Total E&P Qatar has entered into a joint venture with Qatar Petroleum (QP) to enhance oil recovery from the offshore Al Khalij field
According to company officials, Total E&P Qatar has seen ”interesting potential” in the offshore field. Under the new joint venture, QP and Total will hold 60 per cent and 40 per cent interests respectively in the field, while Total will operate the field.
Located 130km offshore Qatar, the Al Khalij field produces 23,000 bpd. Since the start of production in 1997, Al Khalij's cumulative production of crude oil stood at 0.2bn barrels according to end-2013 figures. The field has been operating with 58 wells - 48 of which are oil producers - and eight platforms.
Guillaume Chalmin, managing director of Total E&P Qatar, said, ”There is clearly a willingness to make the most of it in terms of oil recovery, without any compromise on safety and with a strict investment discipline.”
In June 2014, the company initiated a large-scale 4D seismic acquisition to survey the oilfield using the technology to discover carbonate oil reservoirs. According to Chalmin, the 4D seismic pilot has given the company “pretty encouraging results”.
The survey will be performed by five marine vessels within the oilfield and has been scheduled for execution till August 2014.
