Qatargas 1 completes new drilling campaign

This is the second well to be drilled this year following the successful start-up of NFB-25 in August 2007.

The successful startup of NFB-24 marks the completion of Plateau Maintenance Project (PMP) Phase-1 drilling. The PMP is part of the ongoing efforts by Qatargas to ensure steady and stable production from the North Field Bravo platform which supplies up to 1.6 billion cubic feet of gas/day to the onshore processing facilities at Ras Laffan.

Sheikh Ahmed bin Jassim Al Thani, Chief Operating Officer - Engineering & Ventures said; "The drilling was complicated, as is had to be done on a live producing platform under simultaneous operations (SIMOPS) conditions. Thanks to the professional conduct and the safe practices established by Qatargas, all went exceptionally well with work being completed safely and within the cost and schedule targets set by the company."

The drilling was carried out by the RasGas drilling team on behalf of Qatargas.

In order to accommodate these two wells with their increased capacity, major modification had to be made to the existing offshore facilities.

"Having visited the drilling rig twice during the successful campaign, I'm extremely pleased with the strong safety culture demonstrated and the high team spirit between the Offshore Operations, Reservoir & Production, Engineering and RasGas drilling," said Mr. Jacques Azibert, Chief Operating Officer - Operations.

Qatargas 1 has been operating since 1996 from an initial group of 20 wells which produce on average 1.5 billion cubic feet of gas per day. The Pressure Maintenance Project will allow the company to keep the plant running at capacity. The expected production from the plant is nine million tonnes of LNG per annum.