Zora gas field, located in the Shrajah Western Offshore Concession block off the coast of the Sharjah coastline at a water depth of 24m, is owned by Dana Gas. The Sharjah Western block covers a total area of over 1,000km2.
The Zora project received regulatory approval in February 2013 and is scheduled to be completed by 2015. It will be the first gas exploration and production project of Dana Gas in the Gulf Co-operative Council (GCC).
First gas from the field is expected by early 2015. The average production from the field is expected to be 60million cubic feet of gas per day (more than 10,000 barrels of oil equivalent), while the initial production will be about 40million cubic feet per day. The estimated investment on the project is $160m.
Dana Gas has signed a series of agreements with the Governments of Sharjah and Ajman in March 2008 for jointly developing the Zora field. The gas produced from the Zora field will be supplied to Sharjah and Ajman, and will support gas-based local power production in the northern Emirates.
The offshore project was planned to be brought on stream by 2009-2010 but progressed at a sluggish pace due to delays in approvals.
Zora gas field discovery
The field was discovered in January 1979 with the drilling of the Sharjah-1 well. The well tested maximum flow rate of 14million cubic feet of gas per day in the Thamama reservoir.
” Drilling was performed for the Sharjah-2 well in 1999. The well tested a maximum flow rate of 40 million cubic feet of gas per day.”
Drilling was performed for the Sharjah-2 well in 1999. The well tested a maximum flow rate of 40 million cubic feet of gas per day.
Zora gas field development details
Dana Gas signed a 25-year concession agreement for the Shrajah Western Offshore block, which includes the Zora field, with the Sharjah government in March 2008. The government of Sharjah holds 50% working interest in the project, according to the agreement.
The project will include horizontal drilling of the two wells, construction of an offshore pipeline, installation of a wellhead platform, and other exploration activities.
The wells were originally drilled by Crescent Petroleum. Dana Gas will further drill a 3,000ft horizontal section using a jack-up rig as part of the field development. Both the wells will be extended horizontally and tied back to the wellhead platform. The fixed wellhead platform will manage the production and processing of gas.
“A 25km (15-mile) long offshore pipeline will be constructed to transport the gas from the platform to the shore.”
A 25km (15-mile) long offshore pipeline will be constructed to transport the gas from the platform to the shore. The gas will be processed, distributed and marketed within the UAE.
Processing of the Zora field gas
The field will produce gas via a single offshore platform connected to a new onshore processing plant to be built in Sharjah. The produced gas will be transported through a 25km subsea pipeline to the onshore gas processing facility.
Contractors involved with the Zora gas field development
Adyard Abu Dhabi, a subsidiary of Interserve, received a $17m contract from Dana Gas in November 2013 to provide fabrication services for the Zora offshore platform. Adyard will also provide manufacture, erection, safety and security services, in addition to deck level support.
