Qatar Petroleum has launched a development drilling campaign for the North Field East Project (formerly known as the North Field Expansion Project), aimed at expanding the offshore North gas field off the north-east Qatari coast, which has been producing since 1997.

The development drilling campaign involves the drilling of 80 development wells.

The first development well of the North Field East Project was spudded in late March, said Qatar Petroleum. It is being drilled by the GulfDrill Lovanda jack-up rig, which is managed and operated by GulfDrill, a joint venture between Seadrill and Qatar-based Gulf Drilling International.

The Qatari oil and gas company said that this phase of the North Field expansion project will boost the liquefied natural gas (LNG) production capacity of Qatar from 77 million tons per annum (Mtpa) to 110 Mtpa.

Commenting on the North Field East Project, Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi – Qatar Minister of State for Energy Affairs and also the President and CEO of Qatar Petroleum, said: “The start of the development drilling campaign for NFE represents an important milestone to deliver on our strategy to grow our LNG production capacity.

“The continued achievement of milestones, dedication of significant resources and making of substantial investments is proof that the NFE remains on top of our priorities and demonstrates our commitment to executing this mega-project.”

A second phase of the North Field LNG Expansion Project called the North Field South Project (NFS), will further boost the LNG production capacity of Qatar from 110 Mtpa to 126 Mtpa.

Qatar Petroleum had previously signed various contracts for jack-up drilling rigs to be used for the drilling of 80 development wells for the North Field East Project. The company said that the installation of the first four offshore jackets in Qatari waters is in progress and is likely to be wrapped up by the end of this month.

  GulfDrill, GulfDrill Lovanda jack-up rig, Liquefied natural gas, North Field East Project, North Field Expansion Project, North Field South Project, Qatar, Qatar Petroleum, Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi