Saudi Aramco has awarded US energy services firm Halliburton a contract to improve the commercial viability of its unconventional gas resources.

As part of a key Vision 2030 goal to make Saudi Arabia self-sufficient in gas supply, Aramco has been pursuing the development of unconventional and shale gas resources as part of its unconventional resources programme.

The scope of the contract calls upon Halliburton to provide lump sum turnkey stimulation services, including major hydraulic fracturing and well intervention operations.

“Over the past three years, Saudi Aramco has made great strides in developing our unconventional resources programme, with emphasis on unconventional gas as an important clean energy source for the Kingdom’s future," says Amin Nasser, president and CEO of Saudi Aramco. "Now, with this contract formalised today [27 May] with Halliburton, we enter the important next phase of achieving our gas expansion objectives."

Saudi Aramco’s $3.2bn unconventional resources programme to develop shale gas is focused on three hotspots:

• Rub’ Al-Khali/Jafurah in the south of the Empty Quarter
• South Ghawar in the Eastern Province
• Turaif in the northern part of Saudi Arabia

Wood is project management consultant for the project, which is divided into three packages.