QP advances in LNG and oil

Further North Field expansion tenders are out, as Qatar sends strong signals to potential partners that it can go alone

Qatar Petroleum (QP) floated a tender in mid-September for a third package of onshore work relating to the company's estimated $18bn North Field expansion (NFE) project. NFE will see development of reserves in the south of the supergiant gas field and the construction of four new liquefaction trains at Ras Laffan port to increase LNG capacity from 77mn t/yr to 110mn t/yr. NFE would restore Qatar's long-held position as the world's pre-eminent exporter of the fuel—set to be seized shortly by Australia—although in the longer-term the US could eventually outstrip the Gulf state. And the accelerated tender programme may be a strong sign to potential partners of their disposability, at least on a