Saudi Aramco, the world’s largest oil company, discovered natural gas in a northern area of the kingdom, the state-owned Saudi Press Agency has reported.

 Preliminary reservoir tests of the Jalameed Well 3 showed commercial potential for tapping the gas, which flowed at a rate of 12.1 million cubic feet a day, the news agency said, citing Oil Minister Ali Al Naimi.

It can produce larger quantities of gas under normal production conditions, and assessments will continue, the agency cited Al Naimi as saying.