The United Arab Emirates, a leading OPEC producer, announced Monday the discovery of huge gas reserves between Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
The shallow natural gas field contains 80 trillion standard cubic feet of gas, and UAE stated the find would help the Gulf state achieve self-sufficiency.
Shallow gas resources are reserves found trapped not too deep from the surface but they need advanced technology for production.
Abu Dhabi and Dubai witnessed the signing of an agreement between ADNOC and Dubai supply Authority for the exploration and development of the gas resources.
ADNOC plans to boost gas production for UAE to become a net exporter and also to raise crude output capacity to four million bpd in 2020 and to five million bpd a decade later.
Monday’s statements gave no details on the time-frame for the new gas resources to become on-stream or the estimated cost of the projects.
Authorities said the new Mount. Ali field would help the Emirates become more energy independent, as the UAE now imports natural gas from Qatar for electricity.
The UAE is one of four Arab nations that have been boycotting Doha in a political dispute.
The state-run Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. and the Dubai Supply Authority will explore and develop the shallow gas field.
Officials say it spans some 5,000 square kilometers.
In recent years, the UAE; a major oil producer, been ramping up its natural gas production.
