Saudi Aramco brings giant Jafurah gas project on stream

DHAHRAN, December 3, 2025 – Saudi Aramco has begun production from its gas project in Jafurah, the largest shale gas play in the Middle East, the Saudi finance ministry said on Tuesday.

The first phase of Aramco’s Jafurah project has commenced at a rate of 12,700 cubic metres (450 mcf) per day, significantly exceeding earlier projections put forth by Aramco. The milestone was highlighted in Saudi Arabia’s 2026 budget statement, though no exact start-up date was disclosed.

Aramco is targeting to increase its total gas production by more than 80% from 2021 levels by the end of the decade, and around 30% of the increase is expected to come from Jafurah.

The Jafurah gasfield is estimated to hold up to 6.5 tcm (229 tcf) of raw gas and 75 billion barrels of condensate. Phase one aims to ramp output to 18,400 cubic metres (650 mcf) by the end of 2026, with a second phase scheduled to begin in 2027 to raise capacity to 56.6 mcm (2 bcf) per day by 2030.

Production is expected to include up to 11,900 cubic metres (420 mcf) per day of ethane and 630,000 boepd of NGLs and condensate. Ethane and NGLs will be channelled to the Riyas fractionation plant, while condensate will be handled at the expanded Juaymah terminal.

Photo courtesy of Saudi Aramco

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