Petro-Canada is preparing to resume operations in Syria after a 14-year absence, aiming to increase production capacity at the central gas fields and surpass pre-2011 levels.
These moves follow Canada's decision on February 18, 2016, to lift sanctions on the Syrian Petroleum Company, paving the way for the full reactivation of the Ebla project.
Development of the Sharifa and Shaer Fields
The return plan focuses on developing the Sharifa field, which had not yet reached full production before the shutdown, and rehabilitating the damaged facilities at the Shaer field. The operator, Ebla Petroleum (EBCO), aims to reach the plant's maximum design capacity of 88 million cubic feet per day, up from the 80 million cubic feet per day recorded in December 2011.
Note: The Ebla gas project covers an area of 1,251 square kilometers between Homs and Palmyra and has proven reserves of 500 billion cubic feet.
Billions of Dollars in Investment
The Canadian company's investments in the project reached approximately 1.2 billion Canadian dollars. The infrastructure included a central gas processing plant built by the British company Petrofac, and an 80-kilometer pipeline network. The facility currently produces, in addition to natural gas, about 150 tons per day of cooking gas (LPG) and 640 cubic meters of oil condensate.
End of Force Majeure
PetroCanada declared force majeure and withdrew in December 2011 due to European Union sanctions against its local partner (the former regime). With the current political changes, the company is seeking to implement enhanced oil recovery technologies to increase condensate production rates, which may encourage other Western companies to return to the Syrian energy sector.
Zaman al-Wasl
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