Eni has discovered gas and condensate at the onshore Mahani prospect in the United Arab Emirates' Sharjah emirate, as its operations in the Middle East region grow, the Italian major said in a statement on Monday.
The find is the first exploration success for Eni in the UAE and was achieved only one year after the signing of a Concession Agreement, the statement said. Mahani 1 is located in the Area B Concession of Sharjah and was drilled to a total of 14,597 feet, according to the statement.
The well was tested with flow rates up to 50 Mscf/d (million cubic feet per day) of lean gas and associated condensate and the size of the discovery will be further assessed with additional appraisal drilling, said the statement.
Eni holds a 50% stake in the Concession Area B with SNOC, the National Oil Company of Sharjah, holding the remaining 50% and acting as operator. The joint venture has already begun studies to fast track the exploitation of these new resources, the statement noted.
Eni's current exploration acreage in the UAE alone amounts to more than 12,000 square kilometers gross, comprising the onshore of Sharjah and offshore areas of Abu Dhabi and Ras Al Khaimah.
The company has been present in Abu Dhabi since 2018 and today holds three offshore development and production concessions and two offshore exploration concessions. Eni’s current equity production in Abu Dhabi is around 50,000 bbl/day.
Eni is a shareholder with a 20% equity interest in Abu Dhabi National Oil Company's refining business ADNOC Refining.
Eni also has Middle East operations in Bahrain, Oman, Lebanon and Iraq where its activities include exploration and development.
