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SONATRACH and its Chinese partner Sinopec have signed an agreement with a view to assessing and developing hydrocarbon resources in the Basins of Gourara in south west Algeria and East Berkine in the south east of the country

As part of the agreement, the parties will discuss a work programme for the evaluation and exploitation of these resources, integrating best practices for the preservation of the environment and responsible exploitation of natural resources.

“The signing of this Head Of Agreement expresses the willingness of both parties to bolster their existing relationship and expand their cooperation through new partnership opportunities in hydrocarbons exploration and development,” said SONATRACH in a statement.

Sinopec has been present in Algeria since 2002 and operates the Zarzaïtine field with SONATRACH under the framework of a contract of association focusing on hydrocarbon recovery and development.

Sinopec is also SONATRACH‘s partner under the hydrocarbons agreement signed on 25 February 2025 under  Law 19-13 relating to the exploration and exploitation of the Hassi Berkane perimeter. The two companies signed a production sharing contract (PSA) for hydrocarbon development and exploration worth US$850mn, and will carry out exploration and appraisal drilling on the licence, which lies 80 km from the huge Hassi Messaoud field.

Algeria is rich in oil and gas resources and offers significant potential. It holds approximately 12.2bn barrels of proven crude oil reserves, making it the third-largest in Africa, along with 159 trillion cubic feet of proven natural gas reserves, and is the largest gas producer in the continent. Around two-thirds of Algeria's territory remains underexplored or underdeveloped.

The country is seeking international investment to boost hydrocarbons production. The National Agency for the Valorization of Hydrocarbon Resources (ALNAFT) unveiled six new onshore licensing opportunities for conventional hydrocarbon exploration in 2024, as part of a five-year licensing plan designed to attract global upstream investors. The six opportunities span a cumulative perimeter size of 152,000 sq. km, supported by over 102,000-line km of 2D seismic data and more than 45,000 km² of 3D seismic data.

In June, TotalEnergies, jointly with QatarEnergy, was awarded the Ahara exploration license following the 2024 bid round. It covers an area of approximately 14,900 sq km, located at the intersection of the prolific Berkine and Illizi Basins.

In early July, Sonatrach signed a PSA with Italy’s Eni to explore and develop the Zemoul El Kbar area in the Berkine Basin, around 300 km east of Hassi Messaoud.

Aramco reported healthy profits of US$22.7bn in Q2 2025 in its latest financial results, albeit down from the US$26bn recorded in Q1, and maintained high levels of capex to pursue its strategic objectives 

Half-year profits stood at US$48.7bn compared with US$56.3bn in the first half of 2024. The decrease was mainly due to the impact of lower revenues (due to lower crude oil prices and lower refined and chemical products prices) as well as higher operating costs, according to the company.

Aramco declared a Q2 2025 base dividend of US$21.1bn and a performance-linked dividend of US$0.2bn to be paid in the third quarter.

“Aramco’s resilience was proven once again in the first half of 2025 with robust profitability, consistent shareholder distributions and disciplined capital allocation,” said Amin H. Nasser, Aramco CEO.

“Market fundamentals remain strong, and we anticipate oil demand in the second half of 2025 to be more than two million barrels per day higher than the first half. Our long-term strategy is consistent with our belief that hydrocarbons will continue to play a vital role in global energy and chemicals markets, and we are ready to play our part in meeting customer demand over the short and the long term.”

Upstream capital expenditure stood at US$19.2bn for the first half of 2025, relatively consistent with the first half of 2024 due to continuing development activity on multiple strategic gas projects to expand its gas business and advancement of crude oil increments designed to maintain crude oil MSC at 12.0mn bpd.

Aramco reported progress in its Berri, Marjan and Zuluf crude oil increments and brought Phase One of the Dammam development project onstream.

Aramco’s strategy to increase sales gas production capacity by more than 60% was advanced with multiple gas projects, including the Tanajib Gas Plant, Fadhili gas plant expansion and Jafurah Gas Plant, part of the Jafurah unconventional gas field development, with phase one on track for completion in 2025.

Downstream, capital expenditures for the first half of 2025 were US$5.1bn, an increase of 33.1% compared to the same period in 2024, predominantly due to the steady progress of capital projects such as the construction of the refinery-integrated petrochemical steam cracker being developed by S-OIL, the Amiral expansion at the SATORP refinery, and other projects. Global retail momentum continued with the introduction of premium fuel lines in Chile and Pakistan.

“We continue to invest in various initiatives, such as new energies and digital innovation with a focus on AI – aiming to leverage our scale, low cost, and technological advancements for long-term success,” added Nasser. The company significantly boosted its AI computing capacity to reach over 500 PetaFLOPS, a 20-fold increase from the previous year, while power purchase agreements were signed to develop new renewables projects, capitalising on the Kingdom’s advantaged solar and wind resources.

