QatarEnergy (Arabic: قطر للطاقة), formerly Qatar Petroleum (QP),[2] is a state owned petroleum company of Qatar. The company operates all oil and gas activities in Qatar, including exploration, production, refining, transport, and storage. The President & CEO is Saad Sherida al-Kaabi, Minister of State for Energy Affairs. The company's operations are directly linked with state planning agencies, regulatory authorities, and policy making bodies. Together, revenues from oil and natural gas amount to 60% of the country's GDP. As of 2018[update] it was the third largest oil company in the world by oil and gas reserves.[3] In 2022, the company had total revenues of US$52bn, a net income of US42.4bn,[4] and total assets of US$162bn.[5] In 2021, QatarEnergy was the fifth largest gas company in the world.[6]
History
Establishment
After World War I and the collapse of the Ottoman Empire, Qatar fell within the British sphere of influence and the first onshore oil concession in the country was awarded in 1935 to British Petroleum's predecessor, the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company (AIOC). Because of its obligations under the Red Line Agreement, AIOC transferred the concession to an associate company of the Iraq Petroleum Co., Petroleum Development (Qatar) Ltd. (PDQ), which would operate the concession. PDQ was later renamed the Qatar Petroleum Co. (QPC). In October 1938, Dukhan No. 1 was spudded and yielded 4,000 barrels per day (640 m3/d) by January 1940. However, World War II delayed development until 1947 and the first crude exports occurred in 1949.[7]
The first offshore concessions were granted in 1949 to the International Marine Oil Company (IMOC), which was a subsidiary of Superior Oil and the London-registered Central Mining & Investment Co.[8] In 1952, after IMOC had withdrawn, the Shell Co.-Qatar (SCQ) acquired exploration rights to most offshore territory. In 1960 and 1963, the Idd Al-Shargi and Maydan Mahzam fields were discovered, respectively.[7] Bul Hanine, the largest offshore field, was discovered in 1970 and began producing in 1972.[9]
Worker strikes
Early strikes focused on wages and conditions, and the emir encouraged strikes when negotiating new contracts to pressure concessions from the oil company.[10]
In August 1952, a coalition of workers presented their demands to Ahmad Al Thani, the son of emir Ali Al Thani. Their demands centered on improved working conditions, less foreigners in high-ranking positions, and increased wages. Ahmad rejected these demands, causing the workers to present their grievances to the British.[11] But while considering the ongoing conditions in country's labour sector, the ILO issued new reports in November 2022, detailing the results of the Technical Cooperation Programme between the Government of Qatar and the ILO since it was launched in April 2018. The annual and four-year progress reports cover the substantial efforts that have been made in the areas of labour migration governance, the enforcement of the labour law and access to justice, and strengthening the voice of workers and social dialogue. These changes have already improved the working and living conditions for hundreds of thousands of workers, though additional efforts are needed to ensure that all workers can benefit.[12]
In 1973, the state seized a 25 percent stake in onshore concessions of QPC and offshore concessions of SCQ. As part of the agreement, the government stake would increase by 5 percent every year until it reached 51 percent in 1981. However, in early 1974, the initial agreement was repealed after QPC agreed to a new agreement which would allow the state to increase its share in both companies to 60 percent.[13]
In December 1974, the government officially announced its intent to acquire SCQ's and QPC's remaining shares.[14] A government decree passed in 1975 declared government ownership of the remaining shares. Negotiations throughout the following years resulted in the government assuming full ownership of QPC's onshore concessions in September 1976 and the SCQ's offshore activities in February 1977, thus fully nationalizing the oil sector.[15]
In 1991, Qatar Petroleum initiated an upgrade program for oil production facilities. The program included bringing the Diyab structure (Dukhan) online and enhanced oil recovery (EOR), particularly at the Dukhan field. QP expects to boost capacity at Dukhan from 335,000 bbl/d (53,300 m3/d) in 2006 to 350,000 bbl/d (56,000 m3/d) in 2008. QP is carrying out similar work at several smaller fields, including the offshore Bul Hanine and Maydam Mahzam. Prospects for new discoveries are limited. QP carried out much exploration activity during the early 1980s but exploration declined as the oil glut of the mid-1980s gathered pace. Since then, QP has encouraged foreign operators to apply for exploration licenses. Although the number of wells drilled grew significantly towards the end of the 1980s, there was little success. Most new exploration and production (E&P) is done offshore by international oil companies, including ExxonMobil, Chevron, and Total. While substantial E&P is underway, there have not been any major oil discoveries in Qatar during the last decade[when?]