Saudi Aramco hands out Jafurah gasfield awards

Saudi Aramco has begun development of the unconventional Jafurah gasfield and awarded USD 10 billion in subsurface and EPC contracts, the Saudi Arabian hydrocarbons player announced on Monday.

The company awarded 16 contracts. The parties involved were not disclosed.

The field is expected to produce 56.6 mcm (2 bcf) of gas per day, 11.8 mcm (418 mcf) of ethane per day and 630,000 bpd of condensate per day by 2030.

The Jafurah basin holds 5.66 tcm (200 tcf) of gas and is the largest liquid-rich shale gas play in the Middle East.

“The project is a key component of the company’s long-term strategy and Aramco expects total overall lifecycle investment at Jafurah to exceed USD 100 billion,” said Abdulaziz bin Salman Al Saud, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Energy.

“Through its unconventional gas program at the Jafurah, North Arabia and South Ghawar fields, the company expects to create more than 200,000 direct and indirect jobs.”