By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Jan. 23 -- Dolphin Energy Ltd. (DEL) of Abu Dhabi has assumed operation and maintenance (O&M) responsibilities for its 182-km, 24-in. natural gas pipeline from Al Ain, Abu Dhabi, to Fujairah, the company's first initiative under its Dolphin Project (OGJ Online, May 20, 2002).
According to a joint agreement, Emirates General Petroleum Corp. (Emarat) managed O&M for the pipeline from its commissioning in January 2004 until December 2005. When DEL's main export pipeline from Qatar is completed later this year, DEL will manage it as well.
Created to develop energy projects in countries belonging to the Gulf Cooperation Council, DEL is owned 51% by Mubadala Development Co. on behalf of the Abu Dhabi government and 24.5% each by Total SA and Occidental Petroleum Corp.
The $3.5 billion Dolphin Project will produce and process from Qatar's North field and transport dry gas by marine pipeline to the UAE, beginning at yearend. An onshore segment currently transports 135 MMcfd of gas from Oman to Union Water & Electricity's 656 Mw electric power and desalination plant on the UAE East Coast.
The offshore segment will transport gas on a long-term basis from North field to Fujairah in early 2007 and to Oman via a reversal of the onshore segment in 2008. DEL says the pipeline carries the first flow of gas from one CGG member country to another (OGJ Online, Oct. 12, 2004).
In May 2005, DEL began supplying gas to Ras Al Khaimah via a tie-in near Qidfa between DEL's Al Ain-Fujairah pipeline and the existing Emarat gas pipeline network (OGJ Online, May 18, 2005).
