Saudi Aramco (Aramco) has made natural gas discoveries in the Empty Quarter, Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Minister of Energy Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz said the company discovered the two natural gas fields, Al-Hiran and Al-Mahakik.

Aramco confirmed the Al-Hiran gas field discovery after reporting gas flow rate of 30 million standard cubic feet (MMSCF) and 1,600 barrel of condensates daily (BCPD) from Hanifa reservoir in the Al-Hiran – 1 well.

The company also reached a gas flowed a rate of 3.1 million standard cubic feet per day (MMSCFD) from the Al-'Arab – C reservoir in the same field.

Aramco determined the Al-Mahakik natural gas field discovery upon reporting a gas flow rate of 0.85 MMSCFD from the Al-Mahakik – 2 well.

In a press statement, Abdulaziz said: “Furthermore, Natural gas was also discovered in five reservoirs in previously discovered fields.

“It was discovered in the Jallah reservoir in the 'Usaikerak field in the Empty Quarter, after gas flowed at a rate of 46 MMSCFD, in addition to discovering an additional natural gas reservoir in Shadoun field, west of Haradh, after gas flowed from 'Unayzah – A reservoir, at a rate of 15.5 MMSCFD, with about 460 BCPD.”

Aramco is planning to boost its gas production capacity by 50% by the end of this decade from 2021 levels, reported Reuters.

Recently, Aramco started unconventional tight gas production from its South Ghawar field 200km east of Riyadh in Al Hasa Province.

The company plans to more than double South Ghawar’s processing capacity to 700 MMCFD in the near future to meet surging gas demand in the country.