Shell Lands Multibillion-Dollar Deal in UAE
Royal Dutch Shell will refine the dangerous sour oil from the Bab field in the United Arab Emirates.
Royal Dutch Shell has been awarded a coveted deal that will allow the company to develop a gas field with the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, the company and BBC News reported. The profits from this venture could reach up to $10 billion.
The Bab field's sour gas reservoirs are 150 kilometers southwest of the city of Abu Dhabi, according to Shell. Peter Voser, Shell’s CEO, said the company is "honored to have been selected by ADNOC to develop the Bab sour gas reservoirs. We have more than 60 years' experience of safe and successful sour gas field development globally and we will apply this experience, along with our leading research and development and technology expertise, to the development of the Bab resource. We will also work closely with ADNOC to enhance the technical expertise of its workforce through effective knowledge transfer.
"We value our long and successful partnership with ADNOC, and look forward to continuing to play a role in helping the United Arab Emirates meet its energy needs," he continued.
The 30-year deal will require Shell to utilize sophisticated technology to refine the sour gas. The United Arab Emirates will maintain control over 60 percent of the partnership at the Bab field, with Shell controlling the remainder. Beating out France's Total for the multibillion-dollar deal, Shell will now be in good standing to retain its role in the UAE's largest onshore oil concession, in which the Bab field is located, according to BBC News.