Borouge Plc and ADNOC Logistics & Services Plc have partnered to boost the production and export of petrochemicals from the UAE, as Borouge prepares to ramp up production capacity

Borouge plans to increase production capacity by 1.4 million tonnes per annum by the end of 2026 through its Borouge 4 mega project, which will make it the world’s largest single-site polyolefin complex. The 15-year US$531mn service agreement, which will drive cost savings and efficiencies as well as enhancing Borouge’s supply chain network, covers port management, container handling, and feeder container ship services for the Borouge Container Terminal in Al Ruwais Industrial City, Abu Dhabi. ADNOC L&S will manage the transportation of up to 70% of Borouge’s annual production, deploying a minimum of two dedicated container feeder ships to transport Borouge’s products from Al Ruwais to the deepwater ports of Jebel Ali in Dubai and Khalifa Port in Abu Dhabi.

Hazeem Sultan Al Suwaidi, CEO of Borouge, commented, “This agreement builds on our longstanding collaboration with ADNOC L&S, a partnership that has been instrumental in meeting the evolving needs of our customers in high-growth markets. It brings significant benefits to Borouge; driving substantial operational cost savings and enhancing our Logistics Variable Cost (LVC), as well as complementing our existing rail operations and expanding the flexibility of our supply chain network. With the rapid increase in our production capacity, we are advancing our capabilities in delivering differentiated products and solutions efficiently, while keeping pace with rising global demand."

Captain Abdulkareem Al Masabi, CEO of ADNOC L&S, added, “This comprehensive container terminal agreement marks a major milestone in our successful partnership with Borouge, delivering on ADNOC L&S’ strategy to provide seamless, end-to-end logistics solutions that power the UAE’s industrial growth and export ambitions. By leveraging our extensive maritime and logistics expertise, we are ensuring that Borouge’s world-class petrochemical products reach global markets efficiently and competitively.”

Expro has successfully delivered a fully remote five-plug cementing operation in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia following its first cementing job in the Kingdom in January, marking a significant evolution of the company’s expansion in the Middle East

The fully automated cementing operation – a world first, according to the company – was executed using Expro’s Generation-X Remote Plug Launcher (RPL) and proprietary SkyHook cement-line make-up device, enabling a complex, multi-stage cement job to be completed with zero red-zone entry or man-riding operations, setting a new industry benchmark for personnel safety and operational control.

The complex five-plug stage-cementing operation was executed for a challenging 9-5/8” casing run in a high-pressure gas well - the longest of its kind in the field. Utilising Expro’s modular Generation-X™ RPL, all of the five downhole components were pre-loaded in a controlled shop environment and then remotely launched at the well site with precision. Expro’s modular cement head allowed the operator to eliminate high-risk tasks at the rig site, significantly reducing rig time, and enhancing the overall well integrity through optimised cement placement and effective zonal isolation. Further deployments have also testified to the safety, efficiency and operational integrity benefits of the new technology.

Jeremy Angelle, vice president of Well Construction at Expro, said: “Our entry into Saudi Arabia is more than just geographic expansion - it’s about transforming cementing operations through advanced engineering. This breakthrough showcases our Generation-X and SkyHook technologies as world-class innovations that drive measurable safety and efficiency gains.

“Both the Generation-X launcher and SkyHook system were designed with safety, control, and field adaptability in mind.To see them deliver such strong results in a new region is a proud moment, and a signal of what’s possible as we grow our well construction capabilities globally.”

Expro continues to invest in expanding its presence in the Kingdom and beyond, in the oil, gas and geothermal markets.

A very well attended webinar hosted by Oil Review Middle East in October, in association with industry leaders Convergint and Axis Communications, explored how AI surveillance applications can enhance operational efficiency and improve safety standards in onshore and offshore operations

At this webinar, the second in a series addressing AI video analytics transformative applications for oil and gas operations, Saif Al-Shahrani, KSA country director, Convergint, and Andrea Monteleone, segment development manager, Critical Infrastructure – EMEA at Axis Communications explored the transformative impact of adopting cutting-edge AI-driven video analytics and surveillance technologies on onshore and offshore operations.

Valuable insights

They provided valuable insights into the current and complex landscape of the oil and gas sector, which necessitate advanced safety and security measures, discussing the unique challenges faced by both system integrators and manufacturers. Key points included the operational challenges in remote and high-risk environments, the importance of compliance with regulations, and the integration of new technologies such as AI, IoT, and cybersecurity. The potential of AI in improving safety, security, and operational efficiency was underscored, with a focus on real-time detection and automated response systems. The proactive monitoring capabilities of video analytics were highlighted, emphasising the importance of understanding and preventing dangerous behaviours or conditions. AI can for example monitor and learn from behaviours, allowing for early detection and prevention of injuries or disruptions. The technology can raise alarms or send audio messages to prevent dangerous situations, enhancing safety and efficiency.

