Qatar Petroleum will start a development drilling campaign for the North Field Expansion Project (NFEP), according to a press release. There is to be a total of 80 development wells within this project, with the first of these wells completed on March 29. The NFEP is to be operated by a joint venture between Gulf Drilling International and Seadrill Limited.

This expansion project will increase the State of Qatar’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) production capacity from 77 million tons per annum (mtpa) to 110 mtpa.  The second phase of the North Field LNG Expansion Project, called the North Field South Project (NFS), will increase Qatar’s LNG production capacity from 110 mtpa to 126 mtpa. 

Further to this, Qatar Petroleum has awarded a number of contracts for jack-up drilling rigs for the drilling of 80 development wells for the NFE. The installation of the first four Offshore Jackets in Qatari waters is underway and is expected to be completed by the end of this month.