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Dana Gas PJSC, the Middle East’s largest regional private sector natural gas company, has signed an agreement with the Syrian Petroleum Company (SPC) to explore the potential for the redevelopment and expansion of several natural gas fields across central Syria

The fields include the Abu Rabah gas field – one of the largest gas discoveries in Syria – as well as other SPC gas fields.

Dana Gas is the first developer to sign such an agreement. Under the terms of the agreement, Dana Gas will conduct a comprehensive technical assessment of the identified fields and propose a development plan aimed at significantly increasing total gas production if the evaluation is successful and both parties reach a final agreement. The initiative aims to support the government’s ambition to significantly boost national gas production, supporting Syria’s power generation and energy recovery.

Richard Hall, CEO of Dana Gas, said, “This agreement marks an important first step in evaluating opportunities to redevelop Syria’s gas infrastructure and unlock the potential that exists within its gas sector. The fields identified under this MoU could make a real difference to domestic gas production, strengthening Syria’s energy security and supporting local communities.

“Our confidence in taking on this challenge is two-fold: first, the professionalism and technical strength of the Syrian Petroleum team and second, our own proven development and operational expertise, most recently demonstrated through the early completion of the KM250 expansion project in Iraq alongside our joint operating partner. The lessons and capabilities we developed there are directly transferable to projects such as this, where hands-on execution, technical and financial discipline, and regional understanding are key to delivery. We are grateful to our Syrian counterparts for their trust and partnership as we embark on this effort.”

Dana Gas has exploration and production assets in Egypt, Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) and UAE, with 2P reserves exceeding one billion boe and average production of 55,000 boepd in 2024. With sizeable assets in KRI and Egypt, and further plans for expansion, Dana Gas is playing an important role in the rapidly growing natural gas sector of the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia (MENASA) region.

Syria has the potential to significantly increase its oil and natural gas production. Before the civil war in 2011, it was self-sufficient in energy production, producing around 380,000-400,000 bpd of crude and 9 bcm of gas, with oil and gas sales accounting for around 20% of total revenues. However its infrastructure and refineries were damaged in the war, and the imposition of western sanctions, now partially lifted, along with the exit of oil majors from the country also took a toll on its production and refining capabilities. Crude production now stands at around 80,000-100,000 bpd.

STRYDE’s Nimble Seismic System has been selected by DMT Group to acquire high-density seismic data for an onshore 3D oil and gas exploration project in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI)

Equipped with 31,000 nodes, the system will enable DMT to deploy and retrieve large volumes of nodes quickly, with minimal personnel, reduced health and safety risk, and less environmental footprint. It will enable the acquisition of detailed, high-resolution subsurface data in complex and challenging terrain. The seismic data gathered will be instrumental in reducing geological uncertainty, improving reservoir characterisation, and enhancing well placement strategies, ultimately supporting more informed and cost-efficient exploration and decisions in KRI’s evolving energy landscape.

“We’re excited to see our technology supporting another ambitious and strategically important exploration campaign in the Middle East,” said Mehdi Tascher, sales director at STRYDE.

“Achieving the resolution required for accurate subsurface imaging and confident exploration decisions relies on data density captured through nodes deployed in a dense receiver grid. Enabling this level of unrivalled seismic detail for DMT is exactly why STRYDE was created.”

“STRYDE’s system is a critical enabler for delivering the data density our client needs from this challenging area,” said Thorsten Mueller, Manager of DMT’s branch office in KRI.

“The small, lightweight nature of the nodes will allow us to efficiently deploy a high number of receivers in remote and difficult-to-access locations. Coupled with the STRYDE’s high-capacity node harvesting and data handling system, this means we can operate with greater agility, lower logistics overhead, and acquire the high-quality seismic data needed for our customer.”

Since entering the market in 2020, STRYDE has delivered more than one million land seismic nodes. This reflects not only STRYDE’s rapid growth but also a broader industry shift from traditional cabled systems to fully autonomous nodal technology, and from bulky, high-cost nodes to lightweight, affordable solutions that enable high-density seismic acquisition at scale.

Aramco, Honeywell and King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) are collaborating to scale up the development of Crude-to-Chemicals (CTC) technology in a bid to maximise the value of crude oil and reduce costs associated with CTC conversion 

The new CTC pathway will entail converting crude oil directly into light olefins and other high-demand chemicals, resulting in improved fuel efficiency, carbon utilisation, and process economics—allowing for more efficient and cost-effective production at scale.

The collaboration aligns with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 by helping to advance economic diversification, build national research and technology capabilities, and strengthen the Kingdom’s position in the global chemicals market, combining academia and industry expertise to accelerate technology development and national capabilities.

Dr. Ali A. Al-Meshari, Aramco senior vice president of technology oversight & coordination, said, “This collaboration with Honeywell UOP and KAUST furthers Aramco's efforts to drive innovation and shape the future of petrochemicals. By harnessing the power of cutting-edge technologies, we aim to enhance energy efficiency and unlock increased value from every barrel of crude. This novel Crude-to-Chemicals process is aligned with our vision of supporting the global transition towards cleaner, high-performance chemical production. Moreover, this initiative demonstrates our focus on contributing to the growth of a vibrant ecosystem, where the deployment of innovative technologies can create lasting value for our stakeholders, our communities, and the environment.”

