Dolphin Gas Project

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The Dolphin Gas Project is the natural gas project of the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Oman. The project is developed and operated by Dolphin Energy, a gas company of Abu Dhabi.[1]

The project involves:

  • development of gas wells and installation of two platforms in Qatar's North Field;
  • two multiphase sea lines from the wellheads to the processing plant;
  • gas processing and compression plant at Ras Laffan in Qatar;
  • offshore pipeline from Ras Laffan to Taweelah in the UAE;
  • gas receiving facilities at Taweelah.

In addition, the gas supplies from Qatar to Oman are planned through the Al Ain – Fujairah pipeline, which is officially considered as separate project.[1]

The total costs of the project are estimated US$ 7 billion, of which US$ 3.5 billion is the cost of the offshore pipeline.

Contents

[edit] North Field facilities

The North Field facilities were designed by Foster Wheeler Sofresid. The first appraisal well s was completed in April 2002 and the second appraisal well was completed in June 2002. The offshore platforms were constructed by J Ray McDermott Middle East Inc.[1] The first gas from the wells were produced on 25 June 2007.[2]

[edit] Sealines

Two 36 inches (910 mm) diameter concrete-coated sealines to transport the production stream from the wellheads to the Ras Laffan processing plant were designed and installed by Saipem, a subsidiary of the Eni Group. The 80-kilometers long sealines were laid in 2006.[1]

[edit] Ras Laffan processing plant

The gas processing and compression plant at Ras Laffan was designed by JGC Middle East FZE, a subsidiary of JGC Corporation of Japan. The six compression trains are driven by 52MW gas turbines supplied by Rolls Royce Energy Systems of the UK.[1] The plant came on line in 2006 and compresses up to 2 billion cubic feet (57,000,000 m³) per day of refined methane gas.[2] The by-products condensate, propane and butane are sold on spot markets, while ethane is supplied to Qatar Petroleum.[3]

[edit] Export pipeline

The offshore pipeline from Ras Laffan to Taweelah in the UAE (export pipeline) was designed by Saipem, and the pipes were supplied by Mitsui of Japan. The 48 inches (1,200 mm) pipeline has capacity of 33 billion cubic meter (bcm) of natural gas per annum.[1] The construction of the pipeline was objected by Saudi Arabia because of the border dispute between Saudi Arabia and the UAE, however the pipeline was built.[4]

[edit] Taweelah receiving facilities

The gas receiving facilities at Taweelah were constructed as adjacent to the Taweelah Power Station and comprise three parallel gas-receiving trains and associated equipment, metering facilities, control buildings and warehouses and interconnecting pipelines to the Taweelah Power Stations and to the existing Maqta-Jebel Ali Pipeline. The facilities were designed by Technip of Abu Dhabi and Al Jaber Energy Services Consortium of the UAE. The construction were completed in 2006.[1]

[edit] Al Ain – Fujairah gas pipeline

The Al-Ain – Fujairah pipeline is a 182 kilometres (113 mi) long 24 inches (610 mm) natural gas pipeline with capacity of 20 bcm of natural gas per annum.[5] The pipeline was constructed in 2003. In 2004-2005, the pipeline was operated by the Emirates General Petroleum Corporation (Emarat), and since 2006 by Dolphin Energy. Until 2008, the pipeline is used for supplying Omani natural gas to the 656 MW power generation plant and the 100 million gallon a day desalination plant of Union Water and Electricity Company (UWEC) at Qidfa in Fujairah.[1] Starting from June or July 2008, the pipeline will be used for natural gas export from Qatar to Oman.[6]

[edit] Taweelah - Fujairah gas pipeline

 This article or section contains information about a planned or proposed pipeline.
It may contain information of a speculative nature and the content may change as the construction and/or completion of the pipeline approaches, and more information becomes available.

The Taweelah - Fujairah pipeline is a planned 240 kilometres (149 mi) long 48 inches (1,219 mm) pipeline between Taweelah gas receiving facilities and Fujairah to feed a new power plant and desalination plant.[7] It will be the longest overland natural gas pipeline in the United Arab Emirates.[8] Five companies were invited to bid by 7 May 2008 for design and construction. Coated line pipes would be supplied by Salzgitter Mannesmann International.[7] The construction expected to begin during third quarter 2008.[8]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Dolphin Gas Project, Ras Laffan, Qatar. hydrocarbons-technology.com. Retrieved on 2007-07-12.
  2. ^ a b New Processing Plant at Ras Laffan Under Test. Press release. Dolphin Energy (2007-06-25). Retrieved on 2007-07-12.
  3. ^ Dolphin Energy produces first gas in Qatar and supplies UAE customers. Press release. Dolphin Energy (2007-07-10). Retrieved on 2007-07-12.
  4. ^ Andy Critchlow (2006-07-12). Saudis demand say in Emirates pipeline. International Herald Tribune. Retrieved on 2007-07-12.
  5. ^ UAE & Oman sign first GCC gas pipeline accord. Press release. Dolphin Energy (2004-03-29). Retrieved on 2007-07-12.
  6. ^ Oman expects to start receiving Dolphin gas by June. Reuters (2008-04-21). Retrieved on 2008-05-10.
  7. ^ a b Oliver Klaus. "Dolphin Energy Set To Receive Pipeline Bids", Downstream Today, 2008-05-05. Retrieved on 2008-05-10. 
  8. ^ a b Dolphin Energy issues tender documents for Taweelah-Fujairah Gas Pipeline project. Press release. Dolphin Energy (2007-11-11). Retrieved on 2007-11-24.

[edit] External links