Saudi Aramco Oil Co. has started detailed planning for installation of production facilities in newly discovered fields in Central Saudi Arabia, south of Riyadh, OPEC News Agency (Opecna) reports.
Five of the strikes were drilled more than a year ago at Raghib, Nuayyim, Hilwah, Hazmiyah and Ghinah in the central province (see map, OGJ, Aug. 12, 1991, p. 36). They boosted Saudi Aramco's total discoveries to 60 commercial oil and gas fields since exploration began 58 years ago in Saudi Arabia.
They are the latest in a string of discoveries in the region.
Wells drilled in four of the five new fields yielded light, sweet oil ranging in gravity from 44 to 52.9. The Hilwah discovery flowed sweet gas and condensate.
The fields are the first earmarked for development outside Retained Area 1, where Saudi Aramco carries out oil and gas production operations onshore and offshore.
Saudi Aramco's cumulative production from 1938 through the end of 1990 totaled 59.6 billion bbl. Its 1990 production amounted to about 98% of Saudi Arabia's total.
At the end of 1990, remaining recoverable oil reserves in fields managed by Saudi Aramco amounted to 257.9 billion bbl, Opecna said. Gas reserves, including dissolved, associated, and nonassociated, totaled 180.5 tcf.
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