Saudi Arabia Gas Reserves Rose Last Year

Saudi Arabia’s natural gas reserves rose to 288 trillion cubic feet of gas last year from 285 trillion in 2012, Arab News said citing Saudi Aramco’s annual report.

The country is also actively exploring unconventional hydrocarbons.

Saudi Aramco said that Saudi Arabia will be among the first countries outside North America to use shale gas for domestic power generation.

Last year the Saudi state owned oil and gas company announced it was ready to use shale gas to fuel a 1,000-MW power plant.

The shale gas drive will help the kingdom free more diesel and crude oil for export, Arab News quoted the company as saying.  

Saudi Aramco said it is looking for unconventional gas in the Northwest, the Empty Quarter desert, and near Ghawar, the world’s largest oil field.

The company increased gas production last year to 11 billion cubic feet a day, compared with 10.72 billion in 2012, it said in the review.