Bahrain declares largest oil discovery since 1932

02 April 2018
Field is forecast to contain quantities of oil exceeding existing reserves

Bahrain has announced the discovery of an oil field off its west coast said to “dwarf” existing reserves and represent the country’s biggest find since it began oil production 86 years ago.

In an official statement, the Bahraini government said the new reservoir is forecast to contain “highly significant quantities” of both tight oil and deep gas.

Located in the Khaleej al-Bahrain basin, it is also thought to hold a volume of oil “many times” that of the country’s Bahrain Field.

The Bahrain Field started production in 1932 and currently produced around 45,000 barrels a day (b/d). It has several hundred million barrels of crude reserves.

The Khaleej al-Bahrain discovery was made in the last quarter of 2017 during a campaign to find new hydrocarbons in Bahraini territory. The detailed analysis of the content, size and extraction viability of the deposit was performed by consultants DeGolyer and MacNaughton (Demac).

Bahrain also produces from the Abu Safah field, which has an 300,000 b/d output that is divided evenly with Saudi Arabia.

Further details about the new field are due to be released on 4 April.

READ MORE: Mena energy investment to top $900bn over next five years

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