Bahrain has stepped up its oil exploration programme by drilling 25 new wells, said Oil and Gas Affairs Minister Dr Abdulhussain Mirza.

The National Oil and Gas Authority (Noga) announced the new developmental oil wells which have been commissioned by exploration company Tatweer Petroleum.

Dr Mirza, who is also the Noga chairman, said these 25 wells are the first of nearly 3,500 to be drilled at the Bahrain Field in the next 20 years.

The minister was speaking to employees and management of Tatweer at the Bapco Club, Awali.

'This achievement would not have been possible without the active involvement of all those who work at the company,' he said.

'The goals you have for the next few years will continue to be challenging and deserves recognition as we cross new targets each time.'

He said the efforts of the Tatweer team have also led to the drilling and commissioning of five new khuff wells and gas dehydration facilities.

'This has enabled Noga meet its sales figures and peak demand throughout the year.'

Earlier, during an international conference in November last year, the minister said Bahrain's oil production would go up to 100,000 barrels per day (bpd), from the present 32,000bpd in the next seven years.

He said several steps taken by Tatweer, which came into existence in December 2009, had already meant a halt in declining oil production for the first time in 33 years.

He said the new exploration work carried out off-shore by reputed international oil and gas companies, the US Occidental Petroleum and Thailand's PTTEP, is also looking positive.

The minister revealed plans to drill gas wells with a $200 million investment to meet the additional demand in Bahrain over the next five years.-TradeArabia News Service