PDO Opens RO171m Kauther Gas Plant

The Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) inaugurated its RO171 million Kauther Gas Plant (KGP) in central Oman, giving a major boost to country’s gas supplies.

By Our Correspondent

Published: Wed 25 Feb 2009, 12:20 AM

Last updated: Fri 25 Nov 2022, 11:13 AM

The inauguration of the plant coincides with the 60 per cent government-owned PDO’s 30th anniversary of  gas production.

Oman has been producing about 2659 million cubic feet per day of gas (2007). The Kauther Gas Plant is expected to create additional gas production capacity of 20 million cubic metre per day, Nasser bin Khamis Al Jashmi, Undersecretary at the Ministry of Oil and Gas, said.

Oman, which is seeking to diversify its economy from oil to non-oil sources, needs gas to fuel a number of planned petro-chemical projects. For the moment, gas from all sources including imported gas from Dolphin Energy is only enough for domestic consumption. The lack of surplus gas is hindering the setting up of new projects, constricting the flow of foreign investments into  the country. The KGP was opened at a ceremony held in the presence of Sayyid Shihab bin Tariq Al Said, adviser to Sultan Qaboos bin Said.

The KGP project, completed two months ahead of schedule, can process up to 20 million cubic metre of gas per day for the Omani market. The gas is collected through a gathering system involving lengthy bulk lines, three remote manifolds and over 40 kilometres of flow-lines hooked up to 14  production wells.

The processed gas is then exported to the Government Gas System via a 85 kilometre-long pipeline from where it is delivered to customers in Muscat and Sohar area.

Condensate, hydrocarbon liquids produced along with the gas, is transported through a 103-kilometre pipeline to the Saih Rawl Central Processing Plant and onto the Mina Al Fahal crude export terminal via PDO’s main oil line

The Kauther project involved the execution of four parallel contracts; the Kauther Gas Plant, the gas and condensate pipeline network, electrical overhead lines and the field gathering system. Petrofac was the main contractor and Galfar acted as the construction subcontractor.