Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) announced that it has successfully exported the first shipment of its new blend ‘Das Crude’, produced by the Abu Dhabi Marine Operating Company (ADMA-OPCO).
The shipment, a significant milestone for the U.A.E.’s oil industry, was shipped out of Das Island Port (located around 170 km North West of Abu Dhabi), on Friday the 4th of July, to Japan. The significance of the 4th of July date is that it coincides with the 52nd Anniversary of ADMA-OPCO’s first crude shipment that was produced from Umm Shaif Field and exported from Das Island.
TOKITSU MARU, an oil tanker flying the Japanese flag, sailed off carrying 640,000 barrels of Das Crude in presence of senior executives from Abu Dhabi and Das Island. During loading, ADMA-OPCO senior executives inspected the tanker and followed up the loading operation.
The new crude is a blend of Lower Zakum Crude and Umm Shaif Crude. It is a light, sweet crude with an API of around 39.2o and sulphur content of 1.3 %wt.
A trial cargo of around 480,000 barrels of Das Crude was shipped off to India earlier last month.
ADMA-OPCO Chief Executive Officer Ali Rashid Al Jarwan pushed the button to kick start the loading of the trial off-take of the crude at the Central Control Room (CCR) on Das Island, in presence of Shareholders’ representatives and senior company executives.
He said: “This is a significant milestone for ADMA-OPCO and an historic event for the UAE’s energy industry. The lifting of Das Crude first oil shipment has great significance to our Shareholders as it is a testimony to our shared success in producing a high quality crude blend.” Mr. Al Jarwan congratulated the Shareholders – ADNOC, BP, TOTAL and JODCO, on this achievement, pointing out that the decision to create the new blend was in line with the directives of the Supreme Petroleum Council and ADNOC to a target competitive specification matching international standards to increase flexibility and profitability. “It also aims at meeting the Shareholders’ commitment towards their clients and ultimately maintaining the excellent image of ADNOC around the globe.” ADMA-OPCO’s plan to increase production is yet another reason for creating the new blend. The company’s ZK +100 MBD Programme will take the field’s capacity to 425,000 barrels per day (b/d). In addition, the new production planned from Nasr Field, expected at 65,000 b/d over the coming few years, along with the current US production of 275,000 b/d, will bring the total ADMA-OPCO oil production coming to Das Island for processing, storage and export up to around 765,000 b/d, which is part of the company’s overall scheme to increase production to 1 million barrels per day.
Source : WAM News Agency for United Arab Emirates
