UAE Energy Profile: Important Producer Of Oil And Gas

(EIA) — The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a federation of seven different emirates which together comprise the third largest economy in the Middle East behind Saudi Arabia and Iran. Its per capita GDP is second only to Qatar. The UAE is an important producer of natural gas and oil, ranking seventh globally in total proven reserves of both. Abu Dhabi possesses the majority of oil and natural gas reserves followed by Dubai, with small amounts in Sharjah and Ras al-Khaimah. The country is also a member of the Organization for Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).

Despite having the most diversified economy in the Middle East, the UAE remains largely dependent upon the hydrocarbons sector for economic growth. The government’s hydrocarbon policy will continue to focus on oil, however natural gas projects are gaining significance and investment. Rising domestic demand for subsidized energy and electricity has caused the UAE to become a net importer of natural gas and strained volumes of liquids available for export.

The UAE government is pursuing economic diversification through investment in infrastructure in transport, trade and tourism. Abu Dhabi has made a concerted effort to increase its industrialization through projects such as the Khalifa Industrial Zone Abu Dhabi (KIZAD), which will allow 100 percent foreign ownership of companies. This infrastructure project will be one of the largest integrated industrial zones in the world and will further serve the aims of economic diversification held by the government.

Dubai has burgeoning financial, real estate, and tourism sectors. Although the economic crisis necessitated Abu Dhabi to bail out the most prominent of Dubai’s state-run firms, Dubai World, these financial difficulties have not precipitated a flight of foreign capital. The UAE has returned to positive and increasing growth once again, with a real GDP growth forecast of 3.1 percent for 2011.

Consumption of total primary energy reached 3.257 quadrillion BTUs in 2008. Of that total, approximately 70 percent came from natural gas for electricity generation, consuming 2.198 quadrillion BTUs, while 1.06 quadrillion BTUs of petroleum products were consumed.

Oil

According to Oil & Gas Journal, the UAE has 97.8 billion barrels as of January 1, 2011, making up 7 percent of global oil reserves. The UAE has been able to maintain its proven reserves over the last decade primarily due to enhanced oil recovery (EOR) technologies increasing extraction rates of mature oil projects combined with higher oil prices making more reserves commercially viable. Few new concessions have been made, as exploration has met with little success and most foreign companies lack market access. However, in late 2008, Occidental Petroleum won the first concession offered in decades, earning the right to develop the Jarn Yahpour and Rahman oil fields.

Sector Organization

The oil policy of the UAE government is carried out mainly by the Supreme Petroleum Council (SPC) through the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), operating 14 subsidiaries which participate at every level of the oil and natural gas sectors. The contract structure is based on a long-term, production-sharing basis with the state mandated to own a majority of the equity stake in a project, often through joint venture companies. The most noteworthy of the oil-producing consortia include the Zakum Development Company (ZADCO), the Abu Dhabi Company for Onshore Operations (ADCO), and the Abu Dhabi Marine Operating Company (ADMA-OPCO). International oil majors operating in the UAE include the following: BP, Shell, Total, ExxonMobil, Petrofac, and Partex.

In November 2010, the ruler of Sharjah, Shaikh Sultan bin Muhammad al-Qasimi, issued a decree which created the Sharjah National Oil Corporation (SNOC). The new firm is owned by the emirate of Sharjah and has legal, financial and administrative independence to carry out operations in the upstream and downstream markets, as well as investing in other firms engaging in similar activities. SNOC manages those projects formerly operated by Crescent Petroleum in the emirate.

Exploration and Production

In 2010, the UAE produced approximately 2.81 million barrels per day (bbl/d) of total oil liquids, of which 2.3 million bbl/d was crude oil. Crude oil production capacity is currently estimated at 2.6 million bbl/d. However, increases in capacity have not affected production due to limits imposed by OPEC, which constrain UAE’s production around the quota of 2.223 million bbl/d. The government has pushed back plans to increase capacity to 3.5 million bbl/d to 2018, pending acceptance of fellow OPEC members.

Much of the oil production in the UAE is from the Zakum oil system, a collection of oil fields which together make up the third largest oil zone in the world. The Upper Zakum field is run by ZADCO, 60 percent owned by ADNOC with the Japanese Oil Development Company (JODCO) and ExxonMobil holding the remaining stakes. In order to boost production capacity, ZADCO is reviewing the possibility to use extended reach drilling from four artificial islands to expand production from the current 550,000 bbl/d to 750,000 bbl/d by 2015, increasing the oil recovery rate to 70 percent.

The largest onshore oil fields are operated by ADCO. ADCO operates the Bu Hasa oil field, which produces as much as 600,000 bbl/d, as well as the Murban Bab, Sahil, Asab, and Shah oil fields, contributing another 705,000 bbl/d of light, sweet crude. Additionally, two new fields are being developed by ADCO, Qusahwira and Bab oil fields, adding 250,000 bbl/d by 2014. ADCO will also redevelop Bida al-Qemzan field, adding 20,000 bbl/d to its current production of 225,000 bbl/d by the third quarter of 2012. These projects are components of a plan to boost ADCO’s aggregate production to 1.8 million bbl/d from its current 1.4 million bbl/d by 2017.

