Inpex announces 1bn-boe UAE discovery

Japan's Inpex has discovered up to 1bn barrels of oil equivalent in oil, gas and condensate after drilling a well at the UAE's onshore Block 4 concession, it reported on December 14.

The find, made in the Abu Dhabi emirate, is near existing oil and gas production infrastructure, offering the potential for early-stage development, Inpex said. The company said it would analyse data from flow tests at the well and carry out further exploration in the area.

Inpex won rights to Block 4 in 2018, and exploration drilling at the site took place between May and August of this year. The company is also partnered with Abu Dhabi's state-owned ADNOC and other international firms at the producing Abu Dhabi Onshore Block, and Lower Zakum, Upper Zakum and Satah/Umm Al Dalkh fields.

Inpex's ties with the UAE also extend to low-carbon technologies. Since August it has been receiving blue ammonia cargoes produced by a joint venture between ADNOC and Dutch fertiliser producer OCI in the UAE.