Saudi Arabia: Aramco to raise oil extraction from giant Ghawar field

Oil-rich nations across the Persian Gulf are seeking ways to continue output from fields that are at least half a century old. While the industry average is for producers to recover about 35% of fields’ total deposits, Saudi Aramco is developing technology that could double that rate.

Within that frame, Saudi Arabian Oil Co. started injecting carbon dioxide to boost extraction rates from the world’s biggest oil field, Ghawar which is able to produce 5 mm b/d, as the company plans to recover more crude from its deposits. Saudi Aramco already started injection and will put 40 million cubic ft of CO2 into the Uthmaniyah area south of the Ghawar field

The project aims to enhance oil recovery beyond the more common method of water flooding, and is the largest of its kind in the Middle East. Also the project is part of Aramco efforts to reducing domestic carbon emissions and meeting environmental goals.