Special to WorldTribune.com

ABU DHABI — Saudi Arabia plans to produce shale gas in competition with the United States.

[Related story: Number one: U.S. becomes world’s top oil producer, thanks to shale boom, Oct. 18]

The state-owned Saudi Aramco said it intends to move toward exploration and production of shale gas in the Gulf Cooperation Council kingdom.

Officials said the project was part of Riyad’s effort to expand non-conventional energy resources.

“We are ready to start producing our own shale gas and unconventional resources in various types in the next few years and deliver them to consumers,” Saudi Aramco chief executive officer Khalid Al Falih said.

In an address on Oct. 14 to the World Energy Congress, Al Falih said Saudi Arabia contains huge deposits of shale. He said the project was influenced by the growing U.S. shale gas sector.

  Khalid Al-Falih, Saudi Aramco, What oil crisis? U.S. shale boom inspires Saudis to start fracking, World Energy Congress