Rajesh Gattupalli, Honeywell UOP president, added, “This agreement marks a defining moment in our strategic collaboration with Aramco and KAUST – and in the global evolution of Crude-to-Chemicals technology. With Honeywell UOP’s deep expertise in catalytic process design and commercial scale-up, we’re well positioned to drive this innovation forward.”

Emerson has relaunched the ASCO Series 327C solenoid valve, featuring new Intrinsically Safe and Manual Reset construction versions

The valve is designed with a direct-acting, high-flow technology that offers superior flow-to-power ratios, making it ideal for high-demand industries such as power plants, refineries, and chemical processing facilities.

The ASCO Series 327C offers a balanced poppet construction for high-flow efficiency and is capable of operation in harsh environments, with temperatures ranging from -60 to 90°C. The valve’s unique two-layer dynamic seal technology reduces friction and ensures stiction resistance, providing reliable and consistent performance over its lifecycle.

The Intrinsically Safe and Manual Reset versions provide faster response times and greater reliability. The intrinsically safe model eliminates the need for an electronic booster, enabling more consistent partial stroke testing and faster response times, a significant advancement for these types of valves. Features including a unique electrical test connection, help streamline field commissioning and prevent moisture ingress during storage, providing added value to OEMs and end users.

“Facilities in demanding industries like power and chemical processing need valves that offer long-term performance with minimal maintenance,” said Anne Sophie Kedad, director Marketing Process and Sustainability, Emerson. “With the Series 327C, we are not only providing superior valve performance but also meeting the industry’s growing need for intrinsically safe solutions capable of performing critical operations with minimal downtime and lower maintenance costs. This new IS construction enables our customers to access a much more simple design as there is no electronic booster to operate the solenoid valve.”

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Coinciding with COP30, significant progress has been reported in driving forward the aims of the Oil & Gas Decarbonization Charter (OGDC) launched at COP28

The Oil & Gas Decarbonization Charter (OGDC), a global coalition of leading energy companies championed by the CEOs of ADNOC, Aramco, and TotalEnergies and supported by the Oil and Gas Climate Initiative (OGCI), highlights expanded reporting coverage, strengthened action plans for emissions reduction and enhanced collaboration to accelerate industry decarbonisation in its 2025 Status Report: Implementing Action.

The Charter now brings together 55 signatories operating across more than 100 countries, representing around 40% of global oil production. Signatories invested approximately US$32bn in low-carbon solutions including renewables, carbon capture, hydrogen and low-carbon fuels in 2024.

This year, for the first time, the companies shared emissions data based on the OGCI Reporting Framework, laying the foundation for consistent reporting across 55 companies. 50 of the 55 signatories submitted data for this year’s report, covering 98% of OGDC operated production, most of which has received third-party assurance.

Forty-two signatories have now set interim Scope 1 and 2 emissions reductions ambitions for 2030, and 36 have developed corresponding action plans, reflecting tangible progress since the Charter’s 2024 Baseline Report, with six more companies sharing interim ambitions and seven more developing corresponding action plans on methane and flaring.

Extensive collaboration programme

An extensive collaboration programme is underway, with a focus on methane, flaring and reporting. TotalEnergies for example is sharing its AUSEA technology with several national oil companies to strengthen methane detection and measurement. Peer-to-peer exchanges, regional partnerships and technical workshops have strengthened capacities, while engagement with OGCI, the United Nations Environment Programme, the World Bank and many others, are helping scale practical solutions. At the company level, OGDC is helping to embed tailored, industry-specific training programmes.

Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, managing director, Group CEO of ADNOC, COP28 president and OGDC CEO Champion, said, “Two years ago, at COP28 we came together to create the world’s first truly industry-wide coalition to decarbonise at scale. Together, we are turning the Charter’s words into action by delivering tangible progress, scaling innovation and reporting transparently against our shared commitments.”

Patrick Pouyanné, chairman and CEO of TotalEnergies and OGDC CEO Champion, added, “OGDC is about action and collective delivery. This year we moved from baseline to implementation, with almost all signatories reporting data that covers 98% of operated production and more companies setting 2030 targets backed by plans. This reflects that progress starts with what we measure and a shared reality that this is a journey where we advance faster together. Our focus now is clear. We must cut methane, end routine flaring and report progress consistently. We invite all IOCs and NOCs to join and show measurable results by the next COP.”

Bjørn Otto Sverdrup, head of the OGDC Secretariat, said, “With OGDC, we have established a platform for companies willing to take action and collaborate across North, South, East, West, to share best practices and accelerate decarbonisation – particularly towards reducing methane and zero flaring by 2030.”

“We are encouraged by the progress made, and we look forward to the work ahead.”

At COP30, TotalEnergies announced a US$100mn commitment to Climate Investments Venture Strategy funds, which supports technologies that cut emissions across the oil and gas value chain. Climate Investments (CI) is an OGDC Partner.