Abu Sa`fah

Abu Sa`fah Oil Field Profile

Location

The Abu Sa`fah Oil Field is located offshore in the waters of the Persian Gulf, shared between Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. The exact coordinates are 26.79°N, 50.4312°E.

History and Discovery

The Abu Sa`fah Oil Field was discovered in 1963 and began production in 1966. It is part of the larger Qatif Project complex.

Ownership and Operation

The field is jointly owned by Saudi Aramco (50%) and the Bahrain Petroleum Company (Bapco) (50%). Saudi Aramco is the operator of the field.

Production Capacity

The Abu Sa`fah Oil Field has a production capacity of 300,000 barrels per day of medium petroleum. It reached its full production capacity in 2004 after a significant expansion project that cost $1.2 billion.

Reserves

As of 2023, the field has remaining recoverable reserves of approximately 1.023 billion barrels of crude oil and condensate.

Field Characteristics

• The field is 19 kilometers long and 10 kilometers wide.
• It contains ten platforms, each with six wells, and five sub-platforms with their own wells.

Production and Revenue Distribution

Since 1996, all production from the field has been granted to Bahrain, but Saudi Aramco markets the oil through the port of Ras Tanura and distributes the revenues equally between the two countries. Prior to this arrangement, Bahrain produced 37,000 barrels per day and imported additional oil through an undersea pipeline.

Contractors and Development

Several contractors have been involved in the development and maintenance of the Abu Sa`fah Oil Field, including McDermott International, Lamprell, Sapura Energy, and National Marine Dredging. Other contractors such as Schlumberger and Eurocontrolli have also played roles in various aspects of the project.

Future Developments

There is an ongoing expansion project associated with the Abu Safah field, known as the Abu Safah Development, which is currently in the construction stage and expected to start in 2027.

Production Timeline

• Peak production was achieved in 2008.
• Based on economic assumptions, production is expected to continue until the field reaches its economic limit in 2055. Currently, the field accounts for approximately 2% of Saudi Arabia's daily oil output.

Geographical and Operational Context

The Abu Sa`fah Oil Field is situated in shallow waters and is managed as part of the broader Qatif Project, which has seen significant expansion over the years. The field's production has contributed to the growth of the Qatif Project's overall capacity from 150,000 barrels per day to 300,000 barrels per day.