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Dana Gas PJSC, the Middle East’s largest regional private sector natural gas company, has received a US$50mn payment from the Egyptian Government, supporting its ongoing drilling programme in Egypt

The payment significantly reduces overdue receivables and supports the drilling programme under the Consolidation Agreement with the Egyptian Government, which was formally signed in December 2024. The agreement consolidated Dana Gas’s concessions in Egypt and provided improved fiscal terms to support new upstream investment, while also including additional acreage designated for exploration drilling.

Since the programme commenced, Dana Gas has drilled four wells, including the recent North El-Basant 1 discovery, which is estimated to hold 15 bcf of recoverable gas. These wells successfully added 18 mmscfd of production and a material increase in reserves. The company plans to drill seven further wells under the programme in 2026, with the next – the Daffodil exploration well – expected to spud in January. The 11-well programme will save over US$1bn by displacing imported LNG and fuel oil with domestic production. Egypt is heavily reliant on imported fuel, recently concluding major LNG and gas supply deals with Israel and Qatar, having seen domestic production decline in recent years. 

Dana Gas has also completed a workover programme across three wells, adding an additional 9mmscfd of production. Further assessments are underway to identify additional workover prospects for 2026.

Richard Hall, CEO, Dana Gas, said, “We are grateful to the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, the Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation and the Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Company for their continued support. This latest payment, which will help fund our investment programme in Egypt, acknowledges the importance of timely payments to ensuring the successful delivery of our drilling programme.“Thanks to the robust support provided by the Egyptian government, our investment program is already yielding positive outcomes. We have successfully brought new gas production online, and additional wells are scheduled to follow. With the right support in place, we’re well positioned to deliver the next phases of the programme and continue strengthening Egypt’s role as a regional gas hub.”

In an exclusive interview, Adnan Bu Fateem, chief operating officer at Mubadala Energy, discusses how AI can be scaled up in the energy sector and how Mubadala Energy is leveraging AI and digitalisation to drive efficiencies in upstream operations

How do you view prospects for the development of the energy/AI nexus? How critical will deploying AI be to ensuring a secure and stable energy future, and how critical will it be to invest in energy systems to meet the growing AI energy demand?

AI is one of the most powerful tools to make energy systems safer, more reliable, and lower-carbon intensive. At the same time, it is becoming a major new source of energy demand, particularly to power data centres. In that sense, the relationship between energy and AI is mutually reinforcing that the energy sector is both an enabler of AI and a user of it.

Currently, the global energy systems are already under increasing strain, with more complex grids and growing demand. As a result, energy security is becoming an even higher priority for governments and communities. At Mubadala Energy, we believe energy security isn’t only about supply volumes; it’s also about reliability, resilience, and operational excellence. This is where AI plays a critical role. For example, when it comes to system resilience, AI helps operators respond faster to demand variability, extreme weather events, and grid constraints. When it comes to safety, AI plays a significant role in anomaly detection, operational surveillance, and helping operators in decision making that can reduce incident likelihood and support stronger process safety performance.

The International Energy Agency (IEA) projects global electricity use from data centres will more than double by 2030 to ~945 TWh, with AI as the most significant driver, with electricity demand from AI-optimised data centres projected to more than quadruple by 2030.

The IEA further estimates that electricity generation needed to supply data centers will rise from ~460 TWh in 2024 to over 1,000 TWh in 2030, underscoring why investment in the energy sources which can drive this technology is so critical for a range of global communities.

For the energy industry globally, both at a grid level and in upstream, AI is going to play a key role in simulating power demand and ensuring the infrastructure is in place that supports future economic and social prosperity.

How can AI help to accelerate the energy transition and decarbonisation?

AI can accelerate the energy transition by improving how energy systems are planned, operated, and optimised across the entire value chain, particularly as power systems become more complex and more electrified.

Mubadala Energy strategy focuses on natural gas and LNG as a transition fuel that balances energy security with energy transition, and we see digitalisation and AI are increasingly important enablers of decarbonisation to operate more efficiently and reduce overall emissions intensity without compromising reliability, while also supporting better capital allocation and faster decision-making.

From our perspective, these benefits are reflected in how we apply digitalisation and AI across our own operations, such as improving subsurface understanding, project design, and scenario modelling. We also use AI for advanced analytics, monitoring and digital tools to improve efficiency, enhance safety and strengthen emissions visibility.