. Most anticipated new oil production will come from Maersk Oil (Denmark), which operates the Al Shaheen field.[needs update] Maersk reached an agreement with Qatar Petroleum in December 2005, under which the company intends to drill more than 160 production and water injection wells and establish three offshore platforms. The total oil production from Al Shaheen is planned to be gradually increased from 240,000 bbl/d (38,000 m3/d) at the beginning of 2006 to 300,000 bbl/d (48,000 m3/d) by the end of 2009.[16][needs update] When completed, Qatar would have more than 1,100,000 bbl/d (170,000 m3/d) in crude production capacity.[needs update]
In August 2019, French multinational integrated oil and gas company Total confirmed signing deals over transferring some of its assets in Kenya, Guyana and Namibia to Qatar Petroleum. With the deals, QP will hold a 30% interest in Block 2913B and 28.33% in Block 2912 of Namibia. QP will also have 40% of the company holding Total's existing 25% interests in the Orinduik and Kanuku blocks of Guyana and 25% interest in Blocks L11A, L11B and L12 of Kenya.[17]
Operations
Pipeline operations
QatarEnergy operates Qatar's oil pipeline network, which transports supplies from oil fields to the country's lone refinery and export terminals. It operates an expansive offshore pipeline network that brings crude oil from offshore oil fields to Halul Island, where oil can be processed for export. Onshore, most oil is sent to Umm Said for refining or export. Qatar has three primary export terminals: Umm Said, Halul Island,[18] and Ras Laffan. Qatar typically exports around 600,000 bbl/d (95,000 m3/d) of crude and about 20,000 bbl/d (3,200 m3/d) of refined petroleum products. Most exports go to Asia, with Japan as the single largest receiver (about 380,000 bbl/d (60,000 m3/d) of crude in 2006).
Refining operations
Refining is carried out by two refineries - QatarEnergy Refinery in Umm Said and Laffan Refinery in Ras Laffan.[19] Besides Qatar Petroleum has two joint ventures with South African Sasol (Oryx GTL) and Anglo-Dutch Shell (Pearl GTL) which are producing synthetic petroleum products (GTL-naphtha, GTL-diesel) from natural gas using Gas-to-Liquids technology.
Qatar's first refinery was built in Umm Said in 1953. The first revamp of the Refinery was completed in 1974. By the early 1980s, growth in local consumption was such that Qatar began importing refined products. In 1983, a 50,000 bbl/d (7,900 m3/d) refinery came online at Umm Said. Currently, Umm Said Refinery has a refining capacity of 137,000 bbl/d (21,800 m3/d).[20]
Laffan Refinery (RL1) came on-stream in September 2009. The Refinery has a processing capacity of 146,000 barrels (23,200 m3) per stream day and utilizes the field condensate produced at South Pars / North Dome Gas-Condensate field. After the revamp of the refinery is completed (RL2) it will have the processing capacity of 292,000 bbl/d (46,400 m3/d).[21]
North Field LNG project
On 8 February 2021, the world's largest LNG supplier, Qatar Petroleum (now QatarEnergy), signed an EPC-contract with Chiyoda and Technip for the North Field East (NFE) expansion project to increase QE's annually LNG output by 40% until 2026.[22][23]
For the $28.7 billion NFE expansion project, QatarEnergy has partnered with five global energy companies that have acquired 25% stake in the project. These include Shell, TotalEnergies and ExxonMobil, each with 6.25%, and Eni and ConocoPhillips, each with 3.125% stakes.[24] In a first phase, LNG export capacity is expected to increase from 77 million tons per year to 110 million tons per year by 2026.[25][26][27][28]
On 20 June 2022, Minister of State for Energy Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi said at a press conference at the QatarEnergy that the expected production increase from this project will be 32.6 million tonnes annually. Ethane produced from the project would be 1.5 million tonnes per year, LPG 4 million tonnes per year, 250.000 barrels of condensate and 5.000 tonnes of helium per day.[29]
In a second phase, the North Field South (NFS) project, Shell and TotalEnergies have each acquired 9.375% and ConocoPhillips 6.25% stakes. QatarEnergy plans to increase LNG production with the NFS project to 126 million tons per year beginning in 2028.[22][24]
In April 2023, Sinopec acquired a 5% stake in an 8 million tonnes per year LNG train.[30][31][32] In October 2023, QatarEnergy announced that it would provide 1 million tons a year of LNG from Qatar's North Field expansion project for 27 years to Eni. The long-term sale and purchase agreement will begin in 2026, where supplies will be delivered to the floating storage and regasification port unit in Piombino, Tuscany.[33][34]
