its industrial and commercial fields. This will also attract top global companies and institutions to invest in various sectors in Sharjah, he added.
Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi, president of SNOC, expressed confidence that this would help attract more industrial investments to Sharjah and generate greater revenue resources, contributing to the Emirate’s stability and financial sustainability.
Hatem Al Mosa, CEO of SNOC, added: “I am delighted that the first exploration well to be drilled in Sharjah by SNOC, and our partner Eni, is a gas discovery. This is the first onshore discovery in Sharjah in 37 years and marks the beginning of an exciting time for SNOC and for Sharjah’s energy sector.”
The size of the discovery will be further evaluated in due course with additional appraisal and development drilling expected, the statement added.