Saudi Arabia’s need for gas may be one reason why it has maintained relatively high oil production levels when supply to markets has fallen below wellhead output. The oil giant boosted production of non-associated gas, but cannot utilize the raw gas until it completes the Wasit plant, which is a year behind schedule.
The Wasit Gas Plant, which along with the Karan gas processing plant will boost the kingdom’s gas processing capacity by 40%, was to have been operational by the end of this year and for the first time process non-associated gas. However, the important milestone appears to have been pushed back to early 2015, although Saudi Aramco has yet to confirm a delay to its gas plans, about which it is less forthcoming than on oil related developments. (CONTINUED - 731 WORDS)