We are pleased to see how all these efforts are leading to tangible outcomes. In 2024, we reported a 36.5% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions, alongside a 55% reduction in flared gas intensity, and we have recorded zero oil spills since inception. These results show how improved efficiency, better monitoring and data-driven decision-making can support decarbonisation while continuing to deliver safe and reliable energy.

What are the main factors needed to scale up AI in the energy sector, and what do you see as the main constraints?

To me, the most fundamental factors in scaling AI in the energy sector are people’s capabilities and partnership. We have seen our industry evolve significantly over the past two decades, and every major change whether in safety, efficiency, or technology, has been enabled by collaboration and continuous upskilling. AI is no different. These fundamental factors will pave the way to the other factors such as having high quality data, clear operational use cases, the right infrastructure and having strong governance in place.

At Mubadala Energy, this is reflected in our E-VOLVE initiative, an outcome-led digital transformation program implemented back in 2019 that provides a structured framework for integrating digital solutions into operations and building digital capability for our people across the organisation.

Partnerships are the second key enabler. The pace of AI innovation means no single organisation can do this alone. Collaborating with technology providers, digital specialists, and industry partners allows us to access cutting-edge capabilities, accelerate learning, share knowledge and apply AI where it creates the most value.

This collaborative approach is what enables us to move beyond pilots and embed AI into core operational decision-making.

A good example is our Intelligent Reservoir Management capability. This is a digital approach that brings together subsurface data from the reservoir with surface data from facilities and wells into a single, integrated system.

By combining these data sets and analysing them in real time, we gain a clearer, more complete view of reservoir behaviour. This allows us to detect anomalies early, monitor well integrity, adjust production more accurately and respond faster to emerging issues.

Governance and organisational readiness are equally important. We have a dedicated digital transformation committee that oversees how digital tools are introduced and scaled across the business.
By investing in our people, strengthening partnerships, and building the right foundations, we can scale AI in a way that improves performance, supports decarbonisation, and continues to deliver safe and reliable energy.

What impact have AI and digitalisation had on Mubadala Energy’s operations? How is Mubadala Energy leveraging AI and digital technologies to enhance its upstream operations and boost productivity?

AI and digitalisation have already delivered clear operational benefits across our upstream portfolio. One of the most important initiatives is the Pegaga Digital Twin, which is a digital replica of the Pegaga gas platform. It allows us to monitor and analyse operations in real time, helping improve performance and enhance safety.

We also use AI-enabled predictive maintenance through a Remote Diagnostic Service, which monitors equipment condition, detects anomalies and predicts potential failures before they occur. At our Pegaga gas field, this has helped prevent unplanned shutdowns and delivered significant cost savings. Production optimisation is supported through the Production Performance Tracking System, which automates production monitoring and provides live dashboards to support faster, data-driven decisions.

Digital technologies are also embedded in our health, safety, security and environment systems through our Intelligent HSSE solution. This is a proactive safety and emissions management approach that combines process safety data, HSSE reports, video and sensor technology to monitor conditions on our platforms in real time. By analysing this data continuously, we can identify emerging safety and environmental risks earlier and take preventive action to protect our people, assets and the environment.

Together, these initiatives show how we are using AI and digitalisation to improve productivity, reduce downtime and strengthen operational performance across our upstream operations.

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.”

QatarEnergy LNG has onboarded Saipem, along with Offshore Oil Engineering Co. Ltd. (COOEC), for the delivery of offshore engineering procurement construction and installation (EPCI) services

Known to be the largest 'non-associated' natural gas field off the north-eastern coast of Qatar, the NFPS project is being leveraged by QatarEnergy LNG to hit its production optimisation goals. 

Worth around US$4bn, the contract requires the partners to provide a COMP5 package for the North Field Production Sustainability (NFPS) Offshore Compression Complexes project.

Spanning over a service period of five years, Saipem will be covering engineering, procurement, fabrication and installation of two compression complexes, each including a compression platform, a living quarter platform, a flare platform supporting the gas combustion system, and the related interconnecting bridges. These complexes, which will be weighing no less than 68,000 tons each, and other offshore installations will be carried out by Saipem''s De He construction vessel. 

Currently Saipem is executing the previously ordered contracts on the same project, involving the EPCI COMP2 and COMP3 packages.

