Sharjah National Oil
Corporation (SNOC) has awarded SLB an expanded framework agreement for
Underbalanced Coiled Tubing Drilling (UBCTD), with a new campaign approximately
twice the size of its predecessor, targeting further development of Sharjah's
Moveyeid gas storage and Hedebah gas fields from 2027.
Signed on the
sidelines of ADIPEC 2026 by SNOC CEO Khamis Al Mazrouei and SLB UAE Managing
Director Dany Rahal, the agreement builds on the success of the companies'
first integrated UBCTD campaign at Moveyeid in 2024.
The initial campaign
exceeded its drilling and production targets, delivering higher well
productivity, improved operational efficiency and lower costs.
Khamis Al Mazrouei,
CEO of SNOC, said: “Our first UBCTD campaign in Moveyeid showed what advanced
technology, operational expertise and strong collaboration can achieve
together. Having exceeded our targets across drilling and production, we are
pleased to continue our partnership with SLB on an expanded scope. This next
phase builds on that experience to maximize the potential of our assets,
strengthen Sharjah’s energy security and enhance the resilience of its gas
infrastructure.”
Dany Rahal, UAE
Managing Director at SLB, said: “The first campaign demonstrated the value
underbalanced coiled tubing drilling can bring to these reservoirs. This
expanded scope gives us the opportunity to build on that work with SNOC,
applying our drilling technology and expertise across both gas storage and
development to enhance reservoir access and well performance.”
UBCTD technology
maintains wellbore pressure below reservoir pressure during drilling, helping
minimise formation damage caused by drilling fluids and enabling multilateral
well sections to reach higher-quality reservoir rock.
At Moveyeid, the
technology is expected to improve the speed of gas injection and withdrawal,
while at Hedebah it will support improved gas well productivity.
Under the agreement,
SLB will provide integrated project management and execute coiled tubing
drilling services across the development programme.
The expanded
partnership forms part of SNOC's strategy to deploy advanced technologies and
strategic partnerships to maximise Sharjah's natural gas resources and
strengthen the resilience of its gas infrastructure. -OGN/TradeArabia News Service
