Qatar Petroleum has made a final investment decision (FID) for the $28.75bn North Field East project with a capacity of 33 million tonnes per annum (Mmtpa).
Said to be the largest of its kind globally, the North Field East project is expected to increase Qatar’s LNG production capacity to 110mmtpa from 77mmtpa.
To be built in Ras Laffan, north-east Qatar, the four-train LNG project will source natural gas from the offshore North Field, which is claimed to be the largest non-associated gas field in the world.
Production from the North Field East project is scheduled to commence in the fourth quarter of 2025.
Qatar Petroleum subsidiary Qatargas will execute the North Field East project, which is expected to have a peak production capacity of nearly 1.4 million barrels oil equivalent per day.
In addition to the LNG, the project will have the capacity to produce condensate, LPG, ethane, sulphur, and helium.
Additionally, Qatar Petroleum has awarded the engineering, procurement, and construction contract to a joint venture of Chiyoda and Technip for the North Field East project.
Under the contract, the joint venture will build the four mega LNG trains with related utility facilities.
The contract also includes the construction of large CO₂ carbon capture and sequestration facility, which is expected to reduce more than 25% of greenhouse gas emissions when compared to similar LNG facilities.
Qatar Minister of State for Energy Affairs and Qatar Petroleum president and CEO Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi said: “The total cost of the NFE project will be 28.75 billion dollars, making it one of the energy industry’s largest investments in the past few years, in addition to being the largest LNG capacity addition ever, and the most competitive LNG project in the world.
“This project will generate substantial revenues for the state of Qatar and will have significant benefits to all sectors of the Qatari economy during the construction phase and beyond.”
The North Field East Project represents the first phase of Qatar’s LNG expansion plans, with the second phase being the North Field South (NFS) project.
The NFS project is estimated to further boost the LNG production capacity of the country to 126Mmtpa.
