Overview
The Al Shaheen field is Qatar’s largest offshore oil-producing asset, located in Block 5 of Qatar’s offshore concession area, approximately 80 kilometres north of Ras Laffan in the Persian Gulf. The field is operated by North Oil Company, a joint venture between QatarEnergy and TotalEnergies, following a transition of operatorship from Maersk Oil (later acquired by TotalEnergies) in July 2017. Al Shaheen accounts for the majority of Qatar’s crude oil production.
History and Development
The Al Shaheen field was discovered in 1974, but initial development efforts were limited due to the complex reservoir geology. The field contains heavy, viscous oil trapped in carbonate reservoirs with low permeability, making production technically challenging. Significant commercial development did not begin until the 1990s, when Maersk Oil was awarded the operating contract and applied advanced drilling and production techniques to unlock the field’s potential.
Under Maersk Oil’s operatorship, production at Al Shaheen increased substantially through successive development phases involving horizontal drilling, water injection, and the installation of multiple offshore platforms and processing facilities. By the mid-2010s, production had reached approximately 300,000 barrels per day.
Operator Transition
In 2016, QatarEnergy (then Qatar Petroleum) selected TotalEnergies as the new operator of Al Shaheen under a 25-year production sharing agreement (PSA), replacing Maersk Oil whose concession was expiring. The new North Oil Company joint venture assumed operatorship on 14 July 2017. TotalEnergies holds a 30 percent interest in the PSA, with QatarEnergy retaining the remaining 70 percent through North Oil Company.
The transition to TotalEnergies reflected Qatar’s preference for partnering with one of the world’s largest integrated energy companies for the long-term management of its most important oil asset.
Production
Al Shaheen produces approximately 300,000 barrels per day of crude oil, making it by far the largest single contributor to Qatar’s oil output. The crude produced is a medium-gravity sour grade. Production is supported by an extensive network of offshore platforms, subsea infrastructure, and floating production and storage facilities.
Significance
Al Shaheen is Qatar’s primary oil revenue generator and a critical component of the country’s hydrocarbon portfolio. While Qatar’s strategic focus has increasingly shifted toward natural gas and LNG, oil production from Al Shaheen continues to provide significant export revenues and supports the fiscal base that funds the National Vision 2030’s diversification and development objectives.