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Gas
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Saudi Arabia has expanded and upgraded its nine refineries. |
Saudi Arabia has vast reserves of natural gas, including dissolved, associated and non-associated gases. Most of the natural gas produced is associated gas - light hydrocarbon gases such as ethane and propane produced in association with crude oil. Until the 1970s, most of this gas was flared off. The Master Gas System, constructed and operated by Saudi Aramco, now enables Saudi Arabia to use approximately two-thirds of the gas associated with onshore oil production. The remaining one-third is reinjected into oilfields, thereby eliminating flaring. The system consists of a network of plants for gas-oil separation, processing and fractionation, linked by a computer controlled pipeline system totaling 7,266 miles.
The Kingdom is also well on its way to developing its recoverable gas reserves, assessed at 181.65 trillion cubic feet. Recent exploration has uncovered gas fields in the central and northwestern parts of the country that could substantially increase the size of Saudi gas reserves. These reserves are a plentiful natural resource whose utilization does not depend upon crude oil production. Their use further diversifies the national economy by feeding industrial facilities that utilize gas as a source of energy or as a feedstock to produce petrochemical products. Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC) operates 14 factories in Jubail, Yanbu and Dammam that process gas from Saudi fields to produce petrochemicals, steel and other products .
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