A resurgence in global gas production, anticipated to increase by 1.6%, is forecasted for 2023. This growth is expected to be led by Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), the Middle East and North America, according to the Gas Exporting Countries Forum’s (GECF’s) Monthly Gas Market Report.

Non-GECF producers are projected to boost their gas production by 3.3%, reaching a total production volume of 2 424-billion cubic metres. The US is anticipated to be the main driver behind this growth, with a rise of 44-billion cubic metres compared with the previous year.

The report also highlights recent new discoveries, with three new discoveries announced in June 2023, two of which were offshore. Africa, LAC and Europe accounted for 64%, 35% and 1% of the discovered volumes, respectively.

Guyana topped the countries with the highest discovered volumes in the first half of 2023 with about 600-million barrels of oil equivalent (boe), followed by Turkey, Nigeria and Namibia with about 400-, 300- and 300-million boe discovered respectively.

Ntokon Discovery
The Ntokon offshore oil and gas discovery, announced in June by multi-energy company TotalEnergies, in Nigeria, was the largest and most significant hydrocarbon discovery, says the GECF’s report.

The Ntokon-1AX exploration well, located in the Block OML102 off the south-east coast of Nigeria, encountered 38 m of net oil pay and 15 m of net gas pay, while the side-track Ntokon-1G1 encountered 73 m of net oil pay.

OML 102 is operated by TotalEnergies EP Nigeria, with a 40% interest, and Nigerian National Petroleum Company, with the remaining 60%.

Energy research company Rystad Energy estimated the discovery to hold 300-million boe of recoverable resources. The discovery is located 20 km from the Ofon field, which facilitates developing the block by tie- backing into the existing infrastructure.

This provides an opportunity to maximise the exploration resource at a lower cost, says the report.

Greater Tortue Ahmeyim Gas Project
Another project of note that the GECF’s report highlights is the Greater Tortue Ahmeyim (GTA) Phase 1 project, where production startup has been delayed till the first quarter of 2024, owing to setbacks in subsea works.

First gas was previously expected by the end of 2023.

The project, located offshore Mauritania and Senegal, is jointly owned by oil major bp along with upstream oil company Kosmos Energy, Petrosen and national oil companies Société des Pétroles du Sénégal and Société Mauritanienne Des Hydrocarbures.

Discovered in 2015, GTA is estimated by both bp and Kosmos Energy to hold about 425-billion cubic metres of recoverable gas resource potential. The development is based on a floating liquefied natural gas concept.

Brazil Achieves New Record
Data from the Brazilian National Agency for Petroleum (ANP) revealed that Brazil’s gross gas production achieved a record monthly high, surging to 4.63-billion cubic metres in June this year. This represents a 5.4% month-over-month increase and a 14.6% year-on-year increase.

The report notes that the previous record was set in October 2022 at about 4.53-billion cubic metres.

About 51% of the produced gas was reinjected into reservoirs, mirroring levels from the preceding month. In terms of distribution, offshore gas fields accounted for 83% of the gross monthly gas production.

The Tupi field in the Santos pre-salt basin, located off the coast of Rio de Janeiro, has emerged as the largest gas-producing field at 1.15-billion cubic metres. The operation is owned by State-owned oil company Petróleo Brasileiro S.A. (Petrobras), which holds a 65% interest, and multinational gas company BG Group and energy corporation Galp Energia.

The floating production storage and offloading facility in Guanabara, in the shared Mero field, was the highest gas-producing facility with about 0.35-billion cubic metres. It is located off the coast of Rio de Janeiro and operated by Petrobras.

Argentina Overview
Gross gas production in Argentina reached 4.14-billion cubic metres in June this year, based on data provided by the Argentinian Ministry of Economy. This represents a 1% decrease, when compared with the production level recorded in June 2022 (4.18-billion cubic metres) as well as a 0.9% decrease, compared with with May this year (4.18-billion cubic metres).

The cumulative gas production from January to June 2023 amounted to 23.8-billion cubic metres, aligning closely with the production levels for 2022. Shale gas production was 1.86-billion cubic metres in June 2023, representing 45% of the gross production, while tight gas reservoir production was 0.6-billion cubic metres, accounting for 14% of the total gas production. The remaining portion of production stemmed from conventional fields.