Qatar Petroleum and ExxonMobil Corp. last Tuesday announced the start-up of Qatargas 2 Train 5, one of the largest operating liquefied natural gas (LNG) production facilities in the world.

This follows the start-up of the Qatargas 2 Train 4 in the second quarter. Each is designed with the capacity to produce 7.8 million tons per year, making them approximately 50% larger than any other global liquefaction facility currently operating outside Qatar.

“The start-up of Qatargas 2 Train 5 represents another technological milestone in our effort to increase global supplies of clean-burning natural gas,” said Neil Duffin, president of ExxonMobil Development Co. “Technological advances pioneered by Qatar Petroleum and ExxonMobil have enabled us to achieve new economies of scale for LNG development using natural gas from Qatar’s North Field.”

Qatargas 2 links gas production, liquefaction, shipping and regasification infrastructure together. In addition to Trains 4 and 5, the Qatargas 2 joint venture encompasses a fleet of Q-Max and Q-Flex carriers and the newly commissioned South Hook Terminal in Milford Haven, Wales.

“When combined, these technology breakthroughs are enabling more efficient production and transportation of natural gas and will allow us to provide more natural gas to markets throughout the world,” said Duffin.

Last month ExxonMobil said Train 6 at Ras Laffan Liquefied Natural Gas Co. Ltd. 3 began operation at Ras Laffan Industrial City in Qatar (see NGI, Aug. 17). The project is a joint venture of Qatar Petroleum (70%) and ExxonMobil Ras Laffan (III) Ltd. (30%) and represents an expansion of the existing LNG production facilities operated by RasGas Co. Ltd.

ExxonMobil is also participating in the development of LNG projects in Papua New Guinea and Australia. Global LNG demand is expected to reach approximately 500 million tons per year by 2030, an increase of more than 200% since 2005, the company said.

Qatargas 2 Train 4 shareholder interest is Qatar Petroleum (70%) and ExxonMobil (30%). Qatargas 2 Train 5 shareholder interest is Qatar Petroleum (65%), ExxonMobil (18.3%) and Total (16.7%). South Hook LNG Terminal Co. Ltd. is owned by Qatar Petroleum (67.5%), ExxonMobil (24.15%) and Total (8.35%).

©Copyright 2009Intelligence Press Inc. All rights reserved. The preceding news reportmay not be republished or redistributed, in whole or in part, in anyform, without prior written consent of Intelligence Press, Inc.