The speakers delved into how AI surveillance applications are enhancing operational efficiency, improving safety standards, and providing real-time insights crucial for decision-making in this high-stakes industry. Video analytics were highlighted for enhancing situational awareness and proactive threat detection.

Additionally, the webinar covered the importance of choosing the right types of cameras and aligning them with video analytics to meet specific operational objectives, and how to integrate these technologies into a centralised, multi-layered system that maximises the benefits of video analytics, all while ensuring seamless integration and optimal performance. Best practices for integration and system design include comprehensive site assessments, optimal camera placement, and ensuring compatibility with existing systems. Regular maintenance, updates, and continuous learning models are essential for optimal performance and cybersecurity.

To watch the webinar recording, click here.

Oil and gas companies are playing a leading role in the development of carbon capture, utilisation, and storage (CCUS) according to a new report from GlobalData

CCUS is widely gaining credence as an important energy transition strategy, given its potential to decarbonise hard-to-abate sectors such as cement, steel, refining, and thermal power generation.

As of 2024, more than 70% of the operational and planned CCUS facilities were associated with energy assets, according to the GlobalData’s Strategic Intelligence report, “Carbon Capture and Storage", indicating a growing commitment by the energy sector to reduce its emissions intensity through innovation in carbon capture and storage technologies. The global energy sector accounted for more than 50 commercial-scale carbon capture projects as of 2024, representing a cumulative carbon capture capacity of approximately 45 million tonnes per annum (MTPA). If all the proposed projects come to fruition, the global carbon capture capacity in the energy sector could rise to nearly 316 MTPA by 2030.

Leading oil and gas players such as ExxonMobil, Occidental Petroleum, and Equinor have taken early initiatives in CCUS, supported by engineering and service companies like Technip Energies, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI), and SLB. These firms are leveraging their expertise in industrial-scale project delivery to develop and execute carbon capture strategies across upstream and downstream operations. For example, Shell Catalysts & Technologies has signed an agreement with Technip Energies to deliver a post-combustion amine-based carbon catpure solution using Shell's CANSOLV CO₂ capture system, designed to make carbon capture more investable, scalable and accessible for industrial sectors and helping hard-to-abate industries to decarbonise.

According to GlobalData’s report, there are 17 carbon capture projects in advanced stages of development that are expected to begin operations later this year. Additionally, around 460 capture projects are under development globally across diverse industries, which will lead to significant capacity growth through 2030.

Middle East CCUS leadership

The Middle East is emerging as a major region for CCUS development. The UAE’s ADNOC operates Al Reyadah, the world’s first commercial scale operation to capture and store CO2 from the steel industry, with a capacity of 800,000 tonnes a year. Further projects are planned and underway such as Habshan, which will have a capture and storage capacity of 1.5MTPA and is set for completion in 2026. CO2 will be injected and placed for permanent storage in ADNOC Onshore’s Bab Far North Field, southwest of Abu Dhabi. ADNOC aims to capture and store 10MTPA of CO2 by 2030. Meanwhile while Aramco has a target of 14 MTPA by 2035, and is developing a major 9MTPA carbon capture hub at Jubail with SLB and Linde, set to be one of the largest in the world.

Ravindra Puranik, Oil and Gas analyst at GlobalData, commented, “Unlike consumer-driven clean energy trends, CCUS adoption is largely influenced by regulatory and economic frameworks, with limited visibility to end users. Policies such as the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS), Canada’s carbon pricing mechanism, and the US 45Q tax credit have been instrumental in unlocking commercial opportunities for CCUS. These frameworks have helped offset the high capital and operational costs of CCUS deployment, particularly in energy-intensive industries, and are driving the emergence of large-scale projects globally.”

Puranik noted however that CCUS still faces a range of challenges that threaten to hamper its scale-up, such as high upfront costs, the lack of fully developed CO₂ transport and storage infrastructure, and limited commercial applications for captured CO₂. Retrofitting existing facilities often adds further complexity, making project economics difficult without consistent policy support.

“Additionally, regulatory uncertainty around permitting processes, cross-border CO₂ transport, and long-term liability for stored carbon continues to pose risks for investors. Public scepticism also persists, with some critics viewing CCUS as a strategy to extend the life of fossil fuels rather than as a legitimate tool for emissions reduction. The absence of standardisation and the fragmented nature of the CCUS value chain further limit the ability to implement integrated, scalable solutions.”