Sharjah National Oil Company and Eni's partnership reveals the 'Mahani' natural gas well in the emirate

Sharjah said it discovered a new well of natural gas and condensate onshore in the emirate, its first in more than three decades.

State-owned Sharjah National Oil Corporation (Snoc) and Italy's oil company Eni discovered the "Mahani" exploration well within the first year of their partnership, Snoc said in a statement on Monday. Mahani-1 was drilled to a total measured depth of 14,597 ft and the well has tested gas at flow rates of up to 50 million standard cubic feet per day, together with associated condensate. The size of the discovery will be further evaluated in "due course" with additional drilling expected, Snoc said.

"This discovery is a promising development for Snoc and meets our commitment to make reliable gas supplies available throughout the United Arab Emirates,” Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi, President of Snoc, said. “Sharjah provides strategic energy infrastructure to help the nation meet the growing demand for energy by residential, industrial and utility consumers.”

The Italian oil and gas company had won three concessions in Sharjah’s first-ever competitive bid in January 2019. Snoc, which launched the bidding round in 2018, awarded Eni areas A, B and C onshore exploration concessions. Mahani-1, located in the area B concession, is the first exploration well drilled by Snoc following a 3-D seismic survey of the territory.

“I am delighted that the first exploration well to be drilled in Sharjah by Snoc, is a gas discovery. This is the first onshore Sharjah discovery in 37 years and marks the beginning of an exciting time for Snoc and for Sharjah’s energy sector," Hatem Al Mosa, chief executive of Snoc, said. "We look forward to further collaboration in the future."

Snoc, the operator of area B, and Eni hold a 50 per cent stake each in the concession.

The two companies are also partners in concession areas A and C, which are both located onshore Sharjah.

"Mahani-1 represents the first exploration success for Eni in the UAE," the Italian oil major said in a statement on its website.

The joint venture has started studies to "fast track the exploitation of these new resources, leveraging on the synergies with the existing facilities and infrastructures, while finalizing the evaluation of the discovery," Eni said.

Sheikh Ahmed bin Sultan Al Qasimi said the discovery is set to bolster the emirate's economy and contribute to its energy reserves, according to a separate statement from the Sharjah Government Media Bureau.

The discovery will bring about a "major transformation" in Sharjah's industrial and commercial sectors by providing energy resources and attracting top global companies to invest in various sectors in the emirate, Sheikh Ahmed bin Sultan Al Qasimi said.

Sheikh Khalid bin Abdullah bin Sultan Al Qasimi, chairman of the Department of Seaports and Customs in Sharjah, said the natural gas discovery will stimulate various sectors by generating more commercial and industrial projects.

Source: www.thenational.ae

UAE in space: Astronaut Hazza Al Mansouri arrives on the ISS

The Emirati made history as he arrived at the International Space Station early on Thursday morning.

The first Emirati astronaut was beginning his first day on board the International Space Station on Thursday after floating through the hatch at 2.20am UAE time.

Maj Hazza Al Mansouri greeted the world with a 'salaam alaikum' from the ISS, eight hours after a historic blast off from Earth.

"We are grateful to have reached the ISS and ilhamdillah everything is good," he said in Arabic.

"The Earth is beautiful from this place. It is small but I can see a small part of it.

"God protect you. Send my regards to the people of the UAE."

He and fellow astronauts, Russian commander Oleg Skripochka and Nasa’s Jessica Meir, embraced the existing six crew and gathered together in front of the live stream cameras to Earth, beaming with pride.

Major Al Mansouri will stay on for eight days, returning to Earth on October 3.

In his eight days Maj Al Mansouri will perform a series of experiments, question-and-answer sessions with young people in the UAE and present a live tour of the station in Arabic. He will also undergo brief medical experiments to study the effects of space on his body.

After docking about midnight the Soyuz hatch will open at 2am, allowing the crew on to the ISS.

During his eight-day trip, Maj Al Mansouri will make dinner for his crew mates with traditional Emirati food flown up in cans.

• Thursday, September 26, he will carry out a series of science in space experiments and take part in a short radio call at 11.33pm
• Friday, September 27, experiments include time perception in microgravity and a live session at 2.30pm UAE time lasting about 20 minutes
• Saturday, September 28, science in space experiments followed by a cardiovector session. This is a study that astronauts undergo to understand more about cardiology in space and the stresses placed on the body
• Sunday, September 29 - tour of the station in Arabic. Space chiefs hope to educate and inspire millions of young Arabs as Maj Al Mansouri takes them around the ISS. There will also be a live chat session between 2.40pm and 3pm.
• Monday, September 30, another live session at 4.14pm, followed by further experiments.
• Tuesday, October 1, a further live session with young people followed by experiments involving fluids in space
• Wednesday, October 2, more experiments and preparations for the Soyuz craft to undock
• Thursday, October 3, undock at 11.34pm to descend to Earth. Maj Al Mansouri will return to Earth, landing at one of three sites in Kazakhstan.
• On board the ISS already are Russians Alexey Ovchinin and Alexander Skvortsov, Nasa astronauts Christina Koch, Nick Hague and Andrew Morgan and European Space Agency astronaut Luca Parmitano.

