DAMMAM: Over 200 international companies participating in the Saudi Arabia International Oil & Gas Exhibition (SAOGE) at the Dhahran International Exhibition Center (Dhahran Expo) are gearing up their products and services in anticipation of a surge in the Kingdom's gas production. Piero A. Zipoli, president of International Exhibition Services, said the exhibitors from 34 countries at the SAOGE have focused on exhibiting wide-ranging products and support services for the oil and gas industry. He said most are being encouraged by the expected hike in Saudi Arabia's oil and gas production. Jereon van de Veer, former chief executive officer of Royal Dutch Shell, who delivered the keynote address at the opening of SAOGE Sunday, said Saudi Arabia will lead in the production of natural gas. He said that of all the energy sources, natural gas will provide the bulk of energy demand. The Industrialization & Energy Services Company (TAQA), which is 45 percent owned by the Saudi government, is anticipating robust participation in oil and gas production over the next decade. Dr. Abdulaziz Saleh Al-Jarbou, TAQA's chairman of the board, said in his corporate message that the company is maintaining “its resolve and commitment to its long term objectives of expanding local energy-related industries”. The cause for optimism is Saudi Aramco's announcement to expand its Master Gas System from its present capacity of 10 billion cubic feet per day (bcfd) to 15.5 bcfd by the year 2015. Ali Al-Naimi, the Saudi oil minister, has already announced that Saudi Aramco is to meet the rising demand for energy by increasing gas production to 15.5 bcfd, a benchmark that would satisfy increasing domestic energy demand. Zuhair Al-Hussain, Saudi Aramco's vice president for drilling and workovers, has reported that gas production will start from three recently discovered gas fields in the Arabian Gulf. These are the Karam Field, which will come on stream by 2011, and the Hasbah and Arabiyah Gas Fields with expected combined production of 2.5 bcfd when they start production in 2014. According to reports, Saudi Aramco will maintain an average of at least 100 rigs operating within the next five years. About 50 of these rigs will be devoted to gas drilling.