In the coming years, the Qatar government aims to significantly boost LNG production capacity, increasing it by 64 percent, reaching 126 million tons per year from the current 77 million.[35] This will be further enhanced when production increases through the North Field Expansion (NFE) between 2025 and 2027.[36] QatarEnergy is interested in increasing LNG production capacity by 49 mtpa (from 77 mtpa to 126 mtpa). QatarEnergy has inked LNG sale and purchase agreements with its joint venture partners for up to 18 mtpa, 38% of the capacity increase.[37]
Qatar Petroleum is part of the Dolphin Gas Project, which connects the natural gas networks of Oman, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar with the first cross-border natural gas pipeline in the Persian Gulf region. The project is being developed by Dolphin Energy, a consortium owned by Mubadala Development on behalf of the Abu Dhabi government (51 percent), Total (24.5 percent), and Occidental Petroleum (24.5 percent). The Dolphin Project made significant progress in 2006. Construction was completed on all the project's upstream and downstream components by year-end except the gas processing plant located at Ras Laffan. A company spokesperson announced in March 2007 that it tested receiving and distribution facilities in the UAE, and expected to begin operations in June 2007. The 260-mile (420 km) long Dolphin Energy Pipeline currently sends 400 million cubic feet (11 million cubic metres) per day of natural gas supplies from the North field to markets in the UAE and Oman.[38]
GTL projects received significant attention in Qatar the last several years, and Qatar's government originally set a target of developing 400,000 bbl/d (64,000 m3/d) of capacity by 2012. However, cancellations and delays substantially lowered this. In February 2007, ExxonMobil canceled its Palm GTL project, which was slated to produce 154,000 bbl/d (24,500 m3/d). The company will instead develop the Barzan Gas Project, scheduled to supply 1.5 billioncubic feet (42 million cubic metres) per day by 2012. The Oryx GTL plant is a joint venture of QP and Sasol-Chevron GTL, and has a 34,000 bbl/d (5,400 m3/d) capacity. The plant was commissioned in June 2006, but technical problems prevented the consortium from loading the first export until April 2007. In February 2007, Royal Dutch Shell held a groundbreaking ceremony for its Pearl GTL Project. The Pearl plant will be 51 percent-owned by QP, though Shell will operate the project with a 49 percent stake. The facility is expected to use natural gas feedstock to produce 140,000 bbl/d (22,000 m3/d) of GTL products. The project will be developed in phases, with 70,000 bbl/d (11,000 m3/d) capacity expected by 2010 and a second phase expected in 2011. The Pearl project will be the first integrated GTL operation in the world, meaning it will have upstream production integrated with the onshore conversion plant.[39]
International business
Europe
Germany
QatarEnergy signed an agreement with a group of German companies to provide energy. As per HE the Minister of State for Energy Affairs, Saad bin Sherida al-Kaabi, will sign liquefied natural gas (LNG) supply deals with European customers this year summer, that accompany expansion of the project.[40]Annalena Baerbock praised the bilateral relations and also called for expanding global cooperation in the renewable energy sector. Baerbock also thanked Qatar for its repatriation operation in Afghanistan and the progress made by the State of Qatar in the field of human rights, adding that was a role model in this field, particularly due to its cooperation with the International Labor Organization.[41][42]
Hungary
Hungary and Qatar have signed a gas exportation deal as Europe diversifies its energy sources.[43] Hungary will begin receiving shipments of LNG from Qatar starting in 2027, following an agreement between the two countries.[44] The agreement is a political one, with talks between QatarEnergy LNG and Hungary's MVM Group to determine the quantity, pace, and shipment route of the supplied gas. Hungary's demand for LNG has surged due to sanctions imposed by the European Union on Russia after the war on Ukraine. Qatar reclaimed its position as the largest LNG exporter in 2022 with 80 million tons of LNG. The Gulf country plans to supply 40% of all new LNG entering the global market by 2029.[45]
Italy
In October 2023, QatarEnergy signed LNG supply deal with Italy's Eni for 27 years. Affiliates of QatarEnergy and Eni signed a long-term sale and purchase agreement for up to 1 million tons per year (mtpa) of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Qatar's North Field expansion project.[46][47]
France
