Quietly and in stages, Abu Dhabi is increasing its oil production capacity in step with several other key producers in the Middle East.
Officials of Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. (Adnoc) say only that the plan is to increase capacity beyond 2 million b/d--about current production.
With international oil company partners, Adnoc works onshore as part of Abu Dhabi Co. for Onshore Operations (ADCO) and offshore as part of Abu Dhabi Marine Operating Co. (ADMA-OPCO).
In addition, Adnoc holds sole-risk concessions offshore and onshore (see map).
Onshore production efforts focus on Bab field, with current sustainable capacity of 250,000 b/d. Capacity can be increased by 100,000 b/d, according to Adnoc.
ADCO is developing condensate reserves in the Thamama F formation at Bab field. It will inject gas from the Thamama C formation to maintain reservoir pressure in a project expected to recover more than 80 million bbl of condensate.
Abu Dhabi Gas Industries Ltd., in which Adnoc holds the major interest, is debottlenecking the Bab gas processing plant, which was mothballed in May 1986 and recommissioned in August 1989.
Offshore, Zakum Development Co.--in which interests differ from the usual ADMA-OPCO lineup--is installing five production platforms from which it will drill 100 wells in Upper Zakum field.
Production capacity will increase in stages from 320,000 b/d to 450,000-500,000 b/d by 1997, according to plans in effect at midyear.
One of two major gas projects under way offshore is connected with the Upper Zakum project. It involves development of nonassociated Khuff reserves in Abu Al Bukhoosh field, some production from which will be used for gas lift in Upper Zakum.
The other gas project is development of Khuff reserves in Umm Shaif oil field. Along with Abu Al Bukhoosh production not used for gas lift, the Umm Shaif Khuff gas will support a second train at the Das Island LNG export facility.
Elsewhere offshore, ADMA-OPCO has been conducting a long term test of Naser oil field, connected with Umm Shaif. Four wells have flowed 8,000-15,000 b/d of oil for about 2 years. A total of nine appraisal wells have been drilled.
In mid-1991, Abu Dhabi had eight rigs active offshore and eight onshore.
Adnoc planned to increase the onshore total to 10 by 1992 and the offshore total to 12 by 1993.
Copyright 1991 Oil & Gas Journal. All Rights Reserved.
