Italian oil major Eni and the United Arab Emirates's Sharjah national oil company SNOC have begun producing natural gas from the offshore Mahani field less than a year after its discovery, Eni said Monday in a statement.
“Production start-up has been achieved in less than two years since contract signature and one year since the discovery announcement thanks to the fruitful and continuous cooperation with SNOC," said Eni chief executive Claudio Descalzi.
"Together with SNOC we demonstrated that using state of the art technology and high level competences also areas considered as “mature” can reveal new potential”.
Located in onshore Concession Area B of the Sharjah Emirate, the Mahani gas and condensate discovery, announced last January, is estimated to hold significant resources of natural gas and associated condensate.
Production from the Mahani field is sent through a new multiphase trunk line to SNOC’s Sajaa gas plant where it is processed utilizing the existing facilities and infrastructure.
The companies did not disclose the volumes of gas produced from the Mahani well. Production from the field is expected to increase progressively with the connection of further wells planned to be drilled during 2021-22, according to the statement.
Eni holds a 50% stake in Concession Area B while SNOC holds the remaining 50% and operates the field. Eni acquired Area B in a competitive tender in January last year.
Eni will also continue its partnership with SNOC in the onshore concession areas A and C, where exploration "is actively in progress" with Eni as the operator, said the statement.
"Area C is largely underexplored, with the aim being to secure further resources for the benefit and development of Sharjah Emirate," the statement said.
Eni’s current exploration acreage in the UAE alone amounts to over 23,000 square kilometers gross, as its presence in the Middle East has continued to grow during the last two years, the statement noted.
Exploration comprises the onshore of Sharjah and offshore areas of Abu Dhabi and Ras Al Khaimah.
Eni has operated in Abu Dhabi since 2018 and today holds three offshore development and production concessions and three offshore exploration concessions.
Eni also owns 20 percent of ADNOC Refining, a joint venture with Abu Dhabi National Oil Company - the UAE's biggest energy firm - and Austrian major OMV.