On 11 October 2023, France’s TotalEnergies has agreed to buy liquefied natural gas from Qatar for 27 years, cementing the European nation’s commitment to fossil fuels beyond 2050. According to two long-term agreements, QatarEnergy, the country's largest energy provider, will send up to 3.5 million tons of LNG to France each year.[48][49]
Asia
Bangladesh
In June 2023, QatarEnergy and PetroBangla signed a 15-year contract for the supply of 1.8 million tonnes of LNG per year starting in 2026.[50][51][52] Qatar is trying to secure buyers for supply from expansion projects by providing shorter and less expensive liquefied natural gas contracts. The world's largest LNG expansion project is being built by QatarEnergy, which also signed the agreement with Bangladesh. It seeks to increase output by more than 60% by the year 2027.[53]
China
China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC), the largest gas importer in the country, is in the late stages of finalizing a huge long-term LNG import deal with Qatar. The QatarEnergy-Sinopec agreement was also the first long-term LNG off-take agreement from the NFE Expansion project. Qatar's North Field East and North Field South (NFS) projects are expected to come online in 2026 and 2027, respectively. QatarEnergy signed an agreement with a group of German companies to provide energy.[54][55]
In June 2023, QatarEnergy signed a 27-year deal with China National Petroleum Corporation for 4 million metric tons of LNG to be delivered yearly. This is the second agreement that Qatar has made with a Chinese company in less than a year. In November 2022, Sinopec and QatarEnergy made a similar deal.[56] Both CNPC and Sinopec also have an equity stake in the Qatar North Field eastern expansion which amounts to about 5% of an LNG train of 8 million metric tons of year.[57]
India
A long-term deal was made in August 2023 between QE and GAIL (India) Ltd. for more than 1 million metric tons of LNG per year for 20 years.[58] On 6 February 2024, QatarEnergy signed a supply deal with Petronet LNG for 7.5 million metric tons a year of LNG from 2028 to 2048. The agreement was to renew an existing deal with Petronet that expires in 2028 for the same amount of yearly LNG deliveries.[59][60]
Japan
In July 2023, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida of Japan and Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani of Qatar, agreed to increase LNG supplies in the future and therefore change the relationship between the two countries to be strategic and specifically emphasizing on energy, economy, security and defence. Previously existing LNG contracts expired between the two countries back in 2021 and 2022.[61] In November 2022, QatarEnergy signed a charter contract with Japan's Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL) for three LNG carriers to be built by Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding and delivered by 2027.[62] In February 2024, QE signed a deal with Mitsui & Co. for the supply of 11 million barrels of condensate to be delivered yearly for the next 10 years starting April 2024.[63][64]
Kuwait
In January 2020, Qatar Petroleum signed a 15-year agreement with Kuwait to supply 3 million tonnes of liquefied natural gas (LNG) per year.[65]
Lebanon
In January 2023, QatarEnergy has joined TotalEnergies and Italy's Eni in a three-way consortium to explore oil and gas in two maritime blocks off the coast of Lebanon.[66]
Qatar
In August 2023, QE and Woqod made a sales and purchase agreement for petroleum products and LPG which will extend their current agreement for a further 5 years, until 2028.[67][68]
United Arab Emirates
In July 2023, QatarEnergy and the Emirates National Oil Company (ENOC) signed a contract to supply 120 million barrels of condensate over 10 years.[69][70]
North America
Canada
In March 2023, QatarEnergy signed an agreement to acquire stakes in two Canadian exploration blocks offshore Newfoundland and Labrador from ExxonMobil. After initially acquiring a 40% stake in Licence EL 1165A from Exxon in 2021, QE acquired stakes of 28% in Licence EL 1167 and 40% in Licence EL 1162.[71][72][73]
Africa
Namibia
QatarEnergy and the Ministry of Mines and Energy of Namibia have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in early April 2023 to improve energy cooperation. A signing ceremony was held at QatarEnergy's headquarters in Doha where CEO of QatarEnergy, Saad Sherida Al Kaabi and Tom Alweendo, Minister of Mines and Energy of Namibia, signed the MoU. QE already holds interests in three exploration licences offshore Namibia.[74][75][76]
South America
Brazil
In June 2023, QatarEnergy joined together with Petronas, Petrobas and TotalEnergies for a Production Sharing Contract (PSC) for the ultra-deep water exploration block at Agua Marinha located in the Campos basin near the coast of Brazil. They will operate the PSC with a 20% interest, the same as Petronas while Petrobas and TotalEnergies will have 30% interest.[77][78][79]
Subsidiaries
Qatar Petrochemical Co.