ADMA-OPCO operates the main offshore assets in Abu Dhabi, which have been in redevelopment to maximize output. The Umm Shaif and Lower Zakum offshore oil fields have a capacity of 520,000 bbl/d combined, although after an expansion at each they will have a production capacity of 425,000 bbl/d and 300,000 bbl/d, respectively. Two new oil fields have also come into development: Nasr and Umm al-Lulu. These will add a further 170,000 bbl/d capacity by 2018.

Dubai and Sharjah produce relatively minor amounts of crude oil. Dubai adds 100,000 bbl/d from four separate fields, the older and more abundant Fateh and Southwest Fateh oil fields, with extra production from the Falah and Rashid fields. Sharjah’s only significant oil field is the Mubarak field, which produces 60,000 bbl/d. Sharjah-based Crescent Petroleum operated this field for 35 years before handing control to the government in December 2009.

Oil Pipelines

The Emirates have a network of domestic pipelines linking fields with processing plants and ports. There are also inter-emirate pipelines primarily for natural gas injection to increase oil recovery rates in mature Dubai oil fields. There are two pipelines which deliver natural gas to Dubai for injection and use for electric generation: one originating in Sharjah, while the other begins in Abu Dhabi.

The largest export pipeline project in development currently is the Abu Dhabi Crude Oil Pipeline (ADCOP) Project. The International Petroleum Investment Corporation (IPIC) is spearheading the project, along with the China Petroleum Engineering & Construction Corporation (CPECC), a subsidiary of the China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC). The 230-mile pipeline is scheduled for completion by August 2011 and will transport 1.5 million bbl/d from ADCO’s Habshan facility to the Fujairah export terminals. This will allow more than half of UAE’s exports to bypass the strategic chokepoint at the Strait of Hormuz.

Exports

In 2009, the UAE exported 2.32 million bbl/d, predominantly to Asian markets. Japan is the main market for UAE petroleum exports, encompassing 40 percent of its export volumes. South Korea and Thailand are the other major destinations for Emirati crude. The Abu Dhabi National Tanker Company (ADNATCO) is the subsidiary of ADNOC responsible for the transportation of petroleum products. Its fleet includes 2 build carriers and 2 tankers, however it is currently in negotiations to acquire a further 6 tankers and 7 bulk carriers of various sizes.

Fujairah is rapidly expanding its export capability. A second oil terminal, composed of 3 moorings and a new 4-berth facility for tanker bunkering, has been built, as well as storage capacity and a 400,000 bbl/d terminal for refined products and petrochemicals, all of which are expected to be operational before the end of 2012. Due to its location on the coast of the Arabian Gulf, the UAE also has a number of ports for shipping its oil exports.

Downstream/Refining

According to Oil and Gas Journal, the UAE had 773,250 bbl/d of refining capacity at 5 facilities as of January 1, 2011. The two largest refineries are found in Abu Dhabi – Ruwais and Umm al-Nar – with capacities of 350,000 bbl/d and 150,000 bbl/d, respectively. The third notable refinery is the 120,000 bbl/d Jebel Ali facility, located in Dubai and operated by the Emirates National Oil Company (ENOC). IPIC is also planning a 300,000 bbl/d refinery integrated to the export facilities at Fujairah, although this has been on hold since 2007, when Conoco announced a pull-out from the project.

Natural Gas

According to Oil and Gas Journal, the UAE possesses 214.4 trillion cubic feet (Tcf) of proven natural gas reserves as of January 1, 2011, although some industry estimates place it slightly higher at 227.2 Tcf. This amounts to the seventh largest natural gas reserves globally, following Russia, Iran, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkmenistan and the United States. The majority of these reserves are located in Abu Dhabi (198.5 Tcf), with marginal amounts found in Sharjah (10.7 Tcf), Dubai (4 Tcf), and Ras al-Khaimah (1.2 Tcf).

Exploration and Production

In 2009, the UAE produced 1.865 Tcf of marketed natural gas, which is equal to 5.1 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d). In 2007, domestic consumption outstripped production for the first time. Domestic demand for electricity continues to rise, spurred by subsidies. Most electricity generated in the UAE uses natural gas as a feedstock, causing the government to look for ever increasing volumes to compensate for increased demand from economic expansion and high population growth. The reliance upon natural gas for injection into mature oil fields further compounds the strain on natural gas supplies. Despite the UAE’s large natural gas reserves, capital costs and high sulfur content present major impediments to development.

Abu Dhabi Gas Industries Limited (GASCO), a consortium between ADNOC, Shell, Total, and Partex, is responsible for the processing of associated and non-associated onshore natural gas production. Two onshore mega-projects have brought on-line more than 1.5 Bcf/d in the past two years for reinjection into oil fields and other industrial uses. The Onshore Gas Development (OGD) program completed its third phase in 2008, adding 1.2 Bcf/d of associated natural gas from the Bab oil field. A third phase is also set for completion at Asab and Sahil fields by 2012, bringing production there to 450 Mcf/d.

