Qatar Petroleum (QP) and Shell International Gas (Shell) recently announced the signing of a statement of intent to study the development of a Gas to Liquids (GTL) facility, to be integrated with an upstream development of the North Field, confirmed a press release. If the project is given the go-ahead, production would commence in 2007 and output would be shipped to Europe and the Far East.
The development would use Shell's Middle Distillates Synthesis (SMDS) technology to convert gas into products such as diesel and kerosene. Shell implemented its first commercial SMDS plant in Malaysia and is looking at seven other possible projects.
“Gas to Liquids represents a major export opportunity for Qatar to further commercialize resources in the North field by producing ultra clean high specification products for which there is a growing market,” said CEO of Shell Gas and Power, Linda Cook.
In the year 2001, the state of Qatar recorded a per capita income exceeding $29,000, more than double the 1995 figure of $14,500. The country’s sharp economic growth is mainly attributed to major gas projects that have been recently launched to tap the giant North Field, the largest gas basin in the world, with reserves estimated at more than 10 trillion cubic meters. — (menareport.com)
© 2002 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