**Hague and Ovchinin are scheduled to wrap up a mission of more than 200 days on October 3 and return to Earth with Maj Al Mansouri

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Revealed: How UAE is making it rain so much in February

Ten cloud-seeding operations have been carried out in the last three days.

More than 50 cloud-seeding operations in less than two months are the reason behind the extraordinary rainfall you've been seeing of late, according to a UAE meteorologist.

Dr. Ahmed Habeeb, a meteorologist and cloud seeding expert at the National Centre for Meteorology and Seismology (NCMS), said 56 seeding operations have taken place between January to present.

"We have carried out 10 cloud seeding operations only in the past three days, from Thursday," Habeeb told Khaleej Times on Sunday.

"In these operations, we have covered most of the available clouds cross the country which has helped the rain to increase."

Cloud-seeding operations over the UAE have played a major part in increasing rainfall, says the meteorologist.

Habeeb noted that international studies show that rainfall in the UAE has increased between 10-30 per cent over the past few years.

"The UAE's Rain Enhancement Programme - through cloud-seeding - has contributed greatly to the higher amount of rainfall being received now than when it was under normal conditions," he said.

The Met expert explained that during their operations, only clouds that are expected to generate rain are targeted.

"We don't make it rain, as it can rain even when no operation has been made, but cloud-seeding helps to make most of the seeded clouds generate rain," said Habeeb.

"The goal of cloud-seeding is to increase condensation within the cloud and trigger precipitation."

The expert said clouds are seeded by salt particles, which attract moisture to form droplets big enough to fall as rain.

Light to heavy rains were received in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah and various other parts of the UAE on Sunday.

Around 20 mm of rain was received on Sunday morning, according to Habeeb.

The wet and cold weather has covered the country since last week but weathermen expect it to last only until Monday morning.

"We don't expect rains on from Monday afternoon until Tuesday," said Swaleh Khattar, from the NCMS.

He said weather in the UAE will be partly cloudy in general on Monday morning but the clouds will decrease in the afternoon and the following days with little chances of rain.

The weatherman also predicted slight to moderate winds becoming fresh at times over the sea.

"We also expect foggy conditions in the late night and early morning hours and from Tuesday to Thursday with visibility dropping to as low as 500m," said Khattar.

"Motorists are being advised to drive carefully in the coming days to avoid accidents because of fog."

According to the Khattar, temperatures in the coming days will be between 14�C and 28�C along the coast, with 12�C to 30�C in the inland.

In the mountains the highest temperatures will be 20�C and the lowest as 9�C.

Forecasters said that humidity is likely to increase overnight over some internal areas, possibly leading to more fog and mist in early morning hours on Monday.

The sea will be moderate to rough in the Arabian Gulf and moderate in the Sea of Oman and forecasters have urged people to stay away from the waters.

Source: www.msn.com

Blaze rips through 75-storey Dubai skyscraper

Fire ripped through a 75-storey Dubai apartment block on Wednesday, forcing police to evacuate the area in the latest of a series of skyscraper blazes in the Gulf state.

An AFP journalist saw burning debris fall from the facade of the Sulafa tower in Dubai Marina as the fire spread up at least 15 floors of the building.

Sirens wailed as police cordoned off the area.

Authorities said fire crews had evacuated the building and were working to contain the blaze. Dubai Civil Defence said no casualties had been reported.

Fires have hit several high-rise buildings in the United Arab Emirates, famed for its record-breaking skyscrapers.

On New Year's Eve a huge blaze ripped through the luxury Address Downtown Hotel, injuring 16 people just a few hours before a spectacular fireworks display nearby.

In November last year, fire engulfed three residential blocs in central Dubai and led to services on a metro line being suspended, although no one was hurt.

In February, a blaze gutted one of the emirate's tallest buildings, also in the Dubai Marina neighbourhood.

It destroyed luxury flats in the Torch tower and prompted authorities to evacuate nearby blocks.

In 2012, a huge blaze gutted the 34-storey Tamweel Tower in the nearby Jumeirah Lake Towers district. It was later revealed to have been caused by a cigarette butt thrown into a bin.

Source: www.msn.com