Aramco has increased proven reserves at its Jafurah unconventional field by 15 Tcf of raw gas and 2 Bbbl of condensate using a new approach to shale reserves booking, the company announced Feb. 27.

The additional resources, booked as proven reserves, bring total reserves estimates for the Saudi Arabian field to 229 Tcf of raw gas and 75 Bbbl of condensate.

Aramco said the new “novel approach” to booking shale reserves has the potential to be deployed at scale.

Industry reserves certification consultancy DeGolyer and MacNaughton reviewed the statistical booking mechanism and technically validated the new estimates, Aramco said.

“Aramco’s upstream business is deploying state-of-the-art technologies including advanced modelling and artificial intelligence to make tangible progress in developing Jafurah, which is one of the company’s growth engines and an important economic resource for the Kingdom. The field represents a key element in our ambitious strategy to increase Aramco’s gas production,” Aramco President and CEO Amin H. Nasser said in a press release.

Aramco is working to deliver production at Jafurah, with plans to ramp up to reach a sustainable sales gas rate of 2 Bcf/d by 2030, in addition to significant volumes of ethane, NGL and condensate.

In November, Aramco announced its South Ghawar area had gone online two months ahead of schedule, producing unconventional tight gas.

Onshore