Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc) has signed an agreement with German oil and gas group Wintershall and Austria’s OMV to appraise a sour gas and condensate field in the UAE.

Wintershall, with OMV as an equal partner, will drill up to three appraisal wells at the Shuwaihat field, located 25 kilometres west of Ruwais, Abu Dhabi, according to Emirates News Agency (Wam). Adnoc will be active in the development and production stages if the appraisals are successful.

Adnoc is currently developing the Shah sour gas field in a $10bn project aimed at supplying the Gulf state’s growing energy needs.