UAE's ADNOC, Eni announce first offshore gas find in Abu Dhabi blocks

The Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) and Eni said on Thursday that interim results from the first exploration well in Abu Dhabi’s Offshore Block 2 Exploration Concession, which is operated by the Italian oil giant, indicate between 1.5 – 2 trillion standard cubic feet (TSCF) of raw gas in place.

“The well interim results indicate a range of 1.5-2 trillion cubic feet (TCF) of raw gas in place in multiple good quality reservoirs of the Jurassic exploration targets. The drilling operations will continue to reach the deeper exploration targets of the Khuff and Pre-Khuff Formations. After completing the well drilling in Q2 2022, the size of the well final findings will be assessed,” Eni said in a statement.

Eni has a 70 percent stake and is Operator of Offshore Block 2 while Thailand’s PTTEP holds the remaining 30 percent. The block was awarded to Eni by ADNOC in January 2019.

ADNOC said in a statement that the discovery marks the first from Abu Dhabi’s offshore exploration concessions. The block covers an area of 4,033 square km northwest of Abu Dhabi.

"The discovery of material natural gas resources in Offshore Block 2 underscores how ADNOC's expanded approach to strategic partnerships is enabling us to accelerate the exploration and development of Abu Dhabi's untapped hydrocarbon resources," Sultan al-Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and ADNOC Group CEO, said in the statement.

The companies said that drilling operations will continue to reach deeper formations to unlock the resources of Offshore Block 2.