Qatar Petroleum announced the start of the development drilling campaign for the North Field East Project or NFE, previously known as North Field Expansion Project.
The first of 80 NFE development wells was spudded on 29 March by the jack-up rig ‘GulfDrill Lovanda’, managed and operated by GulfDrill, a joint venture between Qatar-based drilling champion, Gulf Drilling International and Seadrill Limited.
This phase of the North Field expansion project will increase Qatar’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) production capacity from 77 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) to 110 MTPA. The second phase of the North Field LNG Expansion Project, called the North Field South Project (NFS), will further increase Qatar’s LNG production capacity from 110 MTPA to 126 MTPA.
Minister of State for Energy Affairs and President/CEO of Qatar Petroleum, HE Saad Sherida Al Kaabi, said the start of the development drilling campaign for NFE represents an important milestone to grow the country’s LNG production capacity.
I would like to thank Qatar Petroleum and Qatargas management and teams for this important achievement and for making sure that every component of the project is delivered safely.
Qatar Petroleum had earlier awarded a number of contracts for jack-up drilling rigs to be utilised for the drilling of 80 development wells for the NFE. The installation of the first four Offshore Jackets in Qatari waters are underway and expected to be completed soon.
The minister also expressed his gratitude to the country’s energy sector, who continues to work with great dedication and commitment despite the current circumstances, to make sure that Qatar lives up to its reputation as a trustworthy and reliable energy producer at all times and under all circumstances.
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