Ras Laffan Industrial City’s port on Thursday February 24 was abuzz with activity, as all six of its LNG berths were occupied by tanker vessels loading LNG cargoes for various destinations around the world for the very first time.
Captain Feisal Saad, Ras Laffan Port manager said: “With six operational LNG berths, the Port is the World’s premier LNG exporting facility, double the size of its nearest rival. The scene of 6 LNG vessels loading occupying all the LNG berths simultaneously is something that we will get used to see more often. This scene is only possible in Ras Laffan.”
All 4 Berths from LNG3 to LNG6 are capable of handling the largest new generation of LNG carriers aptly designated as Q-Flex and Q-Max that were specially designed and built to transport Qatari LNG to the world’s market. In 2010, LNG1 berth was upgraded to receive up to Q-Flex size tanker vessels. LNG2 will similarly be upgraded in the future to receive the Q-Flex vessels. Further LNG berths expansions are possible in the expanded Port area in the future if required to a total of 10 LNG berths.
The achievement of 77 million tonnes per annum (Mta) of liquefied natural gas (LNG) production capacity by the end of 2010 confirmed Qatar’s position as the world’s leading producer of LNG with the largest production capacity.
Ras Laffan Port is the point of export of the energy product and commenced operations in September 1996. Since that time, the Port and its berth facilities have been increased significantly to cater for the exports of new and expanded industries. The present Port covers an area of 56 square kilometers and serves a fast-expanding hinterland of the Ras Laffan Industrial City. It is the gateway for Qatar’s principal export earner – Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) produced from the North Field. In addition it handles a growing volume of a variety of cargoes, both liquid and dry bulk.
Qatar’s increasing share of global LNG exports
Qatar exported 1,800 billion cubic feet (Bcf) of liquefied natural gas (LNG) in 2009, about 20% of total global trade, based on analysis in the US Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) recently released Qatar County Analysis Brief. Qatar’s annual LNG exports are equivalent to 8% of US annual marketed natural gas production. Qatar has 14% (896 Bcf) of the world’s estimated proved natural gas reserves and is the world’s leading supplier of LNG. Qatar, located in the Persian Gulf, is also a member of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and produces about 800,000 barrels per day (bbl/d) of crude oil.
Qatar has grown rapidly as an LNG exporter. It began exporting LNG in 1997 and increased exports to current levels in less than 15 years. Japan, South Korea, and India accounted for 57% of Qatari LNG exports in 2009. European markets including Belgium, the United Kingdom, and Spain imported an additional 33% of Qatari LNG in 2009.
North American LNG imports have been relatively low in the last two years. In 2010, Qatar exported an estimated 46 Bcf of LNG directly to the United States – 11% of total US LNG imports – and also exported an estimated 74 Bcf to the Canaport LNG terminal in Nova Scotia, Canada, most of which served as supply for New England.
Very large investments in infrastructure underpin Qatar’s LNG export growth. Qatar has 13 operating LNG trains – liquefaction and purification facilities at an LNG plant – with a total LNG capacity of 3,400 Bcf per year. Five of these trains were added in 2009 and 2010. The most recent addition started commercial service in November 2010 and has an annual production capacity of 380 Bcf per year – currently the largest-capacity production train in existence.
Qatar is also a significant liquids producer. EIA’s preliminary estimates for 2010 indicate a total liquids production of about 1.4 million bbl/d: 850,000 bbl/d of crude oil and 590,000 bbl/d of non-crude liquids. Estimated crude oil production capacity exceeded one million bbl/d in 2010. Condensate and natural gas liquids (NGL) are rising as a proportion of Qatar’s total petroleum production over time. EIA estimates that condensate and NGL production almost doubled from 2007 to 2010, from 287,000 bbl/d to 567,000 bbl/d.
