Hydrocarbons system found in Empty Quarter

Dubai: Royal Dutch Shell said a joint venture with state-owned Saudi Aramco had discovered a hydrocarbons system in the kingdom's Empty Quarter, Middle East Economic Digest (MEED) reported.

Ceri Powell, vice-president of strategy at Shell International, said South Rub Al Khali Co (SRAK) had made a hydrocarbon discovery, but declined to give details, the London-based magazine, published on Friday, reported.

SRAK is equally owned by the two partners. Powell is also a SRAK board member, MEED said.

Rumours

The magazine said there had been rumours that SRAK discovered commercial quantities of gas as part of drilling its fourth exploratory well, named Kidan 6, in contract area 1 near the Shaybah oil field.

The joint venture began exploring in 2004 for gas, condensate and natural gas liquids in nine blocks in two separate parts of the vast desert area of southeast Saudi Arabia, known in Arabic as Rub Al Khali, which literally means Empty Quarter.

Saudi Arabia is the world's largest oil exporter.