Saudi Aramco started production at the Khursaniyah field where production capacity is expected to be 500,000 bbl/d, said Saudi Aramco CEO Abdullah Jum'ah.

Khursaniyah is expected to be procuring 300,000 bbl/d within a month, according to Saudi Aramco.

The Saudi Gazette reported that Saudi Arabia, the world's number one oil exporter, is investing $90 billion in oil production and refineries over the next five years to maintain its top spot.

Additional field developments at Shaybah, Manifa and Khurais promise promise to boost capacity to a combined 12.5 million bbl/d by 2009.

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