Qatar Petroleum (QP) awarded US contractor McDermott a “Detailed Design” contract for offshore jackets on 5 May as it presses ahead with its major LNG expansion plan. After ending its 12-year moratorium on North Field gas development in April 2017, Qatar swiftly doubled its expansion plan and intends to add 4.6bn cfd (MEES, 7 July 2017).
The new volumes will supply three new 7.8mn t/y LNG trains, increasing Qatari liquefaction capacity from 77mn t/y to 100mn t/y. QP says first LNG output from the first new train will begin “by the end of 2023,” still in line with its initial prognosis (MEES, 8 December 2017). It is also considering a fourth train later on. If it follows through with this, capacity will rise to almost 110mn t/y. (CONTINUED - 1382 WORDS)
