BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 12. Saudi Aramco reported robust upstream activity in the first quarter of 2025, marked by new oil and gas discoveries, continued progress on major crude and gas projects, and a reaffirmation of its maximum sustainable production capacity of 12 million barrels per day (mmbpd), according to the company’s latest financial results, Trend reports.
Total hydrocarbon production reached 12.3 million barrels of oil equivalent per day (mmboed), supported by safe and efficient operations. Notably, Aramco announced 14 new field and reservoir discoveries in April, including six Arabian oil fields and two reservoirs, two natural gas fields, and four gas reservoirs. The discoveries were located in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province and the Empty Quarter, signaling continued exploration momentum.
To maintain its long-term production capacity, Aramco advanced several key projects. These include the Dammam development project, set to come fully online in 2025 with a 25,000 barrels per day (bpd) increment and a second phase to follow in 2027. The Marjan and Berri field developments also progressed, each expected to add 300,000 bpd and 250,000 bpd of crude capacity in 2025, respectively. Meanwhile, the Zuluf increment - designed to process 600,000 bpd - is targeting startup in 2026.
On the gas front, Aramco moved forward with its strategy to boost sales gas production capacity by more than 60% and build an integrated LNG business. Construction continued at the Tanajib and Jafurah gas plants, with the latter expected to deliver 2.0 billion standard cubic feet per day (bscfd) of gas by 2030. Additionally, the Fadhili Gas Plant expansion, which aims to add 1.5 bscfd of raw gas capacity, is underway for completion by 2027.
Internationally, Aramco made a strategic step into LNG markets by signing a 20-year sales and purchase agreement with U.S.-based NextDecade for 1.2 million metric tons per annum (mmtpa) of LNG from its Rio Grande facility in Texas, contingent on a final investment decision.
