Sharjah National Oil Corporation begins gas production at Mahani

Sharjah National Oil Corporation (SNOC) and its partner Eni, has started operations at the Mahani-1 gas well, thereby commencing gas production from the Mahani Field, in Sharjah Area B.

It comes one year after the discovery of gas in the field, touted as the first new onshore find in Sharjah in 37 years.

Read: New gas field discovered in Sharjah

Work on the well which included laying a 23,000-metre pipeline was completed in eight months. It is now connected to an existing pipeline that feeds into the Sajaa gas processing plant, owned and operated by 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, reported news agency WAM.

“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 Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi, president of SNOC.

In addition to starting production from Mahani, further drilling will be carried out to evaluate the size and potential of the field.

SNOC (the Operator of Area B), and Eni each hold a 50 per cent 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 in progress, with Eni appointed as the operator.

“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,” said Hatem Al Mosa, CEO of SNOC.

SNOC was established in 2010 by a decree of Sharjah’s ruler, and is tasked with exploration, production, engineering, construction, operation and maintenance of the emirate’s energy assets.

In addition to the new Mahani field, SNOC owns and operates over 50 wells, a gas processing complex and two hydrocarbon liquid storage and export terminals. Its Sajaa complex is the hub of gas pipelines connecting the northern Emirates.

SNOC awarded a $40m contract for its Moveyeid gas storage surface facility project to Petrofac Facilities Management in March 2020. The project comprises of a high-pressure compressor facility, a high-pressure pipeline and flow lines to four existing wells in the Moveyeid field.

Read: Sharjah National Oil awards $40m contract for gas storage facility