Average output from the Bahrain Oil Field rose over the first three months of this year to top 30,339 barrels per day (bpd), up from 30,030 last year.

According to the first quarterly report for 2010, the overall production topped 2.731 million barrels of crude oil.

The National Oil and Gas Authority (Noga) yesterday released the periodic report which features significant indices on oil and gas trends in Bahrain.

Bapco has stepped up efforts to upgrade the field and boost its average output.

For this purpose Tatweer Petroleum Bahrain Field Development Company has been established to double oil and gas production.

The Noga survey also showed overall quarterly production from the Abu Saafa Field topped 13.705 million barrels, up from 13.475 million barrels last year.

This translates into a daily output of 152,280 barrels, up from 149,725 barrels last year.

The Abu Saafa production is exported as crude oil to the international oil markets.

Meanwhile, the crude oil extracted from Bahrain Field is pumped into the refinery to produce by-products, the report said.

Crude oil imports from Saudi Arabia also soared 24.5 per cent to stand at 21.257 million barrels, up from 17.070 million barrels in the same period last year.

The daily average crude oil imports rose to 236,000 barrels, compared with 180,000 barrels last year, according to the report.

The overall crude oil flows from Saudi Arabia and Bahrain to Bapco refinery rose by 16.8 per cent to top 23.937 million barrels, up from 20.480 million barrels last year.

Bahrain refinery has also managed to boost its production by 17.9 per cent, standing at 24.329 million barrels, a daily average of 270,000 bpd, up from 230,000 bpd in the same period last year.

According to Noga, the refinery has exceeded its processing capacity which stands at 260,000 barrels, thus setting a record.

The surge follows the increase in global demand for oil and by-products.

It is also part of plans to honour Bapco commitments towards customers in Bahrain and abroad.

The survey also reported a surge in the number of countries buying Bahrain petrochemicals and by-products, meeting world quality standards.

Bahrain oil by-product exports soared by 23.4 per cent to top 20.94 million barrels, up from 16.996 million barrels.

According to the first quarterly updated figures, the average daily exports stood at 232,666 barrels, up from 188,846 last year.

Bahrain exports include petrol, kerosene, aviation fuel, diesel, heat oil, sulphur and asphalt to GCC, Arab and other countries.

The by-products are prized as they meet international standards and comply with environmental regulations.

Sales of oil by-products in the local market soared by 6.3 per cent to exceed 25,000 barrels per day, up from 23,000 last year.

The increase in domestic consumption is due to the surge in the number of cars, galloping urbanisation and booming housing and real estate sectors.

According to the report, Bahrain's production of natural gas rose to 1.350 billion cubic metres, up from 1.328 billion.

The overall gas output is used to supply companies and industries, generate electricity, and oil drilling activities.

The Electricity and Water Authority and other firms consume an overall 30.7 per cent.

The Hidd plant, Al Ezl and Alba consume 16.6 per cent, 4.8 per cent, 24.4 per cent respectively.-TradeArabia News Service