RIYADH, 21 March — The Kingdom yesterday announced discovery of oil and natural gas in three areas close to the world’s largest oilfield of Ghawar in the Eastern Province.
Petroleum and Mineral Resources Minister Ali Al-Naimi told the Saudi Press Agency that the finds amount to 33.15 million cubic feet of sweet gas and 6,170 barrels of crude oil daily.
The main discovery, of 28 million cubic feet of gas and 400 barrels of condensates daily, was made in Jafin-1 well, 14 km east of Ghawar field, which is 240 km southeast of Riyadh.
Another 2,300 barrels of oil and 1.15 million cubic feet of gas daily were discovered in Wared-1 well, some 100 km west of Ghawar. About 3,470 barrels of oil and four million cubic feet of sweet gas were found in Takhman-2 well, 160 km south of Ghawar, the minister said.
Naimi said Saudi Aramco will continue its efforts to explore new gas and oilfields in various parts of the Kingdom.
Saudi Arabia, which sits on 25 percent of the world’s proven crude reserves, is the world’s largest oil exporter, with an Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries production quota of 7.053 million barrels a day.
