Partnership plans expansion of Upper Zakum oil capacity
May 21, 2025
ADNOC, Exxon Mobil and INPEX subsidiary Japan Oil Development Co. have agreed to sanction a phased expansion of the Upper Zakum oilfield development offshore the UAE.
The Upper Zakum development project utilizes four artificial islands. Construction of the islands began in 2010 and was completed in 2014.
ADNOC, Exxon Mobil and INPEX subsidiary Japan Oil Development Co. have agreed to sanction a phased expansion of the Upper Zakum oilfield development offshore the UAE.
Upper Zakum, 80 km northwest of Abu Dhabi City, is part of the Zakum Field. The partners said it is the world’s second largest offshore oil field.
ADNOC initiated development of Upper Zakum in 1977, with INPEX and Exxon Mobil joining as partners in 1978 and 2006, respectively.
The partnership has been working to raise production capacity in recent years through extended-reach drilling using artificial islands.
Under the new proposals, the infrastructure will be upgraded for AI-enabled remote operations and to receive power from the UAE’s clean energy grid to reduce emissions to support use of artificial islands for drilling activities.
