Eni Starts Sharjah Gas Field Output
Italian Eni and Sharjah National Oil Corporation (SNOC) have started gas and condensate production from the Mahani field in onshore Concession Area B, the Italian company said January 4. "This is the first step in the further evaluation of the Mahani gas and condensate discovery, announced last January, that is estimated to hold significant resources of natural gas and associated condensate. The production start-up has been achieved in less than two years from contact signature and less than one year since discovery announcement," Eni said.
Eni acquired Area B in a competitive bid round in January 2019 and is equal partner with operator SNOC. It was the emirate's first onshore disovery in 37 years.
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SNOC's Sajaa gas plant will process the gas using existing facilities and infrastructure. Field production is expected to increase progressively with the connection of further wells planned to be drilled during 2021-22.
Eni CEO Claudio Descalzi said: "This is a big achievement of which we need both to be proud of, considering also the exceptional challenges incurred during the year due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Exploration in Sharjah was considered to be over since the 1980s. However, together with SNOC we demonstrated that using state of the art technology and high level competences also areas considered as 'mature' can reveal new potential.”
Eni will continue its commitment drilling in Sharjah in the operated areas A&C, of which Area C is largely underexplored.
Eni’s exploration acreage in the UAE alone amounts to more than 23,000 km² gross, comprising the onshore of Sharjah and offshore areas of Abu Dhabi and Ras Al Khaimah. Eni has been present in Abu Dhabi since 2018 and holds three offshore development and production concessions and three offshore exploration concessions.