Qatar Petroleum (QP) is set to fire the starting gun on a major new offshore project that will help underpin further expansion at Qatar’s giant North Field.

At least three industry sources close to the development told Upstream that Qatargas, on behalf of QP, is expected to launch the tender process soon for an offshore project that is likely to involve at least six new wellhead platforms.

One observer claimed that the platform jackets are likely to be offered first to engineering, procurement and construction players, followed by the topsides at a later stage.

“We are hoping that the tender for the six jackets could be offered within a month or two, as QP wants to install them by the second half of next year for initial drilling,” the observer said.

Another project watcher suggested that the offshore project is likely to be fast-tracked by QP in line with its plan to set up three new liquefied natural gas trains, required for the North Field capacity expansion.

In addition to the six platforms, some other offshore facilities are also likely to be offered for the gas project, but this could not be confirmed by Upstream.

Several key contractors including US-giant McDermott, Italy’s Saipem, Malaysia’s Sapura Energy, UK-based TechnipFMC and China's Offshore Oil Engineering Corporation are expected to be among those chasing the new North Field expansion projects, industry sources suggested.

Local yards including Nakilat-Keppel Offshore & Marine and Qatar Engineering & Construction Company are also expected to participate, but are more likely to tie up with one of the leading international contractors, added sources.

The North Field Expansion scheme is among the first few key strategic offshore projects likely to be unveiled by Qatar, after a 12-year ban on further development of the North Field was lifted last year.

Qatar plans to expand the production capacity of its giant gas field by adding another 23 million tonnes per annum, raising Qatar’s capacity from 77 million to 100 million tpa and ensuring that the tiny Persian Gulf state will remain the world’s largest LNG exporter.

Last month, QP awarded Japan’s Chiyoda a key front-end engineering and design contract for the onshore facilities required for the expansion of the North Field.

This FEED work will provide the basic design for the addition of three 7.8 million tpa liquefaction trains, with associated pre-investment to add a fourth mega facility in future.

The new onshore facilities will receive about 4.6 billion cubic feet per day of feedstock gas from the southern sector of Qatar’s North Field, the largest single non-associated gas field in the world.

QP's chief executive Saad Al Kaabi has said that “the award of the FEED contract to Chiyoda is a significant milestone” in the company’s efforts to deliver the first LNG from the new project by the end of 2023.

ExxonMobil, ConocoPhillips, Total and Shell are currently major partners of QP in operating LNG and gas-to-liquids plants which source their gas feedstock from the North Field.

The new expansion phase at the North Field will help increase Qatar’s importance to the growing global gas industry. It will also help fend off a challenge by Australia to be the world’s leading LNG exporter, and the emergence over the next decade of new players such as Mozambique.

Meanwhile, Qatargas has started pre-qualification for work on the first phase of its North Field sustainability project, which will include a number of new platforms and other infrastructure.

The multi-billion dollar sustainability project, which has multiple phases, is a crucial part of Qatar’s strategy to maintain gas production from the North Field.

The workscope of the first phase comprises two nine-slot wellhead platforms, including topsides, jackets and piles.

In addition, Qatargas requires one jacket for another nine-slot platform, sources said. A new riser platform including topsides, jackets and piles is also believed to be included in the scope.

The winning contractor would also be responsible for the engineering, procurement, construction and installation of two infield, 28-inch offshore pipelines, along with brownfield modifications works, sources said.