Qatar continues to expand natural gas production for the expressed purpose of exporting. In 2011, EIA estimates that Qatar produced nearly 5,200 billion cubic feet (Bcf) of natural gas, more than three times the amount it produced in 2000. EIA estimates Qatar's natural gas consumption in 2011 was approximately 690 Bcf, leaving the remainder for exports destined primarily for Asia. Although the increase in natural gas production fuels the growing natural gas requirements of domestic industry and its gas-to-liquids (GTL) projects, the bulk of this increase is going towards LNG exports.
Qatar - Analysis - U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA)
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Natural gas
Qatar has the largest non-associated natural gas field in the world and is the world's largest liquefied natural gas exporter.
According to Oil & Gas Journal, Qatar's proven natural gas reserves stood at approximately 890 trillion cubic feet (Tcf) as of January 1, 2013. Qatar holds 13 percent of total world natural gas reserves which is the third-largest total in the world behind Russia and Iran. The majority of Qatar's natural gas is located in the immense offshore North Field, which spans an area roughly equivalent to Qatar itself. The North Field is actually a part of the world's largest non-associated natural gas field that sits in both Qatar's and Iran's maritime territories, and is the main source of Qatari natural gas production. Iran's South Pars field holds an additional 450 Tcf of recoverable natural gas reserves. Qatar produces condensate and natural gas liquids (NGL) alongside its natural gas production. In 2011, EIA estimates that condensate and NGL production has exceeded one million bbl/d, surpassing crude oil production. Analysts estimate that condensate production alone will overtake crude by 2015.
Sector organization
To an even greater extent than in the oil sector, Qatar Petroleum (QP) plays a dominant role in Qatar's natural gas sector, leading upstream and downstream projects. Qatar's focus on natural gas development tends to be integrated large-scale projects linked to LNG exports or downstream industries that use natural gas as a feedstock. Therefore, foreign company involvement has favored international oil companies with the technology and expertise in integrated mega-projects, including ExxonMobil, Shell, and Total. However, QP has maintained a majority share in most of its gas projects—in particular, the dominant companies in Qatar's LNG sector: Qatargas Operating Company Limited (Qatargas) and Ras Laffan Company Limited (RasGas). The LNG companies handle all upstream to downstream natural gas transportation themselves, while the Qatar Gas Transport Company (known as "Nakilat", which means "carriers" in Arabic) is responsible for shipping Qatari LNG.
