French oil major Total and state-owned oil producer Qatar Petroleum (QP) took over joint operatorship of the giant Al-Shaheen offshore oilfield for a period of 25 years beginning 14th July 2017. The field produces 300,000 barrels of oil per day. The concession will be operated by the North Oil Company (NOC) – a special purpose vehicle established a year ago as a partnership between Qatar Petroleum (70 per cent) and Total (30 per cent).

 

Located in Qatari waters, 80km North of Ras Laffan, the Al-Shaheen field lies over the North Gas Field – one of the largest gas fields in the world – and began production in 1994.  

 

The field had hitherto been operated by Maersk Oil Qatar AS under a production sharing agreement with QP. 

 

The existing development consists of 30 platforms and 300 wells, and production from the field represents about half of Qatar’s oil production.

 

The first phase of the development plan of Al Shaheen, consisting of the drilling of 56 new wells, will start this summer with the mobilisation of the first two rigs, with a third one to be added at the beginning of 2018. This first phase will be followed by two more over the next five years to further develop the field.