Aramco Awards Halliburton Major Saudi Unconventional Gas Contract

For the Kingdom’s unconventional gas development programme, Saudi Aramco and Halliburton have inked a new multi-year contract for integrated activation and completion services. This deal is part of a wider framework agreement worth billions of dollars that supports one of the world’s largest gas projects.

In addition to boosting cooperation in drilling automation and digital transformation to improve the local production environment, the move intends to improve operational efficiency and reliability, building on a longstanding connection of more than 80 years between the two businesses.

With the use of cutting-edge technologies like OCTIV Auto Frac and Sensori real-time monitoring and analytics services, Halliburton intends to implement the Kingdom’s first integrated, intelligent hydraulic fracturing platform beginning in the third quarter of 2026.

Meanwhile, by facilitating the effective automation of multi-stage well development and enabling real-time performance optimisation, these digital technologies will guarantee the highest possible economic value for national reserves.

The Jafurah Field: The Benefits of Energy Transition & Local Content

The Jafurah field, the largest shale gas resource outside of North America with estimated reserves of over 229 trillion cubic feet of raw gas, is a major focus of development operations. Aiming to reach a target of 2 billion cubic feet per day by 2030, commercial production began in late 2025 at a rate of 450 million cubic feet per day and is likely to rise to 650 million by the end of 2026.

This action is in response to Aramco’s strategic plan to invest more than $100 billion to increase gas production by 80% over 2021 levels.

Likewise, Halliburton reiterates its dedication to boosting investments in domestic manufacturing within the Kingdom, growing supply chains, and cultivating Saudi national talent in addition to technical solutions. By upholding strong performance standards that satisfy the demands of the region’s rapidly increasing unconventional gas extraction, this strategy helps to ensure sustainable operational expansion.

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Economic Aspects & Strategic Sector Development

The Kingdom stands to gain strategically from the continuing Jafurah field expansions, chief among them being the possibility of substituting natural gas for domestically produced crude oil. By the end of the decade, this change seems to free up almost a million barrels of oil per day for domestic use and reroute it to international export markets, strengthening the Kingdom’s standing as a top exporter of energy.

Furthermore, increasing gas production supports the diversification of the country’s economic base and lessens reliance on direct oil exports by providing lower-carbon and more affordable industrial feedstocks for the petrochemical and electrical sectors.

In short, by relying on its extensive experience since its founding in 1919 and its regional headquarters in Dubai, which oversees activities throughout the Middle East, Halliburton’s contract improves its portfolio in the regional market amid intense worldwide competition.

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