NORTH FIELD START DELAYED

Qatar's $1.2 billion development of the 150 tcf offshore North field has been delayed apparently because of fallout from the Persian Gulf war. Some contractor personnel working on the project have delayed their return to Qatar. Jabir al Murri, managing director of Qatar General Petroleum Corp., said these delays were responsible for a slight postponement in startup of production.

Feb. 25, 1991

Qatar's $1.2 billion development of the 150 tcf offshore North field has been delayed apparently because of fallout from the Persian Gulf war.

Some contractor personnel working on the project have delayed their return to Qatar. Jabir al Murri, managing director of Qatar General Petroleum Corp., said these delays were responsible for a slight postponement in startup of production.

He denied newspaper reports claiming the delay was caused by casing gas leaks in some of the 16 production wells. The project was scheduled to produce first gas in January, with output from the six platform complex building to a peak of 800 MMcfd of gas and 50,000 b/d of liquids.

Gas from the first phase of the project will be used to meet domestic demand. QGPC is now working on plans for a second phase to provide feedstock for an LNG export chain.