Fifty years ago, Saudi Aramco launched what is now known as the Master Gas System, a vast network of processing facilities and pipelines capable of supplying 12.5bn cfd of sales gas to consumers across the country. Now, Aramco is preparing to take another leap forward with the start-up of the ‘Crown Jewels’ of its gas portfolio – the Jafurah Basin unconventional gas project.
Located in the Jafurah desert, named after the distinctive shape of its sand dunes, the 17,000 km² Jafurah Basin stretches 170km down Saudi Arabia’s eastern seaboard south from Dhahran. By area, Jafurah even outstrips the neighboring 3.8mn b/d capacity Ghawar field, the world’s largest oilfield. It contains 229tcf of gas in place and 75bn barrels of oil in place, of which Aramco booked 15tcf of gas and 2bn barrels of condensate as proven reserves last year (MEES, 1 March 2024). (CONTINUED - 1598 WORDS)
