ADNOC picks Shell for Bab sour gas work

April 30, 2013
Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. selected Shell as its partner to develop sour gas reservoirs in giant Bab gas-condensate field 150 km southwest of the city of Abu Dhabi to supply the local market.

Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. selected Shell as its partner to develop sour gas reservoirs in giant Bab gas-condensate field 150 km southwest of the city of Abu Dhabi to supply the local market.

ADNOC said the Bab megaproject will include the installation of a new gas-processing and treatment plant, including a gathering system and sulfur-recovery facilities, able to process 1 billion scfd of sour gas. The complex will yield 520 Mmscfd of sales gas for delivery to the domestic distribution network by 2020.

ADNOC will hold a 60% interest in the joint venture, Shell 40%.

Separately, Abu Dhabi Co. for Onshore Operations, an ADNOC operating company and operator of Bab gas wells for the parent company, has inaugurated a three-train gas compression complex able to process 1.8 bscfd of Bab field gas and condensate. Production from the complex goes to facilities operated by Abu Dhabi Gas Industries (GASCO) for final processing.

A second phase of the Bab compression project, now in the tendering phase, will raise sustainable gas production to 2.1 bscfd and raise ADCO’s gas compression capacity to 2.4 bscfd. It will include construction of a compression station with 600 MMscfd of capacity, a new direct gathering manifold station, extension of two remote manifold stations, and tie-in of 32 new gas wells. Completion is scheduled by the third quarter of 2015.

A third phase is planned, with completion due in 2018. When that phase is complete, the compression project will have raised Bab gas production by 25%.