Qatar’s new LNG discovery to expand output by 85%

QatarEnergy

State-run QatarEnergy will start work on a new liquefied natural gas (LNG) expansion initiative to expand the Gulf state’s LNG production capacity to 142 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) by the decade’s close.

The North Field West project will see an 85 percent increase from current production levels, said Saad Al-Kaabi, president and CEO of QatarEnergy.

Extensive appraisal drilling and testing have confirmed that productive layers of Qatar’s expansive North Field exist towards the west paving the way for developing a new LNG production project in Ras Laffan.

“QatarEnergy has focused its efforts and attention on determining how far west the North Field’s productive layers extend to evaluate the production potential from those areas,” said Al-Kaabi, who is also the minister of state for energy affairs.

The minister disclosed the presence of huge additional gas quantities in the North Field, estimated at 240 trillion cubic feet. The discovery raises the country’s gas reserves from 1,760 to 2,000 trillion cubic feet and the condensates reserve from 70 to 80 billion barrels, in addition to large quantities of liquefied petroleum gas, ethane and helium.

The upcoming LNG project in the North Field’s western sector is expected to have a production capacity of about 16 mtpa, increasing the state’s total LNG production to 142 mtpa.

After completion, Qatar’s total hydrocarbon production will exceed 7.25 million barrels of oil equivalent daily.

“These are very important results of great dimensions that will take Qatar’s gas industry to new horizons,” Al-Kaabi said.