ESTIDAMA will extend the UAE’s natural gas pipeline network operated by ADNOC Gas from approximately 3,200 km to more than 3,500 km. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

ADNOC Gas plc has awarded US$550mn worth of engineering, procurement & construction (EPC) contracts for the next phase of the ESTIDAMA Project, the UAE sales gas pipeline network expansion

The contracts were awarded to NMDC Energy P.J.S.C and Galfar Engineering & Contracting W.L.L Emirates.

Ownership of ESTIDAMA is being transferred from ADNOC Gas to ADNOC, thereby significantly optimising ADNOC Gas’ capital efficiency. ADNOC Gas will be paid to operate and maintain ESTIDAMA on behalf of  ADNOC and will continue to expand its domestic business through ESTIDAMA, paying ADNOC a transmission fee for actual throughput of the pipeline.

Expanding the network

ESTIDAMA will extend the UAE’s natural gas pipeline network operated by ADNOC Gas from approximately 3,200 km to more than 3,500 km, enabling the transportation of higher volumes of natural gas to customers in the Northern Emirates of the UAE. Following the ownership transfer, ADNOC Gas will continue to manage ESTIDAMA, while ADNOC will cover the capital expenditures for the project.

Dr. Ahmed Alebri, chief executive officer of ADNOC Gas, said, “This award supports the ongoing expansion of the UAE’s gas pipeline network, which will bring lower-cost and sustainable natural gas to more locations across the country. We are proud to play a leading role in meeting the growing demand for gas across the country and enabling the UAE’s goal of gas self-sufficiency. With the transfer of ownership of the ESTIDAMA Project to ADNOC, ADNOC Gas will continue to benefit from the expansion of the pipeline networks, while improving our capital efficiency to ensure that we maximise value for our shareholders.”

ADNOC is investing heavily in gas expansion, given the role gas can play as a lower-carbon transition fuel. ADNOC’s Ruwais LNG project is also making headway, and will more than double ADNOC’s UAE LNG production capacity, supporting the company’s global LNG ambitions.

Aramco is aiming to grow sales gas production by more than 60% by 2030, compared to 2021 levels. (Image source: Aramco)

Aramco has awarded contracts worth more than US$25bn to progress gas expansion, relating to phase two development of the Jafurah unconventional gas field, phase three expansion of Aramco’s Master Gas System, new gas rigs and ongoing capacity maintenance

Aramco's strategic gas expansion plan will see  sales gas production growing by more than 60% by 2030, compared to 2021 levels.

Jafurah development

Aramco has awarded 16 contracts, worth a combined total of around US$12.4bn, for phase two development at Jafurah, involving construction of gas compression facilities and associated pipelines, expansion of the Jafurah Gas Plant including construction of gas processing trains, and utilities, sulfur and export facilities. It will also involve construction of the Company’s new Riyas Natural Gas Liquids (NGL) fractionation facilities in Jubail — including NGL fractionation trains, and utilities, storage and export facilities — to process NGL received from Jafurah.

The Jafurah unconventional gas field is estimated to contain 229 trillion standard cubic feet of raw gas and 75bn Stock Tank Barrels of condensate. Initial start-up anticipated in the third quarter of 2025, with production expected to reach a sustainable sales gas rate of two billion standard cubic feet per day (bscfd) by 2030, in addition to significant volumes of ethane, NGL and condensate.

Another 15 lump sum turnkey contracts, worth a combined total of around US$8.8bn, have been awarded for the phase three expansion of the Master Gas System, involving the installation of around 4,000km of pipelines and 17 new gas compression trains, which will increase the size of the network and raise its total capacity by an additional 3.15 bscfd by 2028.

An additional 23 gas rig contracts worth US$2.4bn have also been awarded, along with two directional drilling contracts worth US$612mn and 13 well tie-in contracts at Jafurah, worth a total of US$1.63bn.