Qatar was the first Persian Gulf state to build its own petrochemical industry. The Qatar Petrochemical Co. (QAPCO) was established on 9 November 1974, by Emiri Decree No. 109, as a joint venture between QP (84 percent) and CdF (Chimie de France) and began production of ethylene, low-density polyethylene, and sulfur in 1981. In August 1990, QP's interest in QAPCO was reduced to 80 percent, with the remaining 20 percent split equally between Enimont (Italy), and Elf Aquitaine (France) through its Atochem subsidiary. The importance of reliable gas supplies was demonstrated in the early years of QAPCO, which were marred by shortages of ethane feedstock arising from fluctuations of associated gas production along with movements of oil prices. QAPCO's facilities consist of an ethylene plant producing 840,000 metric tons per annum (MTPA), three low-density polyethylene (LDPE) plants with 780,000 MTPA and a sulphur plant with 70,000 MTPA. Current shareholders are Industries Qatar (80 percent) and TotalEnergies (20 percent).[80]
Qatar Fertiliser Co.
The Qatar Fertiliser Co. (QAFCO) was founded in 1969 as a joint venture between the Qatari government, Norsk Hydro Norway, Davy Power and Hambros Bank, to produce ammonia and urea. The company is now owned by Industries Qatar (75 percent) and Yara International (25 percent). QAFCO inaugurated its first plant in 1973 with a design daily capacity of 900 tons of ammonia and 1000 tons of urea. The QAFCO complex in Mesaieed City comprises four completely integrated trains; each train is made up of two units, one for production of ammonia and the other for urea, besides a urea formaldehyde unit. QAFCO total annual production capacity now is 2.0 MMT of ammonia and 2.8 MMT of urea, making QAFCO the world's largest single site producer of urea.[81] A new plant expansion was scheduled to be completed in early 2011 (QAFCO 5), using Snamprogetti and Haldor Topsoe design. The increase in ammonia production will be 4600 metric ton/day.
Qatar Chemical Co.
The Qatar Chemical Co. (Q-Chem) is a Qatari company owned by Mesaieed Holding Company Company(MPHC) 49 percent, Chevron Phillips Chemical International Qatar Holdings LLC (Chevron Phillips Chemical Qatar) 49 percent, and Qatar Petroleum (QP) 2 percent.
MPHC is majority owned by QP. The Q-Chem facility is a world-class integrated petrochemical plant capable of producing high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and medium-density polyethylene (MDPE), 1-hexene, and other products. Over US $1 billion was invested to engineer, construct, and commission the Q-Chem facility, which began operations in late 2002. The Q-Chem complex in Mesaieed Industrial City comprises an ethylene unit (capable of producing 500,000 metric tons per annum (mtpa)), a polyethylene facility (capable of 453,000 mtpa), and a 1-hexene unit (capable of 47,000 mtpa). Q-Chem assets also include a sulfur recovery and solidification unit, a bagging and storage warehouse, a nitrogen unit, a water treatment plant, seawater cooling system, dock facilities and various administrative buildings.
Qatar Vinyl Co. (QVC)
Qatar Vinyl Company was established in 1997 and is located in Mesaieed Industrial City approximately 40 km South of Doha. The location of the plant is advantageous in terms of land, infrastructure, general utilities, safety, security and telecommunication. The plant has access to port infrastructure with sufficient capacity to accommodate vessels up to 55,000 tonnes for the import of salt and export of caustic soda, EDC and VCM.
The facilities were constructed by Krupp Uhde GmBH and Technip Italy.
Project completion was achieved approximately 30 months after signing of the EPC Contract, with start up of the facilities taking place during the second quarter of 2001. The initial workforce numbered around 180 employees.
Qatar Vinyl Co. (QVC) shareholders are Mesaieed Petrochemical Holding Company (55.2 percent), QAPCO (31.9 percent) and QatarEnergy (12.9 percent).[82]
US$52 billion (2022)
