Aramco announces discovery of 14 new oil and gas fields in Eastern Region

Aramco announced the discovery of 14 new oil and natural gas sites across the Eastern Province and the vast Empty Quarter desert, marking a significant step in the Kingdom's ongoing push to strengthen its energy production and diversify its reserves.

The discoveries include six oil fields, four natural gas reservoirs, two standalone gas fields, and two additional oil reservoirs, according to Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Energy, Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman. The state-run oil giant confirmed that the new fields will contribute additional capacity to both crude oil and natural gas output.

Initial production tests showed promising results. The combined output from the new oil fields and reservoirs has reached 8,126 barrels per day of Arabian light and heavy crude. On the gas front, production from the gas fields and reservoirs totaled 80.5 million standard cubic feet per day (scfd), with an extra 2.11 million scfd of associated gas from the oil fields. These volumes, while not transformative in isolation, reflect a broader strategy of incrementally strengthening domestic supply and maintaining long-term energy security.

“These discoveries support Aramco’s strategic objectives to sustain the Kingdom’s energy leadership, while also enhancing operational flexibility and resilience,” the Energy Minister said in a statement. He added that further assessments and development plans are already underway to fully evaluate the potential of the new fields.

Saudi Aramco, the world’s largest oil exporter, continues to invest in exploration despite recent volatility in global oil markets. As of early 2025, the Kingdom has been producing approximately 9 million barrels of crude oil per day, in line with production limits agreed upon by OPEC+. These new discoveries could give Saudi Arabia more leverage in future negotiations and offer optionality for output increases when market conditions shift.

The Eastern Province, long the core of the Kingdom’s oil industry, and the underdeveloped Empty Quarter (Rub' al Khali) — one of the most unexplored desert regions on Earth — remain central to Aramco’s long-term exploration plans. The Empty Quarter, in particular, poses significant technical challenges due to its harsh terrain but also holds immense untapped potential.

Industry analysts note that even modest new field discoveries help Aramco manage reservoir pressure, optimise blends of crude, and extend the life of older fields by shifting extraction pressure. They also align with Saudi Arabia's wider energy transition strategy, which includes ramping up natural gas output to reduce domestic reliance on oil for power generation — thereby freeing up more crude for export.

While global attention is increasingly focused on renewable energy, Saudi Arabia’s latest announcement signals that hydrocarbons will continue to play a central role in its economy. The country is also expanding its gas infrastructure and planning several gas-to-liquids and blue hydrogen initiatives as part of Vision 2030, its flagship economic diversification plan.

With these discoveries, Saudi Aramco reinforces its position not only as a reliable global energy supplier but also as a company capable of continuously finding new resources in a maturing region. Further exploration and appraisal drilling are expected to continue throughout 2025.