Aramco Achieves Startup of the ‘Jewel’ of Its Unconventional Gas Ambitions

Lead

Saudi Aramco has brought the Jafurah unconventional gas development into production, calling the $100‑billion project the “jewel” of its unconventional gas portfolio and the Middle East’s largest unconventional gas field. In a 26 February announcement, the national oil company confirmed Jafurah’s startup alongside the initiation of operations at the Tanajib Gas Plant and the Marjan gas plant. The moves are central to Aramco’s target of increasing sales gas production capacity by roughly 80% by 2030 versus 2021 levels and to the company’s aim of reaching about 6 million BOE/D of gas and associated liquids by 2030.

Direct quote

“Jafurah and Tanajib significantly strengthen Aramco’s gas portfolio and expand our capacity at scale. These projects are a major step forward for our company and for the Kingdom’s energy future,” Amin Nasser, Aramco president and CEO, said in the company statement. He added, “Gas is central to our long-term growth strategy. It is expected to generate substantial earnings, meet rising domestic demand, support development across key sectors, and deliver significant volumes of high-value liquids.”

Context and details

Aramco said gas began flowing into the 450 MMcf/D‑capacity Jafurah plant in December, and the wider Jafurah Basin—covering about 17,000 km²—is estimated to hold 229 Tcf of raw gas and 75 billion STB of condensate. By 2030 the development is expected to deliver roughly 2 Bcf/D of sales gas, 420 MMscf/D of ethane and approximately 630,000 B/D of natural gas liquids (NGLs).

The Jafurah development targets the tight, carbonate‑dominated Tuwaiq Mountain formation, located south of Aramco’s Dhahran headquarters and east of the Ghawar field. Aramco said it has applied advanced drilling and hydraulic fracturing technologies to reduce well costs and boost productivity, and highlighted collaboration with National Energy Services Reunited (NESR) on produced‑water recycling pilots at Jafurah. NESR said one initiative will treat and desalinate produced water while recovering trace minerals, including lithium and bromine, which could be marketed to offset treatment costs.

• Project capital: $100 billion
• Estimated basin resources: 229 Tcf raw gas and 75 billion STB condensate
• Near‑term plant capacity: 450 MMcf/D flowed into Jafurah plant in December
• 2030 expected output from Jafurah: 2 Bcf/D sales gas, 420 MMscf/D ethane, ~630,000 B/D NGLs
• Tanajib Gas Plant: began operations December 2025; expected raw gas processing capacity 2.6 Bcf/D later in 2026
• Estimated incremental cash flows from Jafurah in 2030: $12–$15 billion
• Displacement: up to 500,000 B/D of crude oil used in domestic power generation

Outlook

Aramco projects Jafurah will be pivotal to its ambition to rank among the world’s top 10 gas producers and to reach its 6 million BOE/D goal for gas and liquids by 2030. Beyond direct production, the company expects Jafurah gas to underpin expanding domestic industries, including petrochemicals and artificial intelligence infrastructure, while reducing crude oil burn for power generation by as much as 500,000 B/D. With Tanajib expected to ramp to 2.6 Bcf/D of raw gas processing later this year and Marjan already processing associated gas from the Marjan and Zuluf offshore fields, Aramco is positioning a suite of facilities to support both near‑term supply and longer‑term industrial demand.