Manifa heavy crude programme

10 September 2013

Production is set to reach 900,000 barrels a day by 2015

Value: $9.3bn

Client

Saudi Aramco

Tel: (+966) 13 872 0115

Main contractor

McDermott

Tel: (+1) 281 870 5000

Saudi Aramco has known about the offshore Manifa oil field for decades, but due to the high sulphur content of the oil and gas, it only started development in 2009.

Initial production came from the field located off the coast of the Eastern Province in early 2013. Manifa will eventually produce 900,000 barrels a day (b/d) when fully operational, as well as 120 million cubic feet a day of natural gas.

The offtake will not increase the kingdom’s 12.5 million b/d crude oil capacity, but will instead alleviate production pressure on existing onshore fields that are maturing.

Key dates
Jun 2006Saudi Aramco announces the development of the Manifa field
Jan 2007Engineering, procurement and construction contracts begin to be awarded 
Oct 2013All works expected to be completed
Source: MEED

The $9.28bn project has included the construction of 27 man-made islands in shallow waters. The developments will serve as platforms for wells at the field. A causeway as well as onshore facilities have also been built, which will process the sulphur-rich crude from Manifa.

The crude is also expected to feed Aramco’s new oil refineries at Jubail and Yanbu. Both have been built with the ability to handle heavier and more sulphur-rich crude types.

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