Bahrain Petroleum Company (Bapco) will drill four new gas wells in the Khuff reservoir by June 2010 as part of a $100m programme to boost local production by 500 million cubic feet a day (cf/d).Bahrain produced 1.3 billion cf/d of gas in 2008, according to the BP statistical review.

The state-run firm says it will commission the wells, associated gas dehydration units and the workover of five previously drilled wells as part of the first phase of the development scheme at the reservoir.

Bapco completed drilling three gas wells on 20 October to a maximum depth of 12,325 feet. A rig was recently mobilised to the fourth well where drilling operations have started.

It says the remaining four deep gas wells in the first phase will be commissioned by summer 2010.

In June 2009 Bapco received just two bids for a new onshore deep gas exploration round, even though it had prequalified 18 companies to bid for the contract (MEED 25:6:09). The US’ Occidental Petroleum and Canadian Natural Resources submitted bids on 24 June, according to Bahrain’s official tender board.

An award for the onshore deep gas round is expected by the end of 2009.