NOGA achieves major milestones in 2011

Bahrain’s National Oil and Gas Authority (NOGA) issued a special report detailing the oil and gas sector’s progress during 2011. The report underscored outstanding results in oil refining and production, as well as NOGA holding companies’ production results. According to the Minister of Energy, Dr. Abdul Husain bin Ali Mirza, Bahrain’s oldest oil field has improved in production due to the establishment of Tatweer Petroleum: a joint venture between Bahrain, the American Occidental Company and the Emirati Mubadala Company.

In addition, the Abu Saafa field, a joint field between Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, has reached a record production of 300,000 Barrels per Day, with Bahrain’s share standing at 150,000 bpd.

Bahrain Petroleum Company’s (BAPCO) refinery scored a production record in November2011, refining a total of 3,713,000 bpd, exceeding expectations in the annual budget forecast. There was also an increase in Bahrain’s Gas production, as the total gas production reached 552 billion cubic tons during 2011. In related news, plans are in the works for a liquefied gas sea port. Other NOGA Holding companies have also recorded improvements in 2011. Gulf Petrochemical Industries Company production reached 1,575 million metric tons in 2011, a 6.7% increase in annual production; and Bahrain National Gas Company and its expansion project achieved a 4.3% increase in annual production.

Some of the new projects for 2011 include a 120-million-dollar environmental project by BAPCO to improve wastewater treatment, and development of new imported Saudi crude oil pipelines avoiding residential areas and further increase the daily refinery production. With regards to oil and gas agreements, Occidental has dug the first oil exploration well in South West Bahrain during 2011, and will dig two more wells during this year, as part of the joint oil excavation agreement signed by Bahrain and Occidental