The Sharjah National Oil Corporation (SNOC) and Italian oil and gas giant, Eni, have announced that start-up of the Mahani-1 gas well, which marks the commencement of gas production from the Mahani Field, in Sharjah Area B of the United Arab Emirates.
The announcement comes within one year of the discovery of gas in the field, labelled as the first new onshore discovery in Sharjah for thirty-seven (37) years. The well was completed in record time eight (8) months despite the challenges posed by COVID-19. The pandemic caused difficulty in importing raw materials during the lockdown, the laying of a 23,000-metre pipeline in hostile desert conditions during the summer, among others.
The well is now connected to the already existing pipeline to safely produce gas and liquids for processing at the Sajaa gas processing plant. Mahani-1 was drilled to a depth of 14,597 feet and tested gas at flow rates of up to 50 MMSCF per day, with associated condensate from the Thamama Formation.
In addition to starting production from Mahani, the planned work programme will include further drilling in order to determine the extent of the structure.
The President of SNOC, His Excellency Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi said: “The commencement of the first gas production from Mahani, less than a year after discovery, is a tremendous achievement for Sharjah, meeting our commitment to contribute to the efforts of making reliable gas supplies widely available for the local energy needs of Sharjah and the UAE.”
The Chief Executive Officer of SNOC, Hatem Al Mosa commented: “Bringing on production of the first onshore discovery in Sharjah in almost four decades marks the beginning of an exciting time for SNOC and for Sharjah’s energy sector. This new production follows just two years after completion of the First Sharjah Licence Round, and we look forward to license additional areas of Sharjah in line with the Emirate’s strategic plans in the coming years.”
SNOC is the Operator of Area B, and it holds a 50% stake in the Mahani field while Eni holds the other 50%, as part of the Area B Concession Agreement signed in 2019 after the successful First Sharjah Licence Round. Both companies are also partners in the onshore Concession Areas A and C, where exploration is actively in progress, with Eni being the Operator.
SNOC was established in 2010 by an Amiri decree of Sharjah’s Ruler, and it is concerned with the exploration, production, engineering, construction, operation and maintenance of the Emirate’s energy assets. The Corporation owns and operates over fifty (50) wells, a gas processing complex and two (2) hydrocarbon liquid storage and export terminals. Its Sajaa complex is the hub of gas pipelines connecting the northern Emirates.