Saipem's complicated, large-scale services are supported by five fabrication yards and an offshore fleet of 17 construction vessels owned and 12 drilling rigs, of which 9 owned. The company's approach to major projects involves sustainability and digital innovation. 

Despite advances in digital technology, many oil and gas sites across the Middle East still rely on manual entry for tank and vessel inspections, resulting in days of downtime, high scaffolding costs and risk to human life

What if you could change all that with drone technology?

Inspections drones such as the Elios 3 are revolutionising the world of confined space inspections, improving safety, reducing downtime and enhancing operational efficiency.

Join us for an exclusive live webinar hosted by Flyability in association with Oil Review Middle East on ‘Transforming oil and gas operations with the Elios 3 drone’ on Tuesday 2 September at 2pm GST. Industrial experts will explain how drones such as the Elios 3 are transforming confined space inspections, and how you can integrate this technology into your operations seamlessly.

Key highlights:

Drone integration: learn how to safety and effectively implement drones in confined space
Safety and training: understand essential safety protocols and training strategies for your team
ROI: discover how to measure and achieve a strong return on investment with drone technology
Real world use cases: hear from the engineers using drone tech in the field on the impact Elios 3 is having on in oil and gas inspections.

Speakers and host:

Fabio Fata – senior sales manager, Flyability (moderator)
Eralp Koltuk – inspection lead engineer, Tüpraş
Danijel Jovanovic – director of operations, ZainTECH

Take your operations to the next level! Don’t miss out on gaining valuable insights into how drones can make inspections safer, faster and smarter .

From making inspections in hazardous confined spaces much safer to streamlining the whole process and providing valuable real-time data, you will get to see exactly how the Elios 3 is changing the game.

Register for the free webinar here.

Government and industry responses to UN Environment Programme (UNEP) satellite methane alerts rose from 1% to 12% cent in the past year, and oil and gas methane emissions reporting has improved, but action needs to accelerate to achieve the Global Methane Pledge goal of curbing methane emissions 30% by 2030, according to a new UNEP report

Atmospheric methane continues to be the second biggest driver of climate change after carbon dioxide, responsible for about one-third of the planet’s warming, and real-world data is a critical tool to track and reduce methane emissions.

The fifth edition of the UN Environment Programme’s (UNEP) International Methane Emissions Observatory (IMEO) publication, An Eye on Methane: From measurement to momentum, finds that member oil and gas companies of IMEO’s Oil and Gas Methane Partnership 2.0 (OGMP 2.0) are set to track one-third of emissions from global production using real-world measurements. The OGMP 2.0 is the world’s global standard for methane emissions measurement and mitigation in the oil and gas sector. Over the past five years, OGMP 2.0 membership has more than doubled to 153 companies in the countries, covering 42% of global oil and gas production.

One-third of global oil and gas production reports, or will soon report, emissions at OGMP 2.0’s Gold Standard – meaning emissions are tracked with real-world measurements. This positions a large amount of the global industry to effectively measure – and thus mitigate – emissions. One of the companies achieving 'Gold Standard reporting' in 2024 for having effectively achieved the highest levels of data quality is Eni. OGMP 2.0’s 2025 report recognized Eni for its continued progress, including identifying and quantifying emissions across non-operated assets, as well as training and technical assistance on the LDAR (Leak Detection and Repair) approach to fugitive emissions. LDAR training sessions were organised with the support of UNEP and delivered to National Oil Company (NOC) personnel.

The report highlights that while government and company responses to alerts from IMEO’s Methane Alert and Response System (MARS) have grown tenfold over the previous year, nearly 90% remain unanswered, necessitating an increase in response rates. Through MARS, UNEP has sent over 3,500 alerts about major emissions events across 33 countries. These alerts are based on satellite monitoring and artificial intelligence-supported analysis. IMEO has documented 25 cases of mitigation action in ten countries since MARS was launched in 2022, including across six new countries during the past year.

“Reducing methane emissions can quickly bend the curve on global warming, buying more time for long-term decarbonisation efforts, so it is encouraging that data-driven tools are helping the oil and gas industry to report on their emissions and set ambitious mitigation targets,” said Inger Andersen, executive director of UNEP. “But to keep the Paris Agreement targets within reach, the important progress on reporting must translate into cuts to emissions. Every company should join the Oil and Gas Methane Partnership 2.0, and both governments and operators must respond to satellite alerts – then they must act to reduce emissions.”