‘Unique’ Dolphin securing south Gulf energy needs

Dolphin Energy, GCC’s only international gas network, has helped maintain energy security for the southern Gulf region and fuel industrial growth, said the company’s Qatar general manager, Adel Ahmed Albuainain.Since 2007, when the company started operations, Dolphin Energy has produced 3tn standard cubic feet of raw natural gas from some 24 deep wells drilled in Qatar’s offshore North field.“This is a significant milestone; a phenomenal achievement that is the result of hard work, dedication and firm commitment to the highest standards in quality, health, safety, environment and safety,” Albuainain said in an exclusive interview with Gulf Times.Dolphin Energy is a “unique” venture that has brought three GCC nations – Qatar, the UAE and Oman – together in an international energy initiative for the “first time ever”. It now functions as a source of “clean, new energy” for the region. “We are among the few energy companies that have been involved in the full value chain – upstream, midstream and downstream,” Albuainain said.“These are three massive tasks as they involve drilling, extraction, processing, transportation and supply and distribution to customers,” the Dolphin Qatar general manager said. The Dolphin project involves the production and processing of 2bn standard cubic feet of gas a day (bscf, the equivalent of 333,000 barrels of oil a day) at Ras Laffan and transportation of the dry gas by a 364km, 48 inch sub-sea export pipeline from Qatar to the UAE. This is the longest and largest export pipeline network in the Middle East.Provision has been made to expand throughput to 3.2 bscf a day subject to a future agreement between the governments of Qatar and Abu Dhabi.At Ras Laffan, the North Field gas is processed at Dolphin’s Gas Processing Plant, where valuable products such as LPG, condensate, ethane and sulphur are extracted for sale. All by-products are sold in the world markets, with the exception of ethane, which is sold in Qatar.Dolphin’s Ras Laffan plant is the “largest single build” gas plant in the world and makes up the core element in the company’s operations. All the gas sourced from Qatar is now being consumed by Dolphin consumers in the UAE – all utilities. There is a long queue of potential customers for Dolphin’s gas, though there is none to spare. “Today Dolphin Energy creates value for our partners and stakeholders by operating our facilities and transporting gas in a safe and environmentally responsible manner,” Albuainain said. Dolphin totally adheres to guidelines issued by the Ministry of Environment on flaring, he stressed.“We are in total compliance with that; we are transparent and work closely with QP and other operators to achieve the targeted zero-flaring,” Albuainain said.“Our project is creating sustainable wealth, economic growth and employment opportunities for our citizens. Importantly, our project will continue to support the region’s utilities and industries over the 25-year contract period,” Albuainain said.Dolphin Energy is 51% owned by Mubadala Development Company (on behalf of the Government of Abu Dhabi) and 24.5% each by Total (France) and Occidental Petroleum (US).