Saudi Arabian Oil Co plans to increase its drilling-rig count by 12 percent next year to 145 to boost natural-gas and oil output from its Manifa field, a former executive of state-run company said.
Saudi Arabia's 900,000 barrels-per-day (bpd) Manifa oil field will reach full capacity by 2014, earlier than expected, state oil giant Aramco's 2010 annual review, published on Monday, showed.
Saudi Aramco plans to bring the giant Wasit gas plant on line in 2013, earlier than expected, as it speeds up gas output expansion to meet rising domestic demand.
Saudi Arabian Oil Co. and Dow Chemical Co. have appointed KBR Inc. to manage the construction of an estimated $22 billion refinery and petrochemicals complex at Ras Tanura in eastern Saudi Arabia, the companies said.