New gas reserves find to make UAE self-sufficient

Dubai - The new discovery is a major step towards achieving gas self-sufficiency by the UAE.

New mega natural gas reservoirs discovered by Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. (Adnoc) on Dubai and Abu Dhabi border is high-quality organic gas at relatively shallow depths from the earth's surface.
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, announced the new shallow gas discovery and also witnessed the agreement signing ceremony between Adnoc and Dubai Supply Authority (Dusup).
"Today, my brother Mohamed bin Zayed and I attended an agreement signing between Adnoc and Dusup to develop one of the largest gas fields discovered between Abu Dhabi and Dubai with 80 trillion cubic feet of reserves. Our land resources will continue to bring a brighter future," Sheikh Mohammed said in a tweet.
"Together with my brother Sheikh Mohammed, we witnessed the announcement of "Jebel Ali Project" gas reservoir that Adnoc will develop in collaboration with Dusup... a new source of energy supplies to support national economy and sustainable growth plans in UAE," Sheikh Mohamed tweeted.
The new discovery is a major step towards achieving gas self-sufficiency by the UAE.
Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Director-General of Dusup, and Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, UAE Minister of State and Adnoc Group CEO, signed the agreement on Monday.
The discovery of the 80 trillion standard cubic feet (TSCF) of shallow gas resources was made within an area of 5,000 square kilometers between the two emirates with Adnoc drilling more than 10 exploration and appraisal wells. It was first time that Adnoc explored for hydrocarbon resources in Dubai.
Monday's announcement comes less than three months after Abu Dhabi's Supreme Petroleum Council announced increases in hydrocarbon recoverable reserves of 7 billion stock tank barrels (STB) of oil and 58 trillion standard cubic feet (TSCF) of conventional gas, moving the UAE from seventh to the sixth position in both global oil and gas reserves rankings with a total of 105 billion STB of recoverable oil, 273 TSCF of conventional gas and 160 TSCF of unconventional gas resources.
The UAE currently imports gas through Dolphin Pipeline to meet its energy needs to produce electricity. The new discovery will be a big leap in the UAE's efforts towards self-reliance in gas resources.
"We look forward to working closely with Adnoc to further explore gas resources in the area between Abu Dhabi and Dubai as part of diversifying our energy resources," said Sheikh Ahmed.
"The strategic cooperation agreement between Adnoc and Dusup is a natural evolution of our shared commitment to harness energy resources in the service of the UAE. We look forward to swiftly progressing the ongoing work and further exploring, appraising and developing the area," said Dr. Al Jaber. - waheedabbas@khaleejtimes.com