saudi aramco said it will increase the number of development wells it drills next year by 61 percent, as it tries to raise production capacity to meet global demand. the company, which has already announced plans to double its drilling rig fleet between 2004 and 2006, said in a statement that the increases were part of an unprecedented corporate push to help meet burgeoning global demand . saudi arabia has fast-tracked oilfield expansion plans to maintain spare production capacity and meet growing demand. it aims to hike capacity to 12.5 million barrels per day by 2009, from about 11 million bpd, according to the statement published today by saudi gazette. the statement said the company also aims to carry out four mega-projects and seek new business opportunities in petrochemicals and other derivative products. --spa
