BP strengthens Oman gas ties

With its Khazzan field boosting Oman's liquefied natural gas output, BP has moved into marketing the fuel

The start of production last year from the BP-operated Khazzan natural gas project was a game-changer for Oman LNG, which operates three liquefaction trains at Qalhat on the Indian Ocean coast. Over recent years, pressure from rising domestic demand saw gas diverted away from exports, leaving the Qalhat plant running at around 75% capacity. OLNG's chief executive Harib al-Kitani told Petroleum Economist in December that as a result of the Khazzan start-up "our three trains are now almost at full capacity of 10.5m tonnes a year". This is just the start. The first phase of development involves 200 wells producing 1bn cubic feet a day of natural gas. When the first two phases are on stream, the