Aramco is in the process of building a System B, which will be at least four times bigger than System A. It also has plans to build a System C but has yet to issue tenders for its construction. (September 2017)

• Aramco has invited companies to bid for work on its unconventional gas facilities in the north of the country, signalling it remains committed to developing shale gas deposits. .December 2014.
• Aramco plans to put hold on project due to very high production cost of shale gas. .May 2014.
• The feasibility study has been completed by Halliburton and Schlumberger of US for potential of shale gas production in the northern regions of Saudi. .July 2013.
• Aramco to invite companies to express interest in a Feed contract for the shale gas production project in three different locations. The locations are: The Empty Quarter, South Ghawar and Jafurah in the northern region. .October 2013.
• Bids have been submitted for the front-end engineering and design .feed. work for gas treatment facilities and all accompanying offsites and utilities for the development of shale gas project. The contract award is expected to be made by March end. .January 2014.
• Aramco plans to put hold on project due to very high production cost of shale gas. (May 2014)
• Aramco has invited companies to bid for work on its unconventional gas facilities in the north of the country, signalling it remains committed to developing shale gas deposits. (December 2014)
• Saudi Aramco has extended the deadline to March 15 for companies to bid for work on its unconventional gas facilities (System A Shale Gas Project) in the north of the country. (February 2015)
• Several companies have prequalified for another unconventional gas project (System B Shale Gas Project) involving pipelines. (February 2015)
• Saudi Aramco president and chief executive Khalid Al-Falih has predicted that KSA will be the “second frontier” for shale gas after the US. He said one of the key sites in the north of the country expected to come into production by either 2016 or 2017. (April 2015)
• JGC Corporation of Japan has won the award for CPF), Wellheads and Pipelines systems for System A Shale Gas Project. The award value is estimated to be as much as $200 mn. (August 2015)
• EPC bids have been submitted for phase II shale gas project (System B). Bidders are: JGC Corporation of Japan, Larsen & Toubro of India, and SNC Lavalin of Canada. The contract is expected to be awarded by year-end. (October 2015)
• EPC contract worth $800 million for System B project has been awarded to SNC Lavalin of Canada. The contract scope will involve infrastructure development and processing facilities for a gas field. (March 2016)
• System A, involving gas processing facilities, wellheads and pipelines in Turaif which will feed the Waad Al Shamal phosphate mining project in the region, is in the final stages, mechanical completion will happen soon in a month or two before production starts. (September 2017)