ADNOC’s AI-Powered Oil Field Expansion Aims for More Barrels, Fewer Emissions

How Abu Dhabi’s Offshore Giant Is Balancing Growth and Sustainability

ADNOC, alongside partners Inpex Corporation’s JODCO and ExxonMobil, is betting big on technology to rewrite the rules of offshore oil extraction. The consortium announced plans to expand the Upper Zakum field—a behemoth located 80 km northwest of Abu Dhabi—using a phased development strategy designed to squeeze out more crude while cutting greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions intensity. The move underscores a growing trend in the industry: leveraging AI and clean energy to offset the environmental toll of fossil fuels.

“This isn’t just about pumping more oil. It’s about redefining efficiency,” says an industry insider familiar with the project. “AI and renewables are becoming the new rigs and pipelines.”

Discovered in 1963 and developed in 1977, Upper Zakum is part of the world’s second-largest offshore field. Inpex joined the project in 1978, followed by ExxonMobil in 2006, both bringing game-changing techniques like artificial islands and extended reach drilling (ERD) to boost output. Now, the trio is doubling down with AI-enabled remote operations, grid power from clean energy sources, and more artificial islands to minimize ecological disruption. The goal? A smarter, greener path to 500,000+ additional barrels per day.

The tech stack is as ambitious as the production targets. ADNOC Offshore recently contracted ADNOC Drilling to deploy three island rigs equipped with ERD capabilities, a move that reduces the need for traditional offshore platforms. These rigs will tap into AI-driven analytics to optimize drilling paths and predict maintenance needs, slashing downtime. Meanwhile, the shift to grid power—replacing gas turbines—could cut CO2 emissions by up to 30%, a critical step as ADNOC faces pressure to align with the UAE’s net-zero pledge.

The Tightrope Walk: Growth vs. Climate Goals

Critics argue that no amount of tech can fully decarbonize oil extraction. But ADNOC’s playbook reflects a pragmatic middle ground. By focusing on emissions intensity (GHG per barrel) rather than absolute reductions, the company aims to keep fossil fuels viable in an era of climate scrutiny. The Upper Zakum expansion, with its AI and clean energy levers, could become a blueprint for other giants wrestling with the same dilemma.

One thing’s certain: the race to modernize aging oil fields is on. And in Abu Dhabi’s waters, the future of crude is being written in code and kilowatts.