Unconventional Gas
ADNOC is accelerating the development of Abu Dhabi’s world-class unconventional gas resources as part of its integrated gas strategy to achieve national gas self-sufficiency.
In November 2019, the Supreme Petroleum Council (SPC) announced the discovery of 160 trillion standard cubic feet (scf) of recoverable unconventional gas resources, offering the potential to fuel the UAE with gas far into the future.
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The Story of Unconventional Gas
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Partnerships and Technology
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Responsible Operations
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People and Society
Unconventional gas is natural gas that is trapped in “tight” underground geological formations and requires special advanced technologies such as hydraulic fracturing to extract it.
In a landmark achievement, ADNOC has commenced production and treatment of the UAE’s first gas from an unconventional reservoir at the Ruwais Diyab Concession—marking a transformative moment in the nation’s energy journey.
ADNOC’s journey began with the region’s first unconventional gas concession agreement signed with TotalEnergies in 2018. Today, ADNOC holds a 90% stake in the Ruwais Diyab Concession and operates the project directly, in partnership with TotalEnergies who holds the remaining 10%.
ADNOC has adopted and localized global best practices, deploying hydraulic fracturing, AI-driven drilling, and digital tools to maximize gas recovery. Technologies from Enersol—ADNOC Drilling’s AI-enabled energy solutions JV with Alpha Dhabi—are central to this success.
The breakthrough in the Ruwais Diyab Concession was delivered by Turnwell, ADNOC Drilling’s joint venture with SLB and Patterson-UTI, which has safely and efficiently drilled unconventional wells using advanced fracking techniques and AI-enabled technologies tailored to the UAE’s unique subsurface conditions.
ADNOC will continue to expand its unconventionals exploration portfolio by unlocking further unconventional gas resources and continuously de-risking projects while quantifying untapped gas resources.
As part of its commitment to environmental stewardship, ADNOC is proactively improving environmental efficiencies of its unconventionals operations.
Currently, the company is funding research and development to improve water efficiencies associated with the unconventionals operations so it can minimize water usage, implement best practices in water management, and reduce the operational carbon footprint.
ADNOC’s unconventional gas program is helping secure the UAE’s energy future, creating jobs, and positioning the nation as a global leader in responsible energy development.
Turnwell is a homegrown solution, built on international know-how and powered by local ambition. It embodies the spirit of “Make it in the Emirates,” driving industrial growth, job creation, and national capability.