The Integrated Gas Development (IGD) is the largest natural gas project currently in development. GASCO is working with Abu Dhabi Gas Liquefaction Company Ltd. (ADGAS) to develop a new facility at the Habshan oil field, called Habshan-5. The project is based around a new facility at Habshan that will produce 900 million cubic feet per day (Mcf/d), and 124,800 bbl/d of natural gas liquids (NGLs). GASCO also awarded a contract for a fourth natural gas liquid (NGL) train at the Ruwais facility to Petrofac. Much of the gas drawn for the project will derive at the Umm Shaif offshore oil field operated by ADMA-OPCO. GASCO is also pursuing the offshore associated gas (OAG) project, which envisions a further 200 Mcf/d brought onshore from mature oil fields.

Ultra-Sour Gas Projects

In April 2010, ConocoPhillips pulled out of the ultra-sour Shah gas field, leaving ADNOC to go it alone on a project which few analysts believe can be done without an international oil company (IOC) as a partner. Royal Dutch Shell has been mentioned as a suitable replacement for Conoco. The sulfur content is at such high levels that the gas produced will be toxic and highly corrosive, necessitating sophisticated technology to strip the sulfur from the raw gas. The project will provide 1 Bcf/d to UAE’s grid, plus associated liquids and sulfur and is forecast to start production in the third quarter of 2014. The government is spending $1billion to install sophisticated facilities that will convert the volatile sulfur gas into commoditized, granulated sulfur fit for export to international markets.

The Bab natural gas field went on tender along with Shah in 2007. Total has recently indicated its interest in developing Bab with ADNOC, as the gas is dryer and more suited to Total’s capabilities. Executives at ADNOC have stated that their focus is on Shah currently and do not expect to offer a final tender on Bab until 2015. The Bab project will pipe the resulting natural gas to Abu Dhabi for use as feedstock in electricity generation.

Exports and Imports

In 2009 the UAE exported 248 Bcf of natural gas whereas 609 Bcf (1.6 Bcf/d) were imported. This net deficit of 361 Bcf in natural gas will only continue to widen, unless new supplies are exploited. Despite the difficulties presented by such a concentration of sulfur, the government is advancing natural gas development in order to mitigate the amount necessary for importation and increase its volumes of sulfur exports. Exports are entirely in the form of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the ADGAS project at Das Island. Imports are both piped and transported LNG, both mainly from Qatar.

In 2001, Iran concluded an agreement spanning 25 years with Crescent Petroleum to build a subsea natural gas pipeline. This pipeline would deliver 525 million cubic feet per day (Mcf/d) to Sharjah and Dubai and allow some spare feedstock for times of peak electricity demand. Although the project was to come on-stream in 2005 and despite Crescent maintaining its development obligations, Iran refused to proceed without renegotiating the price, which had increased so much by 2005 that the Iranian parliament blocked the start-up. Crescent has announced that arbitration will be sought in the matter.

Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)
Exports

Natural gas exports are managed by ADNOC subsidiary ADGAS. The UAE set up its first LNG plant in 1977 on Das Island operated by ADGAS. The plant is run on associated natural gas from the Umm Shaif, Lower Zakum and Bunduq oil fields. The National Gas Shipping Company (NGSCO) handles all shipments from Das Island, with a fleet of 8 LNG carriers. Approximately 85 percent of the LNG produced at Das Island is destined for Japan as feedstock for Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO).

Imports

In 2008, Qatar, with its partner Shell, and Dubai agreed to a long-term LNG supply contract. In December 2010, the first of these LNG shipments arrived in Dubai. The shipments of LNG will come from the Qatargas 4 train going forward, which starts production in the first quarter of 2011. The LNG contract with Dubai is valid for 15 years for volumes totaling 146 Bcf per year (400.3 Mcf/d), helping the emirate to meet peak electricity demand.

Dolphin Pipeline Project

The Dolphin natural gas pipeline project, which links Qatar’s vast natural gas reserves to UAE and Oman, is the first cross-border pipeline in the Gulf region. Natural gas is imported from Qatar’s North Field to Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Fujairah, where it continues on to Oman. The first natural gas deliveries from Qatar began in 2007. The Dolphin Pipeline System will have an initial throughput of 2 billion standard cubic feet per day (Bscf/d), with a design capacity to supply an additional 1.2 Bscf/d pending negotiations between Dolphin Energy and Qatari authorities. The system itself consists of a 226 mile subsea pipeline from Qatar to processing facilities in Taweelah, Abu Dhabi, where a 152-mile will bring up to 1.6 Mscf/d of gas to two new power stations, including the Qidfa power and desalination facility in Fujairah. The Taweelah-Fujairah pipeline was completed in December of 2010. Oman receives volumes of natural gas from a pipeline from Fujairah, a pipeline through which Oman originally exported natural gas to the UAE starting in January 2004. The pipeline was reversed in October 2008 and now Dolphin provides up to 200 million standard cubic feet per day (Mscf/d) to Oman to supplement domestic production.