North Oil Co. (NOC) will take over operatorship of the giant Al-Shaheen oil field offshore Qatar for a 25-year period beginning July 14.
NOC, a combine held 70% by Qatar Petroleum and 30% by new partner Total SA, will begin the first phase of development this summer with the mobilization of the first two rigs to launch a 56-well program. A third rig will be added at the beginning of 2018. The first phase will be followed by two more over the next 5 years.
Al-Shaheen currently produces 300,000 b/d, about half of Qatar’s oil production. The existing development consists of 30 platforms and 300 wells. The field, which is 80 km north of Ras Laffan, began production in 1994.
Total was awarded the concession covering Al-Shaheen a year ago and is replacing Maersk Oil (OGJ Online, June 27, 2016). Total, present in Qatar since 1936, averaged production of 134,000 boe/d in the country during 2016.