Saudi Arabia: Manifa starts production

Aramco started pumping oil from its Manifa field on 10 April, with a view to relaxing output from some of its more mature fields. Production capacity at the field, which lies around 200km north-west of Dammam, is expected to reach 500,000 b/d of Arabian Heavy crude by July 2013, with a goal of 900,000 b/d by 2014. “First-phase production start-up at the Manifa field commenced on April 10, three months ahead of schedule and well under the programme’s approved budget,” Aramco said in a statement. Aramco’s overall capacity will be maintained at pre-Manifa levels, it added.