The Saudi Arabian Oil Co., also known as Aramco, has announced a major discovery of gas and condensate in the Jafurah unconventional field, located in the eastern province of the kingdom. The discovery adds 15 trillion standard cubic feet (scf) of gas and 2 billion barrels of condensate to the field’s proven reserves, which now stand at 229 trillion scf of gas and 75 billion barrels of condensate, according to a statement from the Ministry of Energy .
The discovery was confirmed by an independent consulting company, which conducted studies on the field’s resource potential. The Jafurah field is the largest liquid-rich shale gas play in the Middle East, covering an area of approximately 17,000 square kilometers. The field contains gas and condensate in the Tuwaiq Mountain source rock, which requires advanced drilling and hydraulic fracturing techniques to extract .
The discovery is part of Aramco’s ambitious plan to develop the Jafurah field, which aims to contribute to the energy transition and the diversification of the Saudi economy. The company expects to start production from the field in 2024, and to reach a peak output of 2.2 billion scf/d of gas and 425,000 b/d of condensate by 2036 .
A Strategic Plan by Saudi Arabia to Expand its Gas Production and Consumption
The discovery of gas and condensate in the Jafurah field is also in line with Saudi Arabia’s strategic plan to expand its gas production and consumption, as part of its Vision 2030, a long-term roadmap to transform its economy and society. The kingdom, which is the largest oil exporter and the third-largest oil producer in the world, has been investing heavily in gas and related technologies, such as big data, cloud computing, robotics, and biotechnology, to enhance its key sectors and industries, such as energy, health, education, and tourism .
In October 2020, Saudi Arabia launched its National Strategy for Data and Artificial Intelligence (NSDAI), which aims to make the country a global leader and a hub for innovation and excellence in AI by 2030. The strategy, which is led by the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA), has four main pillars: enabling data and AI, becoming a global AI player, unlocking the potential of data and AI, and governing data and AI .
The strategy also has ambitious targets, such as attracting $20 billion in local and foreign investments, creating 20,000 data and AI jobs, generating $135 billion in additional GDP, and ranking among the top 15 countries in the Global AI Index by 2030 .
A Positive Impact on the Environment and the Petrochemical Industry
The discovery of gas and condensate in the Jafurah field is expected to have a positive impact on the environment and the petrochemical industry, as well as the overall development of the kingdom. The gas produced from the field will help reduce emissions and provide feedstock for lower-carbon future fuels, such as hydrogen and ammonia. The condensate produced from the field will also provide valuable feedstocks for the downstream petrochemical industry, which is a key pillar of the Saudi economy .
The discovery of gas and condensate in the Jafurah field is also expected to boost the kingdom’s exports and revenues, as well as its energy security and resilience. The field will provide an additional source of gas and condensate for the domestic and international markets, as well as a strategic reserve for the future. The field will also enhance the kingdom’s ability to cope with the fluctuations and uncertainties of the global energy market, and to meet the growing demand for gas and condensate in the region and the world .
