By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Nov. 16 -- Work on the Ras Laffan Liquefied Natural Gas Co. Ltd. III (RasGas III) LNG megaproject was officially launched in Doha, reported Qatari joint venture partners Qatar Petroleum, 70%, and ExxonMobil Ras Laffan (III) Ltd., 30%.
RasGas III is an expansion of LNG production facilities operated by RasGas Co. Ltd. at Ras Laffan Industrial City in the northeastern part of Qatar (OGJ, Oct. 3, 2005, Newsletter). The project, expected to cost $13-14 billion, will bring to seven the total number of trains operated by RasGas.
RasGas III involves the design, construction, and operation of two LNG trains, Train 6 and Train 7, and all other facilities associated with the development, production, transport, processing, treatment, liquefaction, storage, delivery, and sales of about 15.6 million tonnes/year of LNG and products such as LPG, condensates, gas, helium, and sulfur.
Qatar aims to produce 77 million tonnes/year of LNG by 2010.
The new project will be developed in two consecutive phases. Train 6 is expected to start production in second-half 2008; Train 7 should come on stream about a year later.
Each train will receive gas from 14 wells drilled from existing wellhead platforms in offshore North field.
RasGas III has ordered 12 LNG tankers for the RasGas III project from Hyundai Heavy Industries, Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering, and Samsung Heavy Industries. Daewoo is to build five tankers, Samsung, four, and Hyundai, three. Contracts for a further six LNG tankers for Train 7 are expected to be awarded by yearend.