Amin H. Nasser, Aramco president & CEO, said, “These contract awards demonstrate our firm belief in the future of gas as an important energy source, as well as a vital feedstock for downstream industries. The scale of our ongoing investment at Jafurah and the expansion of our Master Gas System underscores our intention to further integrate and grow our gas business to meet anticipated rising demand. This complements the diversification of our portfolio, creates new employment opportunities, and supports the Kingdom’s transition towards a lower-emission power grid, in which gas and renewables gradually displace liquids-based power generation.”

The panel addressed the role of gas in the energy transition. (Image source: AIEN International Energy Summit)

A panel session at the AIEN International Energy Summit in Bangkok, Thailand, focused on the role of gas in the energy transition, looking at how natural gas, particularly LNG, impacts the security, affordability and sustainability of a robust energy future

Moderator Edward Taylor, partner, A&O Shearman asked the question, is natural gas still relevant to the energy evolution?

Andrew Kirk, vice president Origination, LNG, B Grimm said it will continue to play a big role. “The issue with renewables capacity and their intermittent nature means we will continue to need natural gas. New technologies such as batteries are still a long way off from being able to supply a full grid load. Renewables are also geographically bespoke and not available to all. They can provide solutions in areas with limited demand but the cost to run a city like Bangkok is so problematic. Many countries will not be able to cope with the cost increase of moving straight to renewables.”

Steve Morrell, senior vice president, ExxonMobil PNG LNG, agreed. “The conversation about gas has never been more pertinent. Whether we are talking about emissions, the war in Ukraine, or living standards around the world – gas has its part to play. There are also so many conversations about the rise of Artificial Intelligence. But where is the power coming from to feed these data centres that will play such a large part?"

Accelerating the energy transition

“Gas can accelerate the energy transition today. We can stop coal today. We can fill the gaps in intermittent renewables today. So, what is holding us back?”

“We are far enough along the energy transition to separate the aspirational and the unachievable,” said Kirk. “We are hearing these ideological positions where gas is considered unnecessary without having a sensible conversation about alternatives. Moving straight to renewables will create very unstable energy grids that will stifle economic growth.”

With the global population set to grow by 2bn by 2050, Morrell believes the responsibility will grow even higher on the energy companies to provide affordable, reliable and sustainable energy, and natural gas will play a large role in this.

“Gas is well understood and relatively cleaner compared with coal. The infrastructure is there and expanding. There is a lot to be said for the marriage between gas and intermittent renewables. Moving from a well-known system to new technology – it isn’t going to happen overnight. We could put more gas into the system. This will help see a 60% reduction in emissions if we replace coal, without even using new technologies.”

“One of the main problems is how to fill the gaps from renewables,” Kirk concluded. “The answer is gas. The stage is set for a reasoned conversation about gas.”

High impact exploration drilling declined in 2023, but there are still significant reserves of hydrocarbons to be discovered. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

The State of Exploration 2024 report from Westwood Global Energy Group reveals that high impact exploration drilling in 2023 declined by 21%, due to energy transition strategies, industry consolidation, rising well costs and reduced activity in former hotspots

The commercial success rate is down seven percentage points on the previous year, with fewer giant discoveries resulting in a year on year decline in the average discovery size, and overall drilling finding costs increasing by a factor of six since 2019 to US$1.2/boe.

The findings also highlight a decrease in the number of companies participating in high impact drilling (down from 99 in 2019 to 68 in 2023), with supermajors and NOCs continuing to account for the majority of high impact well equity and leading in terms of both discovered resource and commercial success rate.

However, there are still significant volumes of hydrocarbons to be discovered, and cycle times are reducing.

Graeme Bagley, head of Global Exploration and Appraisal at Westwood said, " High oil prices previously led to high levels of exploration drilling. The appetite for exploration is still there but energy transition strategies are having a significant impact on the way the companies choose to replenish their reserves base, with industry consolidation and new technologies also having a part to play.”