Exploration production

Exploration & Production

Dana Gas signs gas development agreement with SPC

The signing of the MoU. (Image source: Dana Gas)

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.

QatarEnergy acquires stake in Egypt offshore concession

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QatarEnergy has acquired another exploration stake offshore Egypt. (Image source: QatarEnergy)

QatarEnergy has acquired a 40% stake in the North Rafah block, offshore Egypt

The transaction was recently approved by the government of Egypt, with Eni retaining the remaining 60% interest as operator.

The North Rafah offshore block is located in the Mediterranean Sea, off the northeastern coast of Egypt. It spans nearly 3,000 sq kms in water depths of up to 450 m.

The announcement follows hard on the heels of the acquisition earlier this month of QatarEnergy’s 27% participating interest in the North Cleopatra block offshore Egypt, operated by Shell. It reflects the company’s push to expand upstream exploration activities globally, with maximising value from upstream being one of QatarEnergy’s five key strategic pillars in its vision to be one of the best energy companies in the world. Over the past few months QatarEnergy has acquired exploration licences in the Republic of Congo, Algeria and Namibia.

His Excellency Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi, the Minister of State for Energy Affairs, the president and CEO of QatarEnergy, said, "We are pleased with our new position in the North Rafah offshore block, which further strengthens our presence in Egypt and marks another important step in advancing our ambitious international exploration strategy."

PETRONAS and OQEP collaborate on exploration and production

The two companies will jointly pursue exploration and production opportunities. (Image source: PETRONAS)

Malaysia’s PETRONAS has signed an MoU with OQ Exploration and Production New Ventures LLC (OQEP) a wholly-owned subsidiary of OQ Exploration and Production SAOG, to jointly pursue opportunities for oil and gas exploration and production across the Middle East and Southeast Asia

The collaboration will leverage PETRONAS’ international upstream expertise and OQEP’s regional knowledge, aiming to unlock new growth opportunities and accelerate value creation in diverse markets.

The agreement was signed at OQPE's headquarters in Oman by Mohd Redhani Abdul Rahman, vice president of International Assets of PETRONAS Upstream, and Mahmoud Al Hashmi, acting chief executive officer and chief operations officer of OQEP,.

Redhani said, “This collaboration represents a meaningful step forward in our efforts to build a resilient and competitive upstream portfolio. By aligning our strengths with OQEP’s strategic direction, we are well-positioned to pursue impactful ventures in these regions.”

PETRONAS has been active in Oman since 2018 and currently holds participating interests in Block 61. This MoU builds upon the growing relationship between PETRONAS and OQEP, anchored on mutual respect and shared industry goals.

Oman's largest pure-play oil and gas exploration and production company and it is the only upstream oil and gas operator owned by the Government of Oman. OQEP currently ranks among the top three oil and gas producers and is also one of the largest holders of oil and gas reserves in Oman.

Kuwait makes new offshore gas discovery

Kuwait's offshore exploration programme is yielding results. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) has announced a new discovery in the Al-Jazah offshore natural gas field

According to a KOC statement, the initial exploration well recorded the highest production rate from a vertical well in the Minagish formation in Kuwait’s history.
Initial tests at the Jazah-1 well indicate production exceeding 29 million cubic feet per day (mcf/d) of natural gas and more than 5,000 barrels a day of condensate, according to the statement.

With an area estimated at around 40 sq. km, the field is estimated to hold potential reserves of around one trillion cubic feet (tcf) of gas and more than 120 mn barrels of condensate, which may be revised upwards with further exploration in surrounding areas.

KOC said the reservoir has low CO2, no hydrogen sulfide and no associated water.

The new discovery follows other offshore discoveries including the Nokhatha field discovery last year, which is estimated at about 2.1bn barrels of oil and 5.1 trillion cubic feet of gas, and the Julaiah field early this year, described by KOC CEO Ahmad Jaber Al Eidan as a “strategic breakthrough.”

This is a result of KOC’s push to develop its offshore resources as it seeks to boost gas output and reduce its dependence on imported LNG. Phase 1 of its offshore exploration programme, consisting of the drilling of six wells, is underway, with planning for Phase Il also underway, with nine additional locations identified for further exploration and appraisal, according to Al Eidan.

Kuwait is the fifth-largest producer in OPEC, currently producing approximately 2.7mn bpd of oil, with plans to increase its production capacity to 4mn bpd by 2035. Al Eidan commented in an earlier interview with Oil Review Middle East, “Our strategy focuses on optimising production from mature assets, accelerating the development of high-potential reservoirs, and unlocking new growth frontiers, both onshore and offshore, to ensure sustainable and resilient capacity growth.”

He said the new offshore discoveries “significantly expand Kuwait's hydrocarbon frontier beyond the onshore legacy and add a new dimension to our long-term production sustainability,” adding that offshore development will play an increasingly vital role in KOC’s production mix in the coming decade.

QatarEnergy acquires North Cleopatra block offshore Egypt

The North Cleopatra block is located offshore Egypt. (Image source: QatarEnergy)

Establishing further presence beyond the North El-Dabaa block in the Arab Republic of Egypt, QatarEnergy will be acquiring a 27% interest in the North Cleopatra block as well

As the energy major from the Middle East signed an agreement with Shell, shares on the block currently stands at 36% participating interest for Shell as operator, followed by Chevron (27%) and Tharwa Petroleum Company (10%).

Commenting on the agreement, Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi, the Minister of State for Energy Affairs, the president and CEO of QatarEnergy, said, “We are pleased to secure this additional exploration acreage, which further expands our upstream exploration activities in the Arab Republic of Egypt.”

“We would like to take this opportunity to thank the Egyptian Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, and our partners in the block for their valued support and cooperation. We look forward to working together and delivering our exploration objectives,” he added.

The North Cleopatra block is located offshore Egypt in the frontier Herodotus basin and is north and adjacent to the North El-Dabaa block, where QatarEnergy holds a 23% participating Interest. The North Cleopatra block covers an area of over 3,400 square kilometers in water depths of up to 2,600 meters.

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