The government of Qatar carries on its efforts to improve its production and reservoir potentials through the continued efforts to develop onshore and offshore fields like Al-Shaheen, Al-Idd Al-Sharqi, Dukhan and Al-Khaleej fields.

It likewise works to develop the gas sector of which reservoir is estimated at 380,000 billion cubic feet, which makes Qatar the top third country in the world in gas reservoir after Iran and Russia. Aspiring to be one of the biggest exporters of gas in the world, Qatar inaugurated Ras Laffan Corporation for natural gas and Qatar Liquefied Gas Corporation which started production three years ago. A further accomplishment is building Ras Laffan port which is considered the biggest port for gas exportation in the world. This was associated with parallel accomplishments in the infrastructure and procurement of giant gas transporters.

In the field of marketing, the State of Qatar merchandises gas products around the world. As a result, it has signed long-term agreements with Japan, Korea, and the Indian Petronet Establishment which purchased about 7.5 million metric tons of liquefied gas. It has signed a primary agreement with the Taiwanese firm Tong-Teng to provide it with 1.8 million metric tons of liquefied gas for 25 years.

Products and Exports of Oil Sector

In 2000, the average daily production mounted up to 687,000 barrels of crude oil, 44.5% of which was from onshore fields and 55.3% came from offshore fields.The country's daily share in this amount was 573,000 barrels. The average exported amount of crude oil was 554,000 barrels in the same year which brought in QR20 billions.

Onshore fields ( Dukhan Field)
This was the first petrol field discovered in Qatar in the beginning of 1940 and its area is about 1500 sq km.
Dukhan field produces crude oil, associated and non-associated gas and condensates. Dukhan encompasses four huge reserves for hydrocarbon substances.
Oil production from Dukhan Field started in 1949. By 1999, as a result of Dukhan Consolidated Upgrade Project in 1997, its production capacity increased to process 335,000 barrels of crude oil, 800,000 barrels of liquids and 330 million cubic feet of associated gas every day. Condensates production has been enhanced after the "D" Arab Plant for gas recycling was commissioned in mid 1998.
Onshore Dukhan Field estimated reserves -as of 1/1/1999- are about 1945 million barrels and 211 million barrels of condensates. Onshore gas reserves are about 8 trillion cubic feet.

Offshore Fields
Qatar Petroleum produces crude oil, associated gas and condesates from Mahzam and Bul-Hanine fields located in the regional waters of the State of Qatar. The offshore reserves of crude oil -as of 1/1/1999- are estimated at about 537 million barrels, and of condensates about 189 million barrels. The reserves of associated gas exceed 5.24 trillion cf.

The Main Fields

Idd Al Sharqi
Occidental Petroleum has been exploring, operating and developing both the North Dome of this field since 1994 when it signed an agreement with QP, and the South Dome since December, 1997 following a separate agreement. Occidental aims to increase production capacity of Idd Al Sharqi Field (for both North and South Domes) from the current capacity of 100,000 bpd.

Mydan Mahzam
This field was discovered in 1936 and its area is about 30 sq. kilometers.

Bul Hanine
Discovered in 1965, this field belongs to Qatar since 1969 as a result of marine border delineation between Qatar and Abu Dhabi, which distributed border islands between the two countries. It is one of the largest offshore fields, covering about 80 sq. kilometers.

Al Bandaq
Discovered in 1964, this field covers 20 sq km. It strides the marine borderline between Qatar and Abu Dhabi and its production is divided between the two countries.

Al Shaheen
The development of the field is based on extensive use of horizontal drilling and water injection, applying state-of-the-art technology developed by Maersk Oil. QP signed a deal with Maersk Oil in early 2001 to further develop the field at an estimated cost of $1.2 billion. The development plan envisages increasing production capacity from the current 200,000 bpd.

Al Rayyan
Wintershall and Arco operated this field. In 1997 its daily output capacity was close to 19,000 barrel and in 2000 daily production capacity fell to 18,000 barrel. Now it produces about 12,000 barrels a day.

Al Khaleej
TotalFinaElf Qatar acquired Agip’s 45% share in June 2002 and currently has a 100% stake, operating this field under an agreement with QP. A $200 million field development plan for the field has been approved by QP which will see production capacity expand from 45,000 bpd to 60,000 bpd by 2006. The expansion includes building two new production platforms and a 45-km sub-sea pipeline, which will link the platforms to the oil export terminal at Halul Island.

Other Fields
Other oil fields include Al Karkara and Najwat Najim. The first appraisal well started production in 1998 and the second well was successfully drilled in layer Arab (C) as a result of the agreement concluded between QP and the group of Japanese companies to develop Al Karkara and A Structure.