World's largest gas field fuels Qatari growth

Despite its reduced size (its 11,437 square kilometres make it little larger than a quarter of Switzerland), Qatar has substantial on-and offshore reserves of both crude oil and natural gas. The North Field alone has an estimated 4.3 trillion cubic metres (Tcm) of recoverable gas, about 3 per cent of the world's presently proven recoverable reserves of 145 Tcm. And as recovery and injection techniques continue to improve, and if natural gas remains energy's glamour child, it may well be possible and feasible to develop the field's entire 15 Tcm, enough to meet all of western Europe's present needs for 50 years. Indeed, Europe is one of the two most promising markets for North Field gas, with the Far East being the other. However, Qatar plans to use a growing amount of its own gas as it expands internal industries and consumption. At a projected rate of 25 billion cubic meters per year (Bcm/yr), North Field should be able to produce gas for over 200 years on proven reserves alone, providing both foreign buyers and domestic Qatari industry with a long term guaranteed supply. (author)