RasGas 3 starts up LNG Train 7

Feb. 24, 2010
Ras Laffan LNG Co. Ltd. 3 (RasGas 3) has started up its 7.8-million-tonnes/year Train 7 at Ras Laffan Industrial City, Qatar.

Warren R. True
Chief Technology Editor-LNG/Gas Processing

HOUSTON, Feb. 24 -- Ras Laffan LNG Co. Ltd. 3 (RasGas 3) has started up its 7.8-million-tonnes/year Train 7 at Ras Laffan Industrial City, Qatar.

Plant capacity matches that of RasGas Train 6, inaugurated last year (OGJ Online, Aug. 12, 2009), and expands total LNG production from the site to more than 60 million tpy, according to OGJ figures. Qatar's North field, estimated to hold more than 900 tcf, supplies all trains.

The announcement from ExxonMobil Corp. said RasGas 3 Train 7 is the fourth 7.8-million-tpy LNG plant brought online in the past 12 months by its joint venture with Qatar Petroleum. “These mega facilities have sufficient scale to competitively reach markets around the globe,” it said.

RasGas 3 is part of an investment in natural gas production and liquefaction by affiliates of QP and ExxonMobil that includes 12 new, 210,000-cu m Q-Flex LNG vessels and one 260,000-cu m Q-Max LNG vessel, said ExxonMobil. The final component of the investment is the Golden Pass LNG terminal, under construction near Sabine Pass, Tex. It will be able to regasify 15.6 million tpy when it starts up later this year.

RasGas 3 Train 7 is owned by QP 70% and ExxonMobil Ras Laffan (3) Ltd. 30%. Ownership in Golden Pass is QP 70%, ExxonMobil 17.6%, and ConocoPhillips 12.4%.

Contact Warren R. True at [email protected].