Sharjah National Oil Corporation (SNOC) and its partner ENI have started up production at the Mahani-1 gas well, marking the commencement of gas production from the Mahani Field, in Sharjah Area B.
This comes within a year of the discovery of gas in the field, which was the first new onshore discovery in Sharjah for 37 years.
“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,” said His Excellency Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi, President of SNOC.
Despite Covid-19-related challenges, including challenges in importing raw materials during lockdown, and the laying of a 23,000-metre pipeline in hostile desert conditions during the summer, the well was completed in a record eight months. It is now connected to the existing pipeline, ready to produce gas and liquids to be processed at SNOC’s Sajaa gas processing plant.
“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,” said Hatem Al Mosa, CEO of SNOC.
Mahani-1 was drilled to a total measured 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. SNOC credits its quick turnaround to the well-established infrastructure in Sharjah, the abundant capacity of the Sajaa gas processing complex, the available efficient pipeline network and efficient planning.
SNOC (the operator of Area B), and ENI each hold a 50% stake in the Mahani field as part of the Area B Concession Agreement signed in 2019 following the successful First Sharjah Licence Round. The two companies are also partners in the onshore Concession Areas A and C, where exploration is actively in progress, with Eni being